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Cleveland Indians Playoffs: 5 Bold Predictions For The ALCS

By Ryan Rosko

Oct 10, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Cleveland Indians teammates celebrate after defeating the Boston Red Sox 4-3 in game three of the 2016 ALDS playoff baseball series at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 10, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Cleveland Indians teammates celebrate after defeating the Boston Red Sox 4-3 in game three of the 2016 ALDS playoff baseball series at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 4, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Toronto Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro (left) welcomes new club general manager Ross Atkins during a media conference at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 4, 2015; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Toronto Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro (left) welcomes new club general manager Ross Atkins during a media conference at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports /

Former Indians Executives Will Have Doubts About Leaving Cleveland

First things first: Such a feeling/reaction is going to be known to very few people, if anyone. Yet, the thought about the possibility that former Indians executives Mark Shapiro and Ross Atkins having second thoughts about leaving soon or down the road is quite interesting.

Fans should not knock Shapiro or Atkins, who are now Toronto’s president and general manager respectively. Both of them did some good work in Cleveland, but left for new challenges and promotions.

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Shapiro and Atkins left to join the Blue Jays last offseason and in turn got the opportunity to lead a very talented offense. In Cleveland, Shapiro and company could never reach the next level with the roster. Eventually, they had to move on from players who had a ton of potential or was not a fit at that time.

Such decisions were not always supported and it is assumed that will eventually be the case in Toronto. Whether that happens or not, remains to be seen.

Cleveland defeating Toronto to advance to the World Series should give both Shapiro and Atkins mixed reactions. After all, they do have ties to the team. However, they did not lead to what would be the A.L.’s representative to the World Series.

More of Cleveland’s core is signed long-term than Toronto’s. Say Toronto does not advance, are they in a better position to win in the future than Cleveland? Due to various factors, no they are not.

Sure, their core is great, but they are not in a better position. Cleveland has much more depth both in the minor and major leagues to be a factor for just as many years and probably longer.

It took a while for Cleveland to get back to the playoffs after heir run last decade. Luckily, Francona’s influence has sped up the process and has succeeded in time with the Tribe.

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