Robert asked: The temperature in Solon, Ohio had a wind chill of minus 16 but that didn’t stop season ticket holders and others from gathering to attend a local town hall meeting to ask questions and get a feel for things. Indians Vice President of PR Bob DiBiasio warmed the crowd with a reminder that there are only 85 days left until Opening Day.
On hand to answer questions from fans were Dennis Lehman, Executive VP of Business, Scouting Director John Mirabelli and manager Eric Wedge. And it wasn’t the first time or even the second time that the powers-that-be held question and answer sessions to let fans get a better understanding of what’s going on with the team.
The first meeting came the previous Monday where Mark Shapiro, general manager and Paul Dolan, club president, took to the hot seats and manned the microphones. The second meeting was attended by assistant general manager Chris Antonetti and Wedge.
What was the purpose of it all? The man goal was to allow for questions from fans and provide something of a sounding board for the influencers on the Indians’ revenues. Makes sense, right? Of course it does, because if you don’t give your major contributors reassurances and answers, contributions may cease to flow.
With that in mind, the Indians’ big boys held the triplicate series of one-hour question and answer sessions and fans came prepared to ask just what they wanted to know. Some of the major points covered via these questions and answers were:
Q. On Hafner, what makes you believe he can return to his old form after the shoulder surgery?
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A. Wedge answered, “He looks the way he’s supposed to look…His chest isn’t getting in the way” and commented on the impact of metal, physical and fundamentals of the game.
Q. Can Grady Sizemore move to No. 3 from the leadoff spot?
A. ”I don’t want to rob Peter to pay Paul,” Wedge said. “If your leadoff hitter isn’t getting on, it does you no good to have Grady at No. 3.”
Q. Does Matt LaPorta have any chance of making the big league?
A. ”In the long run, for him to reach his ceiling, he needs to get seasoned,” Mirabelli said.
Q. Will Cliff Lee be offered a contract extension?
A. ”He’s a guy we would love to have,” said Mirabelli. “He would be worth the investment. We’ll be aggressive in that regard, I’m sure.”
The complete results aren’t in yet, but it appears that fans were pleased with these opportunities to have a first hand sit-down with the boys from the Indians’ camp, ask some questions, make some comments and get a better understanding of what’s going on and what can be expected in the near future.
With the 2009 season approaching in a matter of days, the Indians team plans to head to Goodyear, Arizona for their spring training this year.
TOMMY
