Indians: 5 Christmas presents the team gave us this year

The Cleveland Indians had a successful year, which saw them overcome all the odds, whether adversity, compete for the playoffs, and win a bunch of awards.

The Cleveland Indians had another successful season in 2020. They made the playoffs, nearly won the AL Central, had yet another pitcher win the AL Cy Young Award, and saw Jose Ramirez nearly win the AL MVP for the third time in four years. That’s not too shabby. Considering the global pandemic and the issues the team faced during the summer with two obnoxious pitchers, it’s fair to say this was a successful year.

Not everyone is going to agree, mind you, but if unless you’re Scrooge, you can at least admit the Indians really were impressive this year.

That’s why we’re going to look at five of the gifts we’re most thankful for.

These are the five Christmas gifts we’re thankful for from the Indians in 2020.

One last season with Francisco Lindor

Sure, Francisco Lindor will get traded eventually and no, he never ended up winning a championship with the Indians either. While yes, he only played 60 games for the Indians in his (potentially) last season, but it was at least one more turn with one of the better players we’ve seen in Cleveland over the last few years. While it may not be a lot, it is something.

Jose Ramirez cementing himself as a Top-3 player in the AL

No one, not Mike Trout, not Aaron Judge, no one in the American League has had three top-three finishes in the AL MVP voting over the last four years. No one, only Jose Ramirez. If you’re the only player to constantly finish in the top three in MVP voting, you get to call yourself a top-three player.

Shane Bieber’s playmaking people say, “Justin, who?”

Shane Bieber in 2020 was a true gift. Christmas came early and often for Tribe fans. Though, his opponents probably saw Bieber as more of a Krampus type. Stealing all the goodwill and joy from each and every opposing batter. He was very Grinch-like in that regard. Oh well, he is the Ace of the AL after all.

Sandy Alomar’s guidance

Sandy Alomar had a depleted roster, no funds, and then two schmucks in Mike Clevinger and Zach Plesac. Alomar had to guide the team to a playoff birth with no margin for error on the roster, a global pandemic, and his boss, Terry Francona, having to miss the entire season due to health issues. The fact Alomar didn’t win the Manager of the Year for 2020 is a dang joke.

Terry Francona’s improved health

Terry Francona missed all of the 2020 season due to lingering health issues that kept him sidelined. The word around the water cooler is that Francona is expected back in 2021, and arguably the Indians greatest manager of all time will have the opportunity to test that title with a squad of mostly younger players.

Bonus: A new name.

We haven’t gotten it yet, so it’s not an official entry. Hopefully, it’s not the “Spiders”. That would be truly awful.