Indians Expected To Name Alvaro Espinoza to Staff
by afh4 on Nov 19, 2009 11:58 PM EST
in Humor
84 comments
Manny Acta and the Cleveland Indians have announced a press conference for tomorrow morning where they will announce that Alvaro Espinoza has been hired to a newly minted position: On/Off-Field Coordinator With Regards To Preparing For A Mid-1990s Style Run Of Success. Acta was enthusiastic about the hire in a chat with the media on Thursday. "When we decided to create this position, there were a lot of big names that people threw out. Roberto Alomar's name came up. So did Albert Belle's. Manny Ramirez called and expressed his interest in being interviewed. But, when we really thought about it, we wanted to find a guy who knew what it was like to prepare for that run-a guy who did the yeoman's work, who helped turn a hapless franchise into a perennial contender without a bat or a glove."
Mark Shapiro echoed Acta's sentiments in an exclusive interview with Paul Hoynes, saying "You know, we were looking for a guy who was a catalyst for the magic of the 1990s, even if it was in a way that made no sense. We ran a lot of metrics and the two things that we were able to correlate most strongly to the Indians change in fortunes from 1993 to 1995 were the House of Representatives passing the 'Contract with America' and Espinoza." Shapiro added with a laugh, "I don't have much political pull but I sure as heck can go find and hire Alvaro Espinoza!"
Espinoza, who had been serving as an infield coach for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Yankees, seemed excited if a bit confused. "I am very excited to get to Cleveland and start working with the players," Espinoza said before he quickly added, "I've been told specifically that I am not supposed to do any coaching, so I will not do that. I am supposed to be around and just sort of be there and also plan events that remind me of things that I did in the early to mid-1990s."
When pressed for more details, Espinoza gave a wry smile and revealed some of the events he was already planning. "Well, we will definitely all be learning and doing the 'Macarena.' I remember doing that and when I spoke with Jhonny Peralta he said he already knew it. Grady has agreed to wear a multi-colored blowy shirt and a bowl cut, which I think will be huge for the team. We're also arranging a laser tag event."
Espinoza hesitated when asked if he thought he could help spur this squad to a 90s style run. "I mean, Shapiro and Antonetti have been wearing fanny packs for years," he said with a shrug.
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I don’t think this will be a good hire unless Alvaro recommends over-sized parkas for all…
by The Grimace on Nov 20, 2009 1:43 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Ah yes, the poofy jackets. These are necessary.
Chugga-chugga chugga-chugga, Choo Choo!
by USSChoo on Nov 20, 2009 2:08 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
All starters will actually wear Starter jackets.
Steel Nick
by nickjs21 on Nov 20, 2009 8:33 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
The bubble-gum on the hat bandit will strike again!
by DuffBeer on Nov 20, 2009 7:37 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, how could you have forgotten bubble gum hats?
"You are an LGT success story" -- Jay
by Turkmenbashi on Nov 20, 2009 9:25 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
That’s what I was thinking. It’s the first thing I remember when I think of Espinoza.
by Buckeye Brad on Nov 20, 2009 10:04 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Even as a naive 15 year old, I hated when people would pin pink balloons on top of their hats.
Il faut d'abord durer.
by CU Adam on Nov 20, 2009 10:32 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Why is this category called “Humor”? Shouldn’t just be “Andrew’s [stuff]”?
My heart breaks for poor Wayne Kirby, though. I hope he lands on his feet after he bombed the media portion of the interview.
The once and future
by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Nov 20, 2009 7:48 AM EST reply actions 1 recs
I left the page in disgust after reading the headline. About 3 minutes later I started wondering who wrote it and whether I should check back.
Il faut d'abord durer.
by CU Adam on Nov 20, 2009 9:01 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Funny, but I’m still not sure I understand this backlash against remembering the ’90’s teams fondly.
I mean, I like every Indians team.
"You are an LGT success story" -- Jay
by Turkmenbashi on Nov 20, 2009 9:26 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
eh, i just thought this was a funny piece. there is some truth to the complaint that fans view everything through 90s-colored-glasses (to borrow the phrase from brick), but so what? yankees fans couldn’t stop holding players like a-rod, giambi, etc. to the standards set by their late 90s/early aughts teams. there’s an element of human psychology at play—we all remember the past as better than it really was and use those flawed memories as a lens through which we view the present (stumbling over happiness by dan gilbert is a great read that talks about these kinds of things in detail).
i don’t see all that much to be happy about with the current team, and those 90s teams are the source of a lot of great memories for myself and a lot of others. until shapiro & co. actually give me a reason to get excited, i’m quite content to accept the fact that i’m viewing everything that happens now through the lens of a half-imagined past.
If you don't respect Aaron Laffey, I will fight you.
by Cap'n Snegiryov on Nov 20, 2009 10:44 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
the yankees are an interesting comparison. i don’t know if i’d want to use their fans’ behavior as a barometer.
by Brick. on Nov 20, 2009 10:51 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah, this just seemed like a place to poke some easy fun at a number of different things:
1-The FO and their approach to hiring
2-Fans excitement over a guy like Sandy without any real sense of if he knows how to do anything more than a guy like Joel Skinner
3-The 90s
4-The fact that everyone wants to point to 92/93 as these times when things were clearly fomenting while ignoring the fact that we were trotting out guys like Espinoza then and guys like Cabrera/Valbuena now.
On a side note, I don’t have much doubt that this Indians team will hit enough over the next 5 years to contend. However, they won’t hit like they did in the 90s and they will struggle the same place the 90s did: I’m not confident at all they’re going to have the pitching.
by afh4 on Nov 20, 2009 11:10 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
… we were trotting out guys likeEspinozaLofton, Alomar and Belle then and guys likeCabrera/ValbuenaCarrol and Crowe now…
Just sayin’…
"You are an LGT success story" -- Jay
by Turkmenbashi on Nov 20, 2009 11:35 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Point being, Espinoza was as small a part of those teams as Carrol and Crowe are now. Both teams were/are on the brink, and I don’t think it’s really that stupid of a comparison.
"You are an LGT success story" -- Jay
by Turkmenbashi on Nov 20, 2009 11:36 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I think we agree. I’m saying that people, like Chuck in the other thread, act like the team from 1992 was obviously poised and this team is obviously garbage. I just don’t see it. Both, like all baseball teams, were long shots to become perennial contenders. Acting like it was a foregone conclusion back then while a hell-freezes-over event now strikes me as disingenuous.
by afh4 on Nov 20, 2009 11:41 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Agree strongly with this. I get annoyed with the assertion that the next 3 years are hopeless.
by Roger Dorn on Nov 20, 2009 11:50 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t believe I ever said that it was obvious in ’92 that we would be perennial contenders. On the contrary, I was so accustomed to disappointment I was very skeptical about many of the guys in the minors in ’92. Belle, for example, was described as a major head case and got sent home from Colorado Springs for disciplinary reasons. Thome played third base like he was Helen Keller. And we were just beginning to hear about Manny’s peculiarities. These guys all looked like different versions of Charlie Spikes or Corey Snider. We all got the fever after ’94, that’s when it was clear that we were on to something.
And why shouldn’t the Indians fans be nostalgic for the late ‘90s? That short period produce 40% of all the Indians WS appearance in over a 100-year span. We saw 3 or 4 HoF player in the field at the same time. It was a fluke, extraordinary, a once in a lifetime – no make that once in a century – Indians period. It was – and probably will be for a long time – the Golden Era of Cleveland Baseball.
So where are we now? Now this I’m more familiar with. We’re the KC Royals – without the CY pitcher – who we’ll be battling with for last place next year. We’ll have less talent at the start of this year than last. And yeah, we’ve got some kids in the minors that a lot of people are/were high on. But here’s the thing: you guys are from the era when an extraordinary high percentage of minor leaguers – guys like Belle, Thome, Lee, Martinez – turned into All-Stars. You’ve come to believe it’s the norm – it’s not. They’re much more likely to turn into Tim Costo or Dave Clark or Daron Kirkreit or – heaven forbid – Andy Marte.
Sorry boyz, but I just don’t see us playin’ above .500 ball for quite sometime.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
by mauichuck on Nov 20, 2009 12:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I put some credence into the experts who say we have a good farm system which puts us ahead of the Royals, not to mention a number of other teams.
by Roger Dorn on Nov 20, 2009 12:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
We are not the Royals. Not even close. At least we have a front office who has demonstrated in the past that they have an idea what they’re doing (even if they’re not always right). I’ve read enough about the Royals’ ineptitude from guys like Posnanski and Neyer to realize that our organization is miles ahead of them in their approach.
by Buckeye Brad on Nov 20, 2009 12:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
We are not the Royals. Not even close.
Cleveland 65 and 97
KC 65 and 97
Can’t get much closer than that.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
by mauichuck on Nov 20, 2009 1:06 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
C’mon man. You know there is way more to it than that.
Chugga-chugga chugga-chugga, Choo Choo!
by USSChoo on Nov 20, 2009 1:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I’m just using the same argument Jay did when he compared the ’07 ALC with the ’97 ALC. If it works there, it works here.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
by mauichuck on Nov 20, 2009 1:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
But we’re talking about the future of the team, not just the results of one season. Big difference.
by Buckeye Brad on Nov 20, 2009 2:41 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
We’re also comparing apples to apples in ’09. Both teams played more or less the same schedule with exactly the same results. This is a much closer comparison than trying to compare one decade to the next.
Yes we are the Royals and about to be passed by them.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
by mauichuck on Nov 20, 2009 2:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Chuck, you’re changing the subject again. This has nothing to do with comparing the ’07 Indians to the ’97 Indians.
If you want to compare the future of the Indians and the Royals then you need to look at much more than their W-L record last year. Do you really think that tells you everything you need to know about what’s going to happen next year? If so, then you must be predicting that every team will finish in the same place as their division as last season because that’s all that matters when judging a team’s future performance.
by Buckeye Brad on Nov 20, 2009 3:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Which would make him your typical mainstream baseball writer.
by Jay on Nov 20, 2009 8:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Gee, Brad wasn’t I clear enough? No, I don’t expect the Indians to have the same record next year, I expect them to be worse.
Our line-up will be little changed from the end of last season. We may pick up a journey-man or two, but no real talent addition for next season, since all of our better prospects were either in A or AA ball last year and should not be rushed to the big club next season. So here’s what I’m sayin’: the club that finished last season is even worse than its 65 and 97 record and will prove that next year.
Now 2011/2012 will be different. Many of our prospects will be on the big club by then and we should see improvement by 2011 and start to compete in 2012/2013, but next year’s gonna be brutal. Get ready for it.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
by mauichuck on Nov 20, 2009 10:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I think you’re severely underestimating the offensive lineup we’ll be runnning out there next year. Not disputing the putrid pitching, but it’s not like the team will be unwatchable—or historically bad.
The once and future
by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Nov 21, 2009 10:19 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I think we have a better record next year. I didn’t think I would be going out on a limb on that prediction, but apparently it’s not clear cut.
by Roger Dorn on Nov 21, 2009 12:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
It’s only not clear cut if you insist on being irascible, curmudgeonly, and inexplicably attracted to failed measures of the past.
by fwembt on Nov 21, 2009 4:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
But here’s the thing: I’ll either be 100% or 100% right. There’s no ambiguity here.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
by mauichuck on Nov 21, 2009 5:10 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
So I guess you’ll take an even money bet — over-under for 65 wins?
by Jay on Nov 21, 2009 4:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
You’re too late. I already have Turk on the hook. He bet me dinner that the Tribe will finish 5 games in front of KC. I almost feel sorry for him.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
by mauichuck on Nov 21, 2009 5:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Why would I take that bet when I got another sucker who’ll give me the Royals plus five games?
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
by mauichuck on Nov 21, 2009 5:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
You’re just distracted by KC’s shiny scoreboard.
Chugga-chugga chugga-chugga, Choo Choo!
by USSChoo on Nov 23, 2009 2:31 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
The Royals farm system is actually starting to produce Major League ready talent. Our guys are a bit further back in the maturation process. Santana, Weglarz – assuming he can come back from multiple stress fractures – and most of our young pitchers still need some more time down in the minors.
The Royals are on their way up. We, on the other hand, are headed in the other direction. We’ll need to cash in Sizemore and Westbrook for more prospects which will deplete our already devastated Major League talent pool.
Nope, sorry, my money’s on KC to finish in front of us next year. But with a little luck, we should be back in the hunt by 2012 – 2013 at the latest.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
by mauichuck on Nov 20, 2009 1:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
They’re headed for fourth place.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
by mauichuck on Nov 20, 2009 1:09 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
You ignore how awful Dayton Moore is at building a team. He traded for a terrible defensive SS (and one of the worst players in the AL) and told everyone that he was a great defensive SS. He says that he wants to stress OBP then signs or trades for a bunch of players with low OBP. He seems completely clueless. They may have some young talent but there is no evidence that Moore can build a team around those players.
by Buckeye Brad on Nov 20, 2009 2:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
And why shouldn’t the Indians fans be nostalgic for the late ‘90s? … It was – and probably will be for a long time – the Golden Era of Cleveland Baseball.
This I agree with wholeheartedly. Nothing wrong with fondly remembering a specific era of teams. Hell, I get nostalgic for Jim Brown and he retired 25 years before I was born.
We’re the KC Royals…
This I couldn’t disagree with more. I think you underestimate just how bad the Royals are and their chances for improving. That’s not even to mention the considerable amount of talent we’ve got already in the majors or on the brink. We may be bad next year but, as a whole, we are nowhere near the Royals in terms of state of the franchise.
In fact, I’m willing to bet that ‘09 was rock bottom. You feeli like gamblin’, Chuck? I say the Tribe finishes not only improves upon their ’09 record but also finishes no less than five games better than KC in 2010. Pick your stakes.
"You are an LGT success story" -- Jay
by Turkmenbashi on Nov 20, 2009 1:15 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
You’re on. Dinner for you and your GF and the Blacksalt if you shoud win. If not, you pick up the ticket for dinner for me and my wife at Mama’s Fishhouse
That work for you?
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
by mauichuck on Nov 20, 2009 1:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Well, no GF in sight but otherwise, I’m in.
"You are an LGT success story" -- Jay
by Turkmenbashi on Nov 20, 2009 1:34 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Here’s another bet – we’ll make it for dessert – ‘09 ain’t rock bottom. We’re gonna lose 100 games in ‘10. Now you can’t pass that up.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
by mauichuck on Nov 20, 2009 1:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I’m still in.
"You are an LGT success story" -- Jay
by Turkmenbashi on Nov 20, 2009 1:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
How could you not be. See if he’ll bet his car for 110 loses in ’11.
Chugga-chugga chugga-chugga, Choo Choo!
by USSChoo on Nov 23, 2009 2:32 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Oooh, I ate at Mama’s Fishhouse a couple of years ago when I was in Hawaii. That was a fantastic meal.
by InfiniteMonkeyTypists on Nov 20, 2009 3:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
It’ll taste even better when Turk pays for it.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
by mauichuck on Nov 20, 2009 3:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
So in this scenario, who pays for my plane ticket to Hawaii?
"You are an LGT success story" -- Jay
by Turkmenbashi on Nov 21, 2009 8:57 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I’ll give you the option: you can stay in DC and go to Blacksalt or you can fly yourself over here and go to Mama’s. It’s up to you.
Resident LGT results-oriented boob.
by mauichuck on Nov 21, 2009 2:19 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Cross that bridge when we come to it, but that sounds good to me
"You are an LGT success story" -- Jay
by Turkmenbashi on Nov 21, 2009 6:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Yep, I’m with ya 100% on this
"You are an LGT success story" -- Jay
by Turkmenbashi on Nov 20, 2009 1:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
it’s not easy to get Color Me Badd references mixed in regular baseball conversation.
turk, i get your point. i think i overreacted about the 90’s thing. color me bad on this one.
by Brick. on Nov 20, 2009 11:35 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
However, they won’t hit like they did in the 90s
I doubt that run environment will be back for a while in general- for obvious reasons.
they will struggle the same place the 90s did: I’m not confident at all they’re going to have the pitching.
I’ll accept allowing the fewest runs in the league like the ’95 and ’96 teams did.
by spreidel on Nov 20, 2009 2:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I meant that they won’t hit as well relative to league as the teams from the 90s did.
I think it’s pretty clear pitching was the team’s achilles’ heel in the 90s, some outstanding seasons serving as exceptions.
by afh4 on Nov 20, 2009 3:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Espinoza…seemed excited if a bit confused.
Thank you, thank you for starting my day with a laugh. Irony, delicious irony…
by stuart dean on Nov 20, 2009 10:42 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Slightly off topic, but did anyone else order their Opening day tickets today?
At 10:05 I was able to get seats in sec 151.
by NatiTribeFan on Nov 20, 2009 12:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
He’s going to mentor Gimenez, right?
by Matt in LA on Nov 20, 2009 12:36 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
The White Sox are supposedly close to signing Vizquel.
While this probably doesn’t matter from a baseball point of view, man that’s a punch in the groin.
Il faut d'abord durer.
by CU Adam on Nov 20, 2009 4:14 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
ockus scooped ya on this. and he also indirectly thinks you are a cleveland.com’er
by Brick. on Nov 20, 2009 4:18 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Naw, I don’t. Cleveland.com’ers say things like this in reference to a story about the 40-man:
wooopy doooo……who cares…..see ya in 2012…….
I think Adam’s safe.
Before taking Pro-Acta, please consult your doctor. Do not taunt Pro-Acta.
by Ockus_NYC on Nov 20, 2009 4:41 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
we can test the notion that omar-to-cleveland would have put butts in seats. he’ll have nine chances to sell out Progressive field this year.
Before taking Pro-Acta, please consult your doctor. Do not taunt Pro-Acta.
by Ockus_NYC on Nov 20, 2009 4:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I might just root against him now.
No, I won’t. But I really want us to win a game because he kicked a grounder or something.
Steel Nick
by nickjs21 on Nov 20, 2009 6:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
White Sox have had Belle, Thome and now maybe Vizquel. Presumably they will be going after Manny next, possibly Brian Giles, and then Carlos Baerga.
by Jay on Nov 20, 2009 8:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Sandy Alomar Jr too…and let’s give it to Ozzie for still being a jerk;
“I’ll tell you what, though, if this kid is on the team there’s no way in hell he’s wearing No. 13.’’
by The Grimace on Nov 20, 2009 10:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t see the jerkiness in that statement. Ozzie and Omar evidently are good friends, so it was probably said with a humorous tone. They both wear 13 to honor Concepción.
by Jay on Nov 21, 2009 12:39 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Lofton as well. They’re the ones with the nostalgia problem.
by dgcambridge on Nov 23, 2009 5:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Oh, just wait. They’re gonna sign Pavano. That’ll really stir sh** up.
Steel Nick
by nickjs21 on Nov 21, 2009 3:03 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
This got my hopes up. Espinoza was one of my favorite Indians, although more for his bubble gum bandit antics than his actual play on the field
by datrain021 on Nov 20, 2009 8:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
It would pretty much be impossible for him to be anyone’s favorite for his on the field abilities.
by fwembt on Nov 21, 2009 4:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
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