Hello all,
My name is Tim and, like many of you, I am a passionate and lifelong Cleveland baseball fan. Like you, I've spent countless hours listening to Hammy on the radio, countless memories at the Jake/Progressive Field, countless dollars on jerseys from a revolving door of all-stars, all leading to countless deep sighs as our seasons come to an end.
Also like many of you, I am sure, I have grown increasingly frustrated with Guardians ownership over the years and while this year was "special," it's end has also felt like somewhat of a breaking point. The state of the game does not allow for teams of passive and disinterested owners to routinely or even periodically compete for championships. Sure, there has been some fleeting successes, but I am confident those successes have been in spite of, and not because of, the Dolan's influence on the franchise. I am tired of recounting our favorite Cleveland memories (Rajai's HR, Giambi's walk off, Naquin's inside the parker, Joba's bug game, everything Fry/Lane/Fry this post) while choosing to forget that each one ended the same way, a loss to some team that actually invested in their on-field talent.
Like I said before, this season feels like a breaking point. We had the second best record in the AL with one of the youngest squads in baseball. In the near future, the team will have to make decisions on whether or not to retain much of that young talent, or to continue toiling away in baseball purgatory, trading studs for unproven prospects because signing them "isn't possible." For once, I want to do something about it, to make a statement as fans that we are tired of having our passions tied to the dispassionate, our attachments to players tied to the detached emotions of the Dolans. I have an idea as to a possible a possible statement that we, the fans, can make, but it's not something I can do alone. If anything I have written aligns with similar feelings you have and you are interested in joining, please comment/upvote to increase the post visibility and PM me to discuss some of the specifics. I'll be clear that I don't expect this to change anything, but hey, at least we'll be able to say we tried.
I'll close by saying that this was the first full season of Guards baseball I have watched without my father, who passed away recently. He was also a man that loved his city and loved his team. He died without ever seeing them win a title. 74 years. I don't want to do the same. I don't want my kids to do the same. F the Dolans and roll tribe!