What will the Dolans actually do?

[timdav]

I think many of us know what we think the Dolans should do. We've been talking about it for months, if not years.

But, how about this: what do all of you think the Dolans WILL do (or not do) this off-season?

[ironmike]

Timdav, from my perspective it is not as difficult as it appears. People still love baseball. Steps IMO the Indians should consider to get the fans trust back, keep their season ticket base from eroding further and solidifying relationships with their partners and sponsors.

1. Hire a true baseball evaluator LIKE a Rick Manning to be the GM, or someone like him. Since a guy like Manning would be in a new position hire a guy like Pat Gillick/ John Hart to be the team consultant and surround Manning with the needed assistant administrators. Allow Manning to make all baseball decisions including hiring of scouts. We need an executive in our front office the caliber of Kenny Williams or Ruben Amaro. Keep in mind this is going to take 3-4 years to turn around. We won't attract a Walt Jocketty due to lack of funds. The GM needs to be a baseball guy, not an executive type like we currently. The two best GM's we've ever had were Hank Greenberg and John Hart, both baseball lifers.

2. Eliminate all costs associated with promotions including fireworks telling the fans WINNING is the only priority.
Make WINNING the only marketing message.

3. Put the very best 25 players on the roster opening day 2013, no matter their age, contracts or any other BS they come up with year after year. Build the team like the 90's championship teams, get the next Kenny Lofton, the next Manny, Thome, Albert, build a solid core any way possible. Tell the fans what you are doing and why.

4. The marketing campaign is only about WINNING, no bobbleheads, no gimmicks. Restore the winning ways of
Cleveland Indians baseball being the only priority.

5. Hire the best scouts and have the goal of having the very best farm system in all of baseball within 3 years.

6. Create a detailed Action Plan to share externally with the fan base on how the team is going to be built with benchmarks for the fans to follow along with the final result being a WS Championship.

7. Promote the fans are the Indians most valuable asset and tell them so every chance they can in hopes of earning their trust back.

8. Admit what they have done in the past did not work. Curb all the propaganda and cut off the Mark Shapiro spin machine and Ivy League speak.

9. Get the owner, GM out in the stands with the fans.

10. Find ways to increase partner and sponsor participation by showing them how they can increase their revenues when creating strategic alliances with MLB. Sell them the plan and allow them to grow with the team.

I was going to send a letter directly to Dolan and vent my frustrations with these suggestions, still plan on doing it.

[daingean]

IronMike: most if not all promotions (i.e. fireworks, bobbleheads) are funded by corporate sponsors and incur no cost to the team.

Heres what I think the Dolans will do (not necessarily what I want them to do):

1. Scapegoat firings of coaches (Acta, Fields.....) but for the most part the FO will remain untouched.
2. Hire a retread manager (iike a Trebblehorn)
3. Sign AAAA guys to fill roster spots

I think the Dolans try to be hands off and they listen to baseball people telling them how much respected Shapiro and Co. are. Team decisions will still be in MS's hands but Dolan will demand some changes which will fall unto mostly the field managers and coaches.

[GhostofTedCox]

Here's what I think the Dolans will do.
This is not what I would recommend or even suggest for a solution.

1. Fire Acta and the coaches. Hire Mike Sarbaugh.
2. Keep the front office.
3. Over pay or trade for 1 All Star quality player. (In 1969 the Indians traded for Ken Harrelson, who at the time was the most flamboyant player in MLB. Bad team, but had some very interesting characters.)
4. Force-feed some kid who is not ready. (Maybe not as a regular, but he will play plenty.)
5. Package some games with special events like concerts or professional wrestling (Monday night Raw).

[danh8]

I don't think they will do much of anything beyond bring Alomar in to manage, after firing Acta. Beyond that, everything will reamin the same as it has been since they bought team.

[danh8]

Heres what I think the Dolans will do (not necessarily what I want them to do):

1. Scapegoat firings of coaches (Acta, Fields.....) but for the most part the FO will remain untouched.
2. Hire a retread manager (iike a Trebblehorn)
3. Sign AAAA guys to fill roster spots



Exactly ...you said it better than I did.