Indians Fans...Why So Bitter?

The Indians walked off the field in the early morning of November 3rd 2016 completely exhausted. They had just wrapped up one of, if not the most memorable

The Indians walked off the field in the early morning of November 3rd 2016 completely exhausted.

They had just wrapped up one of, if not the most memorable World Series in the history of the game, a marathon seven-game series that saw them at one point hold a 3-1 series lead, only to lose three straight to more heavily favored Chicago Cubs, falling in game seven in 8-7 in 10 innings.

The feeling was one of disappointment, but also of great satisfaction, as the team had overcome the odds, come basically out of nowhere, and took their fans on a ride that not many would ever forget.

Fast forward two plus years later, the feeling among many fans has changed - it seems dramatically.

It's now January of 2019, and since that unlikely World Series run, the team has remained in the mix to win a World Series, but each year has fallen short.

In 2017 they went on a historic 22-game winning streak, and ended the year with the best record in the American League.

Things were going swell in their first-round of the postseason, an ALDS matchup with the New York Yankees, as they won game one 4-0, and in game two overcame a bad start by Corey Kluber to pull out a wild 9-8 win in 13 innings to go up 2-0.

After that, it was a disaster, as they lost two games in New York, 1-0 and 7-3, and then an old friend, C.C. Sabathia and the New York offense did enough for a 5-2 win to shockingly send the Indians home for the offseason.

2018 was even worse when it came to the postseason, as the team had their moments of struggle in the regular season, did not have a win streak that made national headlines, and instead showed plenty of flaws with a bullpen that couldn't get players out, and an offense that at times stumbled.

The end result was a 3-0 sweep by the former World Series champion Houston Astros, again ending teams season with fans grumbling and with doubt about the future.

This offseason has been what many have classified as a nightmare, as the team has chopped payroll, sent some popular players packing, and again losing arms of a bullpen that while it stunk last season, dosn't appear to be looking much better with less than a month before the start of camp.

While all these facts are true, there are a few things that Indians fans can and should still be happy about.

They have (by far and away) the best rotation in the American League Central, they still have two star players in their infield (Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez), and a manager in Terry Francona who has led this team to the best record overall in the American League over the last five seasons.

So with everything stated above, there's just one question for fans of this franchise - why so bitter?

Indians fans have been spoiled since Terry Francona has taken over this franchise, yet don't seem to appreciate where he's led this team from.

When Francona arrived, the team had gone through a couple of forgettable managers, Eric Wedge and Manny Acta, who at times got the fans excited with fast starts or even in Wedge's case, one game away from the World Series, but overall both failed to reach the promise land.

In four seasons Francona had not only gotten the team to the World Series, but with the help of the front office had built a team with exciting stars like Lindor and Ramirez, and also a team filled with starting pitching that would make any team in the league jealous.

But now, with there still plenty of questions about if this team can matchup with the big dogs of the American League in 2019, there's more grumbling and anger about the franchise than there has been in a long time.

Yes there's still a ton of questions about the outfield - who is going to line up in all three starting spots on opening day, and yes the pen also has their share of question marks, but at the end of the day, do you really think this team isn't going to compete to try and get back to the Series once again?

Unlike last season, Goodyear will be an interesting place in 2019 for this group of Indians, as with positions to be won it will be fun to see what players can step up and win roster spots, and more so win starting spots.

Leonys Martin, Jordan Luplow, Tyler Naquin, Greg Allen, Brady Zimmer and Jake Bauers. All names that Indians fans should probably get use to hearing as they will all compete for the three outfield spots.

Yes there might be a darkhorse to be added, but likely these are the players who are expected to have the best shots to win the open spots, two of which were taken last season by Michael Brantley and Melky Cabrera.

Yet every day on twitter fans seem to want to spend more time expressing their utter frustration that this team hasn't opened their pocketbooks for a 'big name' player, and instead have focused on allowing the young players to have a shot.

From being called inept, cheap, not caring - the Indians front office and owner Paul Dolan have taken a beating this offseason, but the track record of delivering quality teams since 2013, teams that have always been in the playoff mix, should be enough to allow some leeway - right?

Without getting too deep into it, the team eyed cutting payroll about as soon as the offseason began, and why fans are upset all they need to do is look at attendance for the team in terms of where they stand in Major League Baseball - 21st a year ago (24,083 a game), 22nd in 2017 (25,285 a game), and this off a World Series run.

It's not popular to bash fans for not going to the ballpark, but it is a direct reason as to why this franchise has had to shift their focus some to giving young players shots in the outfield and bullpen, and have had to deal some players with sizable contracts (Yan Gomes, Edwin Encarnacion, Yonder Alonso), and let others walk (Brantley, Cody Allen, Andrew Miller, Lonnie Chisenhall).

Fans have made their minds up about how they feel about this team, but before you declare you're 'not going to watch a game' or 'not go to the ballpark' this summer, remember this - this is a team that deserves your support, they've earned it.

They have given fans memorable playoff rides, have put up solid regular seasons in winning three straight AL Central Titles (something that hasn't been done since the 90's), and again, they still have a roster that's the best far and away in the American League.

So all this anger and bitterness - put it away for awhile.

Let's sit back and enjoy the ride a bit, if the team fails - take all your energy (as it seems plenty have already done) and put it behind a football franchise that before winning five of their last seven games this past season had lost or tied 37 of of their last 41 games, yet they seem to get a pass from the Cleveland fan base.

Will the Indians win a World Series in 2019?

I don't know - and neither do you. Just remember this - no one felt they would in 2016, and they were two runs away from doing it.

If you want to declare the 'season over' before Spring Training even starts - feel free - but something tells me that you'll be back if this team finds its way, and with the guy sitting on the bench and his ability as a future Hall of Fame manger, as well as a front office that has always been aggressive in making deals to make the team better - I am betting they will have this team right back in the postseason mix in nine months.

From there, who knows - but don't at least deserve a chance?