A Fresh Start (Indians)

Lawrence Dolan, retired attorney and effectively one of the great patrons of modern Cleveland, died peacefully while taking a nap on a cold December afternoon. He'd seen his doctor two weeks before and passed his physical quite well for a 74 year old man, and some in high society found his sudden passing odd.

Dolan was 74 though, and at the request of his family no autopsy would be performed. Instead, over five hundred people including Mayor Frank Jackson, most of the city council, and a surprising cross section of society saw him laid to rest in Cleveland Heights.

Dolan always intended the team and his other holdings go to his sons. Matthew and Paul Dolan were both attorneys. The former served as US House representative for parts of Columbus, while Paul served as team president. Unfortunately there was a problem.

Usually when one writes a will, there is a clause specifically voiding any previous documents. For whatever reason, Dolan's will dated December 2, 2005 didn't have this. It did leave the team in Paul's care. His previous will, from October 2003, left the team to Matthew.

The Cleveland Indians were the crown jewel of Dolan's holdings. Along with the usual prestige of owning a Major League team, between 1989 and 2000 its value rose from $35 million to $210 million.

As the wrangling grew uglier and more public, General Manager Mark Shapiro registered his disgust with both sons by resigning on January 9. This left the team effectively leaderless as both brothers appointed their own replacements who issued conflicting orders.

As one of the founding members of the American League descended into chaos, Major League Baseball met in emergency session on January 27. There they agreed by a vote of 28-2 (both Cleveland delegates and Florida dissenting) that if the Dolan brothers couldn't resolve their differences, then maybe someone should buy the team out.

That someone proved to be Edward Sinclair, a resident of nearby Avon. Sinclair's father made the family fortune during Cleveland's hey day as one of the manufacturing centers of the nation. Ed added to this by investing in Microsoft very early and riding the wave of Bill Gates' success. He paid the brothers $250 million each.

Sinclair made a clean sweep of the Indians front office, feeling more comfortable with 'rookies' that owed their success to him as opposed to veterans with loyalties to Shapiro or the Dolans.

These 'rookies' would have one of the best teams in the league at their disposal. In 2005 the Indians finished 93-69, six games behind the World Champion White Sox and two out of the wildcard. However that also led to great expectations. Local talk show host Mike Trivisonno promised Tribe fans a divisional pennant, if not the Series, and he was not the kind of man who took disappointment well.

Ed and I met at the University of Akron, where we both earned MBAs. He returned to his parties and society, while I went into sports and finally led the Redmond (Oregon) Trailblazers to the very first Golden League championship.(1)

The Golden Baseball League, like its more popular brethren further east, is an independent league. Their teams are not farms for the Majors, but nor are the players really of Major League quality. Since there's a very low salary cap, the only people who play in the GBL are the up and comers who didn't get drafted, the oldsters no one wants hoping to make a comeback, and those who simply love the game. As an example, Rickey Henderson played for the San Diego Surf Dawgs.

Sometimes independent players do get signed, a cause for celebration league wide. I didn't know general managers could be as well.

In a way I shouldn't have been surprised. Ed doesn't have the temperament - or desire - to try to run a multi-million dollar franchise. I have to admit it's a bit disconcerting going from a total team payroll of less than $150,000 to over $50 million.

My name is Knight. Robert Knight.

You can call me Cat.

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(1) Redmond is a real city in central Oregon, and the Golden League is real as well. The Trailblazers, however, are fake.

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COMMENTS:

The Kansas City dynasty will rest for awhile. I thought it time to try something new.

2006 was the year I came to Cleveland. I lived most of my life in Connecticut, but have spent the twenty-first century wandering from place to place (including central Oregon) before settling here. When I came, I needed a fresh start, hence part of the name of this dynasty.

I expected Cleveland to be depressing, a rest stop while I gathered my strength for a return home or to wander somewhere else. Instead I found some good friends and a fiance, so I guess this is home now.

2006 was also the year I started paying attention to baseball again. I spent the 90s first apathic, then disgusted by the game I loved as a child. To this day I know more about the teams of the late 70s and early 80s than those of the 90s and early 00s. A friend here is an Indian-holic and started dragging me to games. Soon enough the old spark returned. I joined these forums in March '07, and the rest is history. That's the other reason for this dynasty title.

In a sense, I'm using this dynasty to get a better feel for the team's recent history. Looking at their '06 roster, there are players I don't recognize...and many of those I do are in the minors. I don't know much about the other teams at all. This is a way of finding out.

So...the year is 2006. The Indians have a lot of potential...but the AL Central is one of the most competitive in baseball. Barry Bonds hasn't broken Aaron's record yet, and with any luck (no interference from me this time) maybe he'll get eaten by giant shark.

It's Tribe Time.

Table of Contents:
2006 begins below.


House Rules

BM09 v11.10, Equalized Cities

1. Only three trades per year: One in the off-season, one between April and June, the last in July. All must use the trading block. I cannot modify offers except to balance cash. (Exception: +1 trade in 2006)

2. I may accept computer trades, but again can't modify except to balance cash.

3. All games are on manager level, either simmed or 'watched' as GM.

4. Free Agent resignings are per a modified version of OFG's rules. There is a 33% chance this will apply to resigning players as well. There is also a 50% chance of avoiding arbitration in any given year.

5. The number of FAs I can sign in a given year is equal to x-1, where x equals my finish last year.

6. I get an additional FA signing which MUST be used on a prospect (70- overall, 83+ peak, age 25 or under)

7. I can indeed be 'fired' - my current contract runs through 2008.

8. As you know, I have a habit of changing the 'world' around me. For one thing, if we ever reach 2011 I'm considering an expansion. You've been warned.

9. There is a Rule V draft offseason for minor leaguers age 29 and over.
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Future Spoiler Info

Code:

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Year        Record        Finish        -        Batting MVP        Pitching MVP
2006

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February 27, 2006

Mark Shapiro, now the former GM of the Indians, lived in a large house in nearby Lakewood. He answered the door himself, surprise giving way to pleasure. "Rob! You're early. Come in."

"Not too early, I hope?" I couldn't time traffic in Cleveland yet. I was rather pleased I'd made it at all.

"Not at all." We walked upstairs and into his den, where a man sat leafing through a book. He put it down when I entered.

"I hope you don't mind, Rob. I thought this would save us some time."

Eric Wedge, field manager of the Indians, smiled as we shook hands. He was a big man in his late thirties who managed 86 at bats in four years before ending his playing career in 1994. He'd led the Indians since 2003 with a lifetime record of 241-245. He and his coaches survived Sinclair's purge, which was good as I had no idea where to find a replacement.

"I'm surprised you aren't at Winter Haven," I remarked.

"I was, and I'm going back tomorrow morning. Mark called and thought we should meet before the rest of the players report. Plus, it gives me a chance to see my wife."

Polite small talk, then Shapiro got to business. "Rob, I thought it important to give you an idea of the state of the league, as well as the team. It's only fair since you weren't part of the fighting that took place when Larry died."

The lesser news had to do with stadiums. St. Louis had a new one (New Busch Park...original) and opened on April 2 against the Cubs. The Nationals, Mets and Yankees were all in various stages of designing their own fields as well.

The big news, the big secret really, was that Major League Baseball simply wasn't stable anymore.

"It started after '94," Shapiro said. "We lost a lot of fans after the strike, and while we're getting them back it's more mercurial than in the past. Less team loyalty and more bandwagoning. That's one of the reasons Selig talked contraction in '02 and the Expos failed two years later."

The C- word. In some sports circles it ranked up there with the N- word, the F- word, and several other words you don't say in polite company.

Now it might happen again. Mark told me the Pirates were in serious, serious trouble. They'd gone thirteen seasons without even breaking .500, Pittsburgh was actually shrinking in size, and their fans were leaving for more competitive teams like the Phillies or Indians.

"McClatchy is still looking for a local buyer, but if he fails...well, at Summer Meetings you'll probably hear some presentations."

"From who?"

"San Jose, California would like a team," Shapiro said, shaking his head. "However with San Fran and Oakland so close I don't think anyone's going to bite. San Antonio, Indianapolis and Jacksonville seem to be the leaders right now."

Jacksonville? Baseball and Florida don't seem to go together, though it's true Jacksonville's really of a different temperament then points south. San Antonio? Maybe... Indianapolis is the most natural replacement, though perhaps a little close to Cincinnati.

"There's more though." Apparently Detroit was also in hot water, though owner Michael Illitch was more hopeful of getting out of it. "If the Tigers are getting ready to fall also, Selig may just cry enough and bring us back down to 28 teams."

Losing two of the oldest franchises in baseball would be....serious.

"What does the Players' Union think?"

"Oh, they're giving the usual commentary about how any contraction would violate the CBA, though they could care less if teams want to move. They're trying to keep it out of the papers, as are we." Baseball labor relations stayed wary, but stable since the '94 strike. No one wanted to chance disenfranchising the fans entirely and killing their golden goose.

"You can probably learn more if you talk to Arneault." Michel Arneault, a Montreal native, took over the Tigers a month ago. "Careful though, he can be touchy."

Eric and I talked briefly about the roster. We agreed little could be finalized until Spring Training was finished, but if I felt a sudden need to recruit us another pitcher or outfielder, he wouldn't lose any sleep.

So I did.

Trade:
CLE-ATL: 3B Andy Marte (67/73) [22] (.140 0-4 0 in 57 AB with ATL last year)
CLE-ATL: RP Juan Lara (69/79) [25] (3-3 5.46 1 SV in AA-Akron)

ATL-CLE: SP Horacio Ramirez (76) [26] (11-9 4.63 1 CG)

As far as I'm concerned, the Braves can have Marte back. Lara might be a fine reliever in time, but we have better people also coming up through the ranks. Ramirez isn't outstanding...but he's 26, where as Paul Byrd is 35 and has about the same skills.

Ramirez will be our #5 starter. Marte and Lara end up in AAA-Richmond.

I thought you said you would do a Mariners dynasty next?!?!! :(

screw the Indians:D:D

Looks good as always :), I wish I could develop storylines as well as you do for Dynasties.

Interesting. Starting a modern era dynasty. It'll be interesting to see how Barry's chase goes, as well as possible contraction, and, of course the who steroid thing.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gosensgo101

Interesting. Starting a modern era dynasty. It'll be interesting to see how Barry's chase goes, as well as possible contraction, and, of course the who steroid thing.

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Yes, Barry's chase. I'm sure that will go very well for him, as always :cool:

Coach Owens: I did. Sorry :( As you read above, this one has personal significance for me. Anyway, I don't want to take away from your dynasty, which I'm enjoying. If it helps anyway, you'll like what happens below.

jshaw: Hm. Who's your team? I'm feeling this sudden urge to edit players. :)

YEAH DAWWWG: Not much of a story so far, but thanks :)

gosensgo: We'll see about Barry. The steroid era is fortunately about over, though of course we still have the Mitchell report to look forward to.

SrMeowMeow: Hey! I said I wouldn't interfere with Bonds' record chase. I probably meant that too. :)
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2006 Predictions

AL East
1. New York Yankees (87-75)
2. Baltimore Orioles (84-78)
3. Boston Red Sox (81-81)
4. Toronto Blue Jays (78-84)
5. Tampa Bay Devil Rays (68-94)

AL Central
1. Minnesota Twins (91-71)
2. Cleveland Indians (86-76)
3. Detroit Tigers (84-78)
4. Chicago White Sox (69-93)
5. Kansas City Royals (52-110)

AL West
1. Oakland Athletics (96-66)
2. Texas Rangers (93-69) (Wildcard)
3. Los Angeles Angels (90-72)
4. Seattle Mariners (76-86)

NL East
1. Philadelphia Phillies (97-65)
2. New York Mets (95-67) (Wildcard)
3. Atlanta Braves (93-69)
4. Washington Nationals (83-79)
5. Florida Marlins (71-91)

NL Central
1. St. Louis Cardinals (94-68)
2. Milwaukee Brewers (80-82)
3. Chicago Cubs (75-87)
4. Houston Astros (74-88)
5. Cincinnati Reds (71-91)
6. Pittsburgh Pirates (69-93)

NL West
1. San Diego Padres (88-74)
2. Los Angeles Dodgers (83-79)
3. Colorado Rockies (77-85)
4. Arizona Diamondbacks (76-86)
5. San Francisco Giants (69-93)

N/S Rating 1.66; Extreme records 0/0/1/0; High: PHI 97; Low: KCR 52

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I've found that exact numbers mean very little - but predictions can still show basic trends. For example, I'd be very surprised if the Cardinals didn't win the NL Central, while the NL East promises to be a real battle.

As for us, this tells me the Twins have an advantage - but not an overwhelming one. Detroit also wants a shot at the divisional pennant, so the ALC could be amusing.

I expected Kansas City to be bad, but what's wrong with the ChiSox? Didn't they win the Series last year? For that matter, last year's NL Champ, the Astros, aren't expected to break 81 wins either. Hm.
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Strange news out of Seattle: While vacationing in Hawaii before getting ready to start the season, enraged natives captured GM Bill Bavasi and fed him to a volcano.

Hawaii isn't supposed to have any natives - at least in the tribal sense - but apparently a small group living in the interior of Hilo felt their volcano god was angry about the Mariners' poor performance in recent years. They clubbed him and threw him in.

Major League Baseball is obviously appalled. The Mariners have hired some kid named Will Thompson to take over.

I've barely skimmed your other dynasties, as I'm not too familiar with many historical names and don't really have any "attachments" to them, but I've always thought them to be some of the best around, just by glancing at the immense detail you have in your posts. Now that you're doing a modern one, you've gained another loyal reader. Really looking forward to this one.

:)

Also, you won't abandon this one like you did with "Tribal Warfare" will you?

Well, there goes expansion to Hawaii... :D

Great start. You know I'll be reading!

Could the Natives stay in the story? Please! They are awesome! Maybe Bonds should go on vacation to Hawaii...

Houston: Welcome! Just be ready for inconsistencies. I know the 70s and 80s players (sadly) much better than the modern ones :)

Coach Owens: Probably not, though one of my thoughts (before this) was to resurrect it. Since I'm sticking with BM09 though, and didn't want to start that far back this time...here we are. :)

PotatoofCouch: I dunno, the Mariners could go to Hawaii. Their fanbase is already in place :)

RedSoxRockies: We'll see what we can do :)
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I flew to Tampa on a rainy day in late March then, rather than be met at the airport by a fawning traveling secretary, rented a comfortable mid-size Ford and drove the fifty-odd miles across state to Winter Haven.

Despite recent (half-hearted) attempts to renovate the stadium, Chain O'Lakes park betrayed its origins back in the '60s. For the fans it's comfortable, and can easily seat 7,000 or more. However, it doesn't really have the bells and whistles a modern site requires. The dorms are cramped, and some of our offices are actually in trailers. In other words, for a man used to working in the independent leagues with a $150,000 odd payroll it's like coming home.

The players hate it. Good. A little humility lesson never hurt anyone, and might make them more grateful for being in the show.

The truth is we aren't even supposed to be here. In 1992 Homestead, Florida agreed to build the Indians a state-of-the-art stadium to rival the Yankees' camp or those in Arizona. They came through. Then so did Hurricane Andrew, annihilating the park.

They couldn't be ready by 1993, and we needed a home. The city of Winter Haven agreed to renovate Chain O'Lakes for us, but only if we promised to stay ten years. We did, they did, and for all this time Homestead's stood empty. I'm not sure why the team didn't leave in 2003, but I think part of it is indifferent attendance in the southern part of this state.

Perhaps the Marlins would like it in Homestead, if they can add about thirty thousand seats. With Wayne Huizenga (owner of the Dolphins) out of the way, there's really no reason to stay in Dolphin Stadium if they don't have to. Sharing a stadium with a football team is so early '70s...

Over the next few days I watched the team practice and play. Wedge assigned a number of people to minor league camps, and I didn't interfere. Most of them wouldn't have earned a spot in Redmond! Our future didn't look promising. (I begin with 6 fielders and 10 pitchers in the minors. Ack!)

Finally we sat down and went through the rest:
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OPENING DAY 2006
http://i187.photobucket.com/albums/x...s/CLE1980-.gif
ROSTER

CATCHERS

Victor Martinez (89) [27] (.305 20-80 0)
CON: $2.47m thru 2006 / ACQ: 07/96 Amateur Free Agent
DEBUT: 2002 Cleveland Indians (5th season)

Kelly Shoppach (73/75) [25] (.000 0-0 0 in 15 AB with Boston)
CON: $348K thru Arb 2009 / ACQ: 01/06 Trade with BOS
DEBUT: 2005 Boston Red Sox (Rookie)

Getting Shoppach was one of Shapiro's last acts, and the trade didn't even finish until he was gone. Time will tell whether it was a good trade or not. Martinez, meanwhile, is one of our best players and will be here for a long time to come.

FIRST BASE

Ryan Garko (81/86) [25] (.000 0-0 0 in 1 AB)
CON: $348K thru Arb 2009 / ACQ: 06/03 Amateur Draft (3rd round)
DEBUT: 2005 Cleveland Indians (Rookie)

Travis Hafner (90) [28] (.305 33-108 0)
CON: $3.67m thru 2006 / ACQ: 12/02 Trade with TEX
DEBUT: 2002 Texas Rangers (5th season)

I knew Shapiro liked his teams young, but that's now two rookies..and Garko's starting! Hafner is our DH.

INFIELD

Ron Belliard (82) [30] (.284 17-78 2)
CON: $5.3m thru 2009 / ACQ: 12/03 Free Agent
DEBUT: 1998 Milwaukee Brewers (9th season)

Kevin Kouzmanoff (74/86) [24] (Rookie)
CON: $348K thru Arb 2009 / ACQ: 06/03 Amateur Draft (6th round)
DEBUT: 2006 Cleveland Indians (Rookie)

Jhonny Peralta (83/88) [23] (.292 24-78 0)
CON: $1.51m thru Arb 2007 / ACQ: 04/99 Amateur Free Agent
DEBUT: 2003 Cleveland Indians (4th season)

Ramon Vazquez (75) [29] (.212 0-5 0 with Boston/Cleveland)
CON: $669K thru 2006 / ACQ: 07/05 Trade with BOS
DEBUT: 2001 Seattle Mariners (6th season)

Joe Inglett (74/77) [27] (Rookie)
CON: $348K thru Arb 2009 / ACQ: 06/00 Amateur Draft (8th round)
DEBUT: 2006 Cleveland Indians (Rookie)

Aaron Boone (70) [33] (.243 16-60 9)
CON: $1.7m thru 2006 / ACQ: 06/04 Free Agent
DEBUT: 1997 Cincinnati Reds (9th season)

And may I introduce the mostly has beens and never will bes. Peralta (his first name is spelled correctly) is our only real bright spot. We have hope for Kouzmanoff, but this will very much be a trial by fire for him. Belliard's aging, but should be okay for a bit. As for the others - we've seen Vazquez's best, and it's not very good. Inglett is getting old to improve much more. Boone's time has passed.

OUTFIELD

Jason Michaels (80) [29] (.304 4-31 3 with Philadelphia)
CON: $1.81m thru 2006 / ACQ: 01/06 Trade with PHI
DEBUT: 2001 Philadelphia Phillies (6th season)

Grady Sizemore (93) [23] (.289 22-81 22)
CON: $1.0m thru Arb 2008 / ACQ: 06/02 Trade with MON
DEBUT: 2004 Cleveland Indians (3rd season)

Casey Blake (77) [32] (.241 23-58 4)
CON: $2.63m thru 2006 / ACQ: 12/02 Free Agent
DEBUT: 1999 Toronto Blue Jays (8th season)

Todd Hollandsworth (75) [32] (.244 6-36 4 with Chicago(N), Atlanta)
CON: $1.8m thru 2008 / ACQ: 01/06 Free Agent
DEBUT:1995 Los Angeles Dodgers (12th season)

Again, Shapiro's last trades and signings didn't take hold until after the new year. Michaels and Sizemore look solid. Blake looks like he's getting old, as does Hollandsworth.

On the Farm

OF Franklin Gutierrez (77/81) will probably join mid-season. IF Lou Merloni (70) could also see time if we struggle.