OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
Tribe looks to ’06 plan
Wednesday, October 5, 2005 <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>By ANDY CALL
CLEVELAND
Mark Shapiro determined never to stop believing in his team until he ran out of time or clean underwear, whatever came first.
“I packed a suitcase and put it in my car with the expectation I’d be taking a Sunday night flight to Boston,” the Indians’ General Manager said.
“Everyone — fans, players, front office — can share in the disappointment and unsettled feeling of waking up (Monday) and not playing baseball. But to be disappointed without respecting the accomplishments of this team would be a mistake.
“There isn’t a person in this room who’s sober who wouldn’t have signed up for 93 wins.”
Shapiro met with the media Tuesday to discuss the 2005 season as well as the team’s immediate future. The Indians finished 93-69, losing out on a potential wild-card playoff berth on the final day of the regular season.
“There is bitter disappointment at a missed opportunity,” Shapiro said. “When you recognize the frailty of our market, you can’t take a missed opportunity lightly.”
Will there be another opportunity in 2006? Shapiro certainly hopes so.
“Anything short of a step further next year will be a disappointment,” Shapiro said. “Next year, we’ll look to be playing in the playoffs.”
It takes money to contend. The first bit of good news regarding next season is the Indians will have more money to work with after having the fifth-lowest payroll in the game this summer.
“We will certainly go up in payroll,” Shapiro said. “I think you will see us take a nice jump.”
It may take a nice jump to keep the team together, especially a pitching staff that compiled the American League’s best ERA. Exactly half of the 12 primary pitchers are either free agents or eligible for arbitration.
One of those free agents is Kevin Millwood, whose 2.86 ERA led the league. Shapiro said the team will do all it can to retain the veteran right-hander, but other teams with more money to spend need top-shelf starting pitching as well.
“We’ll offer more years and more money than we’re comfortable with,” Shapiro said. “Kevin likes it here, and I know we can make a strong effort and a respectable offer. But you’re at the whim of a team that may place an entirely different value on the player or be willing to take on an entirely different degree of risk.”
Shapiro acknowledged his team’s need for another established hitter but also said it is unlikely the Indians could both retain Millwood and pick up a top free-agent hitter. Another likely financial priority is picking up the $4 million option for 2006 on second baseman Ronnie Belliard, which must take place within two weeks after the end of the World Series.
“I don’t wish to announce our decision on Ronnie yet, but I don’t think it will take anyone by surprise,” Shapiro said.
Improved personnel is one way to build a contender. Improved play is another. Shapiro said the front office will closely examine why the Indians lost 36 one-run games in 2005 and why they got off to a poor start for the third consecutive year.
“I can’t accept that all those one-run losses were just bad luck,” Shapiro said. “I think one thing you can point to is fundamental play, our bunting and baserunning in particular. I don’t think we should throw our hands up and say, ‘That’s just the way it is.’ You can go about changing that through different personnel or through instruction. We plan to examine both avenues for improvement.”
In 2004, the Indians contended into mid-August. In 2005, they contended until the final day of the season. Next year, Shapiro wants more.
“Anything short of planning for the playoffs will be a disappointment, and I mean that for the next four or five years,” Shapiro said.
Reach Repository sports writer Andy Call at (330) 580-8346 or e-mail [email protected].
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Wednesday, October 5, 2005 <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>By ANDY CALL
CLEVELAND
Mark Shapiro determined never to stop believing in his team until he ran out of time or clean underwear, whatever came first.
“I packed a suitcase and put it in my car with the expectation I’d be taking a Sunday night flight to Boston,” the Indians’ General Manager said.
“Everyone — fans, players, front office — can share in the disappointment and unsettled feeling of waking up (Monday) and not playing baseball. But to be disappointed without respecting the accomplishments of this team would be a mistake.
“There isn’t a person in this room who’s sober who wouldn’t have signed up for 93 wins.”
Shapiro met with the media Tuesday to discuss the 2005 season as well as the team’s immediate future. The Indians finished 93-69, losing out on a potential wild-card playoff berth on the final day of the regular season.
“There is bitter disappointment at a missed opportunity,” Shapiro said. “When you recognize the frailty of our market, you can’t take a missed opportunity lightly.”
Will there be another opportunity in 2006? Shapiro certainly hopes so.
“Anything short of a step further next year will be a disappointment,” Shapiro said. “Next year, we’ll look to be playing in the playoffs.”
It takes money to contend. The first bit of good news regarding next season is the Indians will have more money to work with after having the fifth-lowest payroll in the game this summer.
“We will certainly go up in payroll,” Shapiro said. “I think you will see us take a nice jump.”
It may take a nice jump to keep the team together, especially a pitching staff that compiled the American League’s best ERA. Exactly half of the 12 primary pitchers are either free agents or eligible for arbitration.
One of those free agents is Kevin Millwood, whose 2.86 ERA led the league. Shapiro said the team will do all it can to retain the veteran right-hander, but other teams with more money to spend need top-shelf starting pitching as well.
“We’ll offer more years and more money than we’re comfortable with,” Shapiro said. “Kevin likes it here, and I know we can make a strong effort and a respectable offer. But you’re at the whim of a team that may place an entirely different value on the player or be willing to take on an entirely different degree of risk.”
Shapiro acknowledged his team’s need for another established hitter but also said it is unlikely the Indians could both retain Millwood and pick up a top free-agent hitter. Another likely financial priority is picking up the $4 million option for 2006 on second baseman Ronnie Belliard, which must take place within two weeks after the end of the World Series.
“I don’t wish to announce our decision on Ronnie yet, but I don’t think it will take anyone by surprise,” Shapiro said.
Improved personnel is one way to build a contender. Improved play is another. Shapiro said the front office will closely examine why the Indians lost 36 one-run games in 2005 and why they got off to a poor start for the third consecutive year.
“I can’t accept that all those one-run losses were just bad luck,” Shapiro said. “I think one thing you can point to is fundamental play, our bunting and baserunning in particular. I don’t think we should throw our hands up and say, ‘That’s just the way it is.’ You can go about changing that through different personnel or through instruction. We plan to examine both avenues for improvement.”
In 2004, the Indians contended into mid-August. In 2005, they contended until the final day of the season. Next year, Shapiro wants more.
“Anything short of planning for the playoffs will be a disappointment, and I mean that for the next four or five years,” Shapiro said.
Reach Repository sports writer Andy Call at (330) 580-8346 or e-mail [email protected].
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