Dolan the owner

The Indians are not doing well, according to Terry Pluto of the Akron Beacon Journal.

Indians owner Paul Dolan has a far more serious problem than the Indians falling out of contention by June.

He needs to give his customers a reason to believe.

This suggests that Pluto doubts the owners are outspending revenue (see headline: "Paul Dolan says team payroll will top $60 million, likely exceed revenue. Fans need reason to believe") while superficially doing the usual cry for hope. It's pretty pathetic and humiliating, isn't it, to be cast in the role of crying for "a reason to believe." At least they are holding out for playoff contention--Pirate fans seem more focussed on the .500 season. And this is not asking for the moon or even a moon pie; .500 seasons should come and go with regularity, even under poor management.

That said, while the irritation and anger might be considerable, I don't think fans go quite that far with the despair. We don't need "a reason to believe." We need something else--satisfaction maybe?

The Indians have a shaky fan base in a soft economy (Ohio leads the nation in job losses) with a superstar named LeBron James playing in the building next door for the Cavaliers.

As always, the Browns rule the Northeast Ohio sports market. You could put an empty orange helmet on the 50-yard line at Cleveland Browns Stadium and 50,000 fans would show up to stare at it.

It doesn't matter to fans how many games the Browns have lost, and they've lost more than any other NFL team since 1999.

You know the Steelers would draw well if they fell on hard times, too. Is this really a disadvantage? A city of sports fans is a city of sports fans. The Indians and Pirates may have trouble selling tickets on fall Sundays, and that may extend somewhat into the other days in September and October, but I question the logic that says sports fans will only spend money on one sport. It's a bit like arguing that beer drinkers will only drink one beer.

The Indians are a different story. To draw big crowds, they have to prove themselves to many of the fans who have abandoned them since 2001, the last playoff season.

This could have nothing to do with the Browns. The Pirates are in the same situation. The fans, who are serious sports fans, want to watch games and usually see their team win. (It's not the same in all cities. I'll never forget a game I saw in Seattle's old mall-like Metrodome, when I sat next to a person reading a book, and had to look over a crowd of people who were literally paying no attention to the action on the field. Things may be different in Safeco, but my point remains the same.)

The Tribe is on pace to draw about 2 million fans, slightly below the 2.1 million that was projected. But more than 60 percent of those tickets were sold in the offseason, when the Indians were coming off a 93-69 year.

Are the Pirates doing better than the Indians at drawing crowds? I will look up that information and insert it here later. The Pirates also look to have trouble selling tickets this offseason--they will have no All-Star game boost.

Pluto argues that it takes money:

Dolan and his father, Larry, have to spend more than they have in recent years. Yes, the three highest payrolls in team history were under the Dolans: $78 million in 2000, $96 million in 2001 and $82 million in 2002.

Since then, their highest has been this season's $56 million payroll, which ranks 24th in baseball. By comparison, Central Division contenders Chicago (fourth at $102 million), Detroit (14th at $82 million) and Minnesota (19th at $63 million) are outspending the Tribe.

If a team doesn't have a budget that at least matches that of the frugal Twins, it has no chance to compete consistently in the division.

He could be right, more money would help. But Pirates fans tend to ask not so much for more money but for better use of the money they have. We know that money is not everything if it is spent wisely. I've been reading up on the Indians because I've been looking for a GM to tout as doing better with a similar situation than Littlefield has done with his. Shapiro may fit that bill, but here the local Cleveland media talk only money and take Shapiro's better trading record for granted. (As perhaps they should; perhaps it is not so outstanding as to exceed expectations.)

The Indians are averaging 25,507 fans. That's 24th out of 30 teams, which is the same ranking they have in total salary.

Dolan said next year's payroll will be ``north of $60 million.''

Realistically, the payroll must approach $70 million if ownership is serious about returning the team to contention.

The front office also has to change some tactics. So often, they spend the winter chasing free agents and signing none of them. A better approach would be to explore the trade market, dealing for talented players on teams looking to cut payroll, and using prospects as bait.

How many high-payed players earn their salary (relative to what one can pay a young guy)? The Phillies already gave away Bobby Abreu. And how many teams are cutting payroll this off-season? I don't hear about so many, but if another Abreu becomes available for a rate he should earn, the Pirates would also be wise to take him.

Finally, what other teams are owned by people accused of profiting "excessively" and disregarding the imperative to win? Pirate fans may have more company than I first suspected.