Indians 2016... (Cleveland: home, prices, vs)

[XC_Runner]

Well, it is opening day for the Twins vs the Red Sox. I will admit I am not a Tribe fan, but I have a lot of respect for the Indians and Cleveland. Here are a few questions and bold points for the Indians to do well:

1. The rotation has to do well. When that rotation is pitching well, the Indians can be scary. Kluber, Carrasco, and Salzaar all should do well this season.

2. The bats have to improve. The team has to score more than a few runs per game because the pitching can't do it all.

3. Could this be the year of the Indians in the AL Central? I think the Royals will regress this year. Still they will be very good, but I don't see the hype from the Royals.

4. Could the team draw 30,000 fans on average during the summer. If the team starts winning and is in 1st in the central, would fans start showing up?

[bjimmy24]

The pitching will be good, like last year. This is the strength of the team. Bats are the issue. I'm hoping mike Napoli can be like a Jason giambi from several years back. The Indians should be in position to compete for the central.

The fans will not show up until July, even if they're winning. Clevelanders prefer to focus on important things like Browns training camp, unless the Indians are extremely compelling. Even then, to average 30 k.... I'd say maybe in September when magic number is like 10.

[OHdanIO]

Like you both said, our bats are KEY. I have no doubt that our pitching will do well, and our defense improved with Lindor. I wanted to go up for the home opener today, but got way to busy with work this evening. Can't wait to get up there this year, love my Cleveland teams!!

[TheProf]

Home opener snowed out. See ya tomorrow at 1p.

[XC_Runner]

Wow, the stadium looks empty tonight. The offense looks better tonight also.

[bjimmy24]

Originally Posted by FeelTheBern

Wow, the stadium looks empty tonight. The offense looks better tonight also.

Typical Cleveland. Don't care about the indians, even though the stadium is lovely, the prices are fair, the location is wonderful and the team is competitive.

To be fair, April in Cleveland is not baseball weather. Scheduling home games for Northern teams is kind of a lame thing to do in early April. However, I wouldn't be surprised to see 10k crowds in June and July either.

[teacherdad]

Late July, 10,001. I'll be there for a game!

[theurbanfiles]

I have to say, and it wasn't just one start, but I don't think our starting rotation is as consistently dominant as some around baseball seem to think it will be. Other than Kluber, while each of these guys has shown flashes of brilliance, they have also shown stretches of mediocrity. I hope I am wrong though. I will say the offense looks to be the best we've had in a few years.

[bjimmy24]

Originally Posted by cavsfan137

I have to say, and it wasn't just one start, but I don't think our starting rotation is as consistently dominant as some around baseball seem to think it will be. Other than Kluber, while each of these guys has shown flashes of brilliance, they have also shown stretches of mediocrity. I hope I am wrong though. I will say the offense looks to be the best we've had in a few years.

Time will certainly tell.

I am definitely more concerned about offense than pitching though. Good to see Napoli hammer one out of the park last night. I don't care if he hits .225, as long as he's good for 20-30 home runs and provides that threat of a home run to the pitcher, which is harder to quantify, but pretty valuable in the course of a game or season. Hopefully Brantley comes back ready to go too.

[XC_Runner]

The game was close, but a 3 run home run by Chicago decided it. I wish Cleveland fans would support their team that seems like a much improved team.

I have a goal to go to all 32 MLB stadiums, so Cleveland will be one of them they I go to this summer.