CLEVELAND, Ohio -- It was a nice day for a wake.
It was 76 degrees at Progressive Field. A warm September breeze worked its way through the ballpark, pushing the flags toward right field.
When Carlos Santana, the old Indians first baseman, came to the plate for the Royals in the first inning, he received a nice round of applause. “We love you, Carlos,” came a voice from the crowd.
Business was brisk at the team shop.
“You should have seen it over the weekend,” said a clerk. “We haven’t been this busy since the All-Star Game (2019). Anything with Indians on it is was flying out the door.”
The last home game of the season always draws a crowd. Some just want to say they were there. Others are trying to hang onto summer for one more day. A few just want to serenade Jose Ramirez a final time before it starts snowing.
Baseball always comes back. The endless season just takes a few months off to collect itself. Then it’s February and time for pitchers and catchers to report to spring training again.
But there was a finality to Monday’s game. The name Cleveland’s baseball team has played under for 106 years was being put to rest. The Indians, after the last game of the season on Oct. 3 in Arlington, Texas, will be no more. They were getting an early send off from the crowd of 13,121 on Monday.
In July the organization made the decision to change the name to the Guardians. It will become official at some point this offseason.
Monday’s crowd was holding on hard to the present and past as it watched the Indians beat Kansas City, 8-3.
Many fans were wearing “Long Live The Chief” T-shirts in memory of the mascot the team retired after the 2018 season because of its racist connotations. One fan wore a shirt that said, “The Chief Is My Guardian.”
Throughout the crowd fans wore Indians’ player jerseys from different eras: Bob Feller, Rocky Colavito, Kenny Lofton, Albert Belle, Omar Vizquel, Francisco Lindor, Jose Ramirez and Shane Bieber. Hollywood’s No. 99 Ricky Vaughn even made a couple of appearances. They were all linked by one name -- the Indians.
There was one sign that did not appear at Progressive Field on Monday. Indians fan Tim Shirer saw it over the weekend during the five-game series against the White Sox
“The sign said, ‘Relax, we’re becoming the Guardians, not the Ravens,’” said Shirer.
Certainly a point to remember. The ballclub isn’t going anywhere. It will be back in 2022 and with some help for the offense, it should be a contender again no matter what it’s called.
It appears that the top three starters, Shane Bieber, Adam Civale and Zach Plesac, should go into the offseason healthy. Cal Quantrill, one of the best pitching stories in baseball since the All-Star break, cemented a spot in that rotation with yet another quality start in Monday’s victory. Triston McKenzie is right there with him, and no one should sleep on Eli Morgan or Logan Allen.
The bullpen will need work, but closer Emmanuel Clase is already here. Should James Karinchak right himself that’s another hard-thrower for the late innings. Rookies Trevor Stephan, Sam Hentges and Justin Garza will be in the mix as well. Hard-throwing lefty Anthony Gose is out of options, but hasn’t done anything to hurt himself.
Some veteran relievers will be needed ala Bryan Shaw, Blake Parker and Nick Wittgren.
The offense is a puzzle. They need more help from the corner outfield spots, second base and catcher. All signs point to the team exercising the 2022 option on Jose Ramirez, which should secure the middle of the lineup along with Franmil Reyes and Bobby Bradley, who needs to be in the lineup from opening day on.
If Amed Rosario, who had his sixth four-hit game of the season Monday, hasn’t earned the first look at shortstop next year, it’s hard to imagine who has.
For the cherry on top, Terry Francona is expected to be back in the dugout as manager after two seasons shortened by health concerns.
Acting manager DeMarlo Hale said he was going to save a lineup card for Francona and himself from today’s game along with one from the last game of the season.
“It’s significant, it really is,” said Hale. “Years and years and years (under one name). So I just wanted to add that because I know it’s different in a sense when you take on change. But I truly believe that it’s going to be embraced over the years.”
In the ninth inning, while Clase was retiring the Royals in order, the crowd was standing and chanting “Let’s Go Indians. Let’s Go Indians.” The final out came on Adalberto Mondesi’s grounder to third, but the celebration had just started. The Indians players came back on the field, applauding the fans, who were still standing and cheering.
“Not all of us have been here for a long time, but we all respect what the Indians have meant to Cleveland for the last forever and I think we wanted to send people off on the right note,” said Quantrill. “There was some pride and we’re very happy that this is how they will get to remember the Indians.”
Then with an eye toward the future, Quantrill added, “We’re hoping they’ll come out and support the Guardians the same way they’ve supported the Indians, because we’ve got big plans next year.”
Indians merchandise for sale: Here’s where you can order Cleveland Indians gear online before the team becomes the Guardians, including jerseys, T-shirts, hoodies, hats and much more.
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