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Do IT this week: Layering
Joining franchise's all-time losers within grasp
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Sunday, Jul 26, 2009
The Indians today teeter on the precipice. They can continue to wallow in mediocrity or stand out from the crowd, separate themselves from the dozens of other Tribe clubs that lost more games than they won.
But their only chance to make history rests on their will to lose consistently, not three of every five games, but a sustained run of defeats that can carry them to the promised land, as embodied by the 1991 club that set the standard for losing in Cleveland.
First, the Indians have to get in the neighborhood, that is, become only the seventh Tribe team in the modern era, since 1900, to dump at least 100 games.
The 1914 Indians showed that it could be done by losing 102, but it took 71 years for another Cleveland club to reach the magic number. It finally happened in 1971, when a determined band of nonachievers was beaten 102 times.
Bad baseball became the norm in the 1980s, with the 1985
and the 1987 teams losing 102 and 101 games, respectively. The 1987 club famously was picked by Sports Illustrated to go to the World Series, and members of the roster graced the cover of the baseball issue.
That also was the season when hall of fame knuckleball pitcher Phil Niekro was traded away from Cleveland in early August after amassing the team-leading total of seven wins. Even though almost two months remained on the schedule, no Tribe starter exceeded his win total.
Only four years later, a team burst onto the scene to set the franchise record for defeats, smashing through the 102-loss barrier to ultimately drop 105 games. Since then, no Tribe club has lost more than the 2003 group, which was beaten a mere 94 times.
And who were the anti-heroes inhabiting the 1991 roster that brought national notoriety to Northeast Ohio? How about Sandy Alomar and Carlos Baerga, Albert Belle and Greg Swindell, Charles Nagy and Jim Thome, Steve Olin and Doug Jones, Brook Jacoby and Tom Candiotti?
How could excellent players such as these have been a part of a team of infamous losers?
Alomar was coming off his American League Rookie of the Year season and missed most of 1991 with an injury. In his place, Joel Skinner, the Tribe's current third-base coach, became the regular catcher.
Thome, at age 20, made his major-league debut in '91, playing in only 27 games. Belle was in only his third big-league season but led the team with 28 home runs and 95 RBI.
Nagy was the big winner on the team with 10 but lost 15. Swindell posted a 3.48 ERA but had a 9-16 record. Candiotti was 7-6. Olin, only 25, was the closer with 17 saves.
The biggest problem with the 1991 Tribe centered on the attack, which produced only 576 runs, an average of 3.6. Not only were the Indians 14th and last in the league, they also scored 86 fewer than the Angels, who were 13th.
Here is the Opening Day lineup: Alex Cole, Jerry Browne, Chris James, Belle, Alomar, Jacoby, Baerga, Felix Fermin and Mitch Webster.
By comparison, the pitching staff's 4.24 ERA was a strength, ranking ninth in the American League.
Maybe the club's low-achievement level is best symbolized by the horde of players who came and went without much notice: Jose Gonzalez, Eddie Taubensee, Ever Magallenes, French Canadian starter Denis Boucher, Garland Kiser, Mauro Gozzo and Tony Perezchica, to name a few. In all, the 1991 roster was visited by 53 players.
John McNamara began the season as manager, but after enduring a 25-52 record, he was mercifully relieved of his duties and Mike Hargrove started his 91/2-year run as skipper. Not that his 32-53 record for the rest of the '91 season foreshadowed his subsequent success.
To complete the deliciously horrid year, the Indians finished last in the league in attendance with a figure of 1,051,863. How could the fans pass up the chance to see such a historic team? Obviously, they didn't appreciate the subtleties of lousy baseball. Their loss.
Now we jump ahead to 2009. Following the Indians' trip to Toronto, where they suffered a setback by winning two out of three, they carried a 38-58 record to the West Coast to play the Seattle Mariners and Los Angeles Angels.
Thankfully, West Coast trips are never easy. Moreover, when the Tribe visits the Angels, it will be forced to play three games against a first-place team. So there is hope that the Indians' winning percentage will slide further into the abyss. After the series against the Blue Jays, the Indians were on pace to lose only 98 games. Nothing memorable about that. Nothing the marketing department can work with in planning for next year.
Moreover, it's conceivable that the Kansas City Royals, who lately have displayed enviable diligence, will steal last place from the Tribe. But the Indians can't be distracted by another team. They must be totally focused on themselves and their mission.
It's possible they will get some help from General Manager Mark Shapiro, who did his part on Thursday by trading Rafael Betancourt, the club's most reliable reliever, to the Colorado Rockies.
But Shapiro can do better. Certainly, there are teams willing to take Cliff Lee, Victor Martinez, Carl Pavano and even Jamey Carroll off his hands. So it's time to move these players before it's too late. Every win between now and the trading deadline is another hurdle to be overcome in August and September.
The Indians have to depend on bad pitching to carry them to the finish line. As long as the pitchers maintain an ERA over 5.00, they have a shot at immortality and the chance to be released at the end of the season.
Sheldon Ocker can be reached at socker@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Indians blog at http://www.ohio.com/tribematters. Follow the Indians on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ABJ_Indians.
The Indians today teeter on the precipice. They can continue to wallow in mediocrity or stand out from the crowd, separate themselves from the dozens of other Tribe clubs that lost more games than they won.
Get the full article here.
Comments
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akron, oh
Posted 03:49 PM, 07/26/2009
blah blah
Canal Fulton, Oh
Posted 04:48 PM, 07/26/2009
Well said Ocker. I have been a Cleveland Indians and Browns fan faithfully all my life i'm 35 yrs. old, I'm like most Cleveland fans have become totally NUMB!!!! I blame my father for this terrible disease, and sad to say i have passed it onto my 2 son's. But this 2009 team will only dissapoint once again just like anyother year. They will lose 98 games no more than that! Sorry to say Tribe will not make history this year! Mark Shapiro will make sure of that.
Posted 06:05 PM, 07/26/2009
Shelodn,
Nice article.. Shapiros downfall started 2-3 yrs ago when he failed to keep Howry after he had a stellar yr. I am sick of the bad moves and the players that we let leave and become succesful
akron, oh
Posted 06:40 PM, 07/26/2009
The tribe is still playing? Let me know when Mr Hamilton that makes a foul out by the indians on the radio sound like an exciting yell fest, Wedge who is just the opposite,Dibiasio the seller of anything,and Shapiro get fired, and no do Dolan sell this team then maybe i will pay attention..
Independence, OH
Posted 10:00 PM, 07/26/2009
If you're not going to compete for a World Series, it's best to come in last, get higher picks, and stockpile talent.
Posted 10:55 PM, 07/26/2009
who cares? the tribe is a joke and I will not go to anymore games this season. Bring on football.
Posted 11:57 PM, 07/26/2009
The Indians stink and LeLoser is a junkie!!
Always In Akron, OH
Posted 05:53 AM, 07/27/2009
Hey piccard...
You say the Tribe is a joke and to bring on football. I assume you mean some quality high school or college football because we do not have a pro team worth watching.
, OH
Posted 07:33 AM, 07/27/2009
Memories, like the corners of my mind. Misty water-colored memories, of the way we were....(and the way we are once again.) Hey at least you could smoke a cigar at the Stadium the 80's!
