Here's the latest from Indians CEO Paul Dolan, courtesy of Terry Pluto of the Plain Dealer.
- After a disastrous 2012 season, the Indians signed Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn, but Dolan was still impressed how quickly the team turned itself around. "We were on the verge of a complete collapse at the end (of 2012)," Dolan says. "Twelve months later, the entire trajectory of the franchise has been changed. It's a 180-degree turn."
- Dolan says has has been very impressed with manager Terry Francona, who led the Indians in their rebound season. "I used to think that a good manager would make a difference, but a marginal difference," says Dolan. "A bad manager could mess things up. But Terry makes so much more than a marginal difference."
- Swisher and Bourn may not have played up to expectations last season, but Dolan says they still played a key role in turning the organization around by "changing the culture" in the Indians' clubhouse. Dolan expects Swisher and Bourn to play better in 2014.
- Dolan did not complain about the Indians' disappointing 2013 attendance, and instead focused on their television ratings, which rose 40 percent.
- Dolan did not comment on potential extensions for Justin Masterson and Jason Kipnis, except to say that the Indians want to retain them both.
“We’re getting too much flack for these masterson negotiations, I need to start talking about how awesome I am, IMMEDIATELY”
Classic!!
Just sell the team to someone who really cares more about the baseball, not about how much profit they can squeeze out of it. And Dolan, TV viewership is up because your ticket policies are really dumb. Try opening ALL the seats on game day, and see how many more fans would come to watch the Tribe. Oh, yeah…..and try spending some money on your best pitcher.
Now open your wallet Dolan and see how much more of a difference that can make.
Tough audience.