It’s hard to believe that it’s already been 5 years since Susan and I started It’s Pronounced Lajaway…it seems like it was just yesterday!  Time flies when you’re having fun, and we’ve been having fun since early in the 2011 season.  I decided to take a look at the past 5 years of Indians baseball through our writing to look at some of the ups and downs of the team that we covered.  While we actually started writing in April of 2011, our formal launch date as part of the SweetSpot Network was on May 2, 2011. To put our start in perspective, the 2011 season was when the Indians got off to a very good (and unexpected) start.  This felt especially good after the disappointments  from 2008-2010 like the fact that two Cy Youngs were traded and that overall fire sales.  I remember after the Indians were knocked out of the 2007 ALCS after taking a 3-1 lead in the series, a non-Indians fan said to me “Don’t worry – this is just the beginning of a dynasty.  The Indians will be right back here.”  With good young players like CC Sabathia, Victor Martinez, Asdrubal Cabrera, Grady Sizemore, Travis Hafner, Cliff Lee, and the artist formerly known as Fausto Carmona, it definitely seemed like they had the talent to be back in the playoffs in 2008.  But the Indians fell out of contention early and traded Sabathia by season’s end; they finished the year with just a .500 record.  Instead of 2007 as the beginning, it was really the end.  By the time the Indians made it to the wild card game in 2013 it was essentially a completely different roster.  The 2011 season was the first flash of anything promising that we’d had since 2007.

2011

To start us off, here’s a piece from Susan on things to like about the 2011 Indians.

Here I am in the early days of my Carlos Santana fixation.

Susan talks about the Indians of her childhood.

I compare my frustration over the Indians to some other teams (bonus for frustration over early Carlos Carrasco).

Vern Morrison joined our staff in July, talked about going to Indians games with his Uncle Eddie

I look at the Ubaldo Jimenez trade and discuss the idea of proven vs. unproven

Vern talks about the tale of two Carmonas

Susan talks about the return of Jim Thome and his high socks

Susan discusses some of the emotions the 2011 team gave her once the season ended

After the season, I talk about the trade for Derek Lowe (I forgot about that one!) and how the Tribe declined Sizemore’s option and picked up Carmona’s.

2012

In January, we learn that Fausto Carmona is actually Roberto Hernandez.  I talk about the difficulties many Latin players face.

Ryan McCrystal joined the IPL staff in March and asks whether or not Vinnie Pestano can duplicate his rookie success.

Susan looks at the first month of the 2012 season

I talk about my favorite promotional items.

Vern talks about “A Team Only A Mother Could Love” on Mother’s Day.

I discuss a laundry list of reasons why I’m upset with Manny Acta.

Susan went to the Indians’ one-day fantasy camp and talks about her experience.

Ryan asks whether or not August 2012 was the worst month in Indians history.

Vern tries to figure out why the Indians’ record plummeted as the season progressed.

Susan revisits our (mostly failed) preseason predictions.

Chris Burnham joins IPL in November and discusses what it’s like to be a Tribe fan in Toronto.

This was an extremely busy offseason – the Indians hired Terry Francona, traded Shin Soo Choo and acquired Trevor Bauer, and signed Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn.

2013

Joe Werner joins IPL in March and looks at Scott Kazmir and the fifth spot in the rotation.

Adam Hintz joins IPL in April and analyzes Asdrubal Cabrera’s slow start.

Susan talks about (surprise, surprise) how the Indians didn’t have the greatest April.

Vern writes about how the Indians clawed their way back to .500 by June.

Chris talks about one of Jason Giambi’s notable walk-off home runs.

At the end of August, Ryan talks about how the Indians are extremely streaky.

I celebrate the Indians reaching the wild card game and look back on the season.

I also looked at how even though the wild card game didn’t turn out as we hoped, there were reasons for optimism.

Joe wanders if Swisher and Bourn can live up to the rest of their contracts.

Vern looks at the pitchers who are likely leaving via free agency.

Susan explores the STOOPID ratings for various players.

2014

Mike Schreiner joins IPL in February and writes about letting go of Ubaldo Jimenez.

Surprise, surprise, I talk about how the Indians are painful to watch at the end of April.

Alex Kaufman joins IPL in May and writes about the two Mastersons.  (He also debuted our podcast, It’s Pronounced Podcast)

Adam looks at the Double-A Akron Rubber Ducks.

Now departed writer Ryan Pinheiro talks about how Kluber’s secondary pitches are making him elite.

Ryan McCrystal discusses PER and how it pertains to Trevor Bauer.

Chris talks about his all-time Indians lineup.

Alex writes about Indians position players that end up pitching.

Joe looks at minor league comps for Zach Walters and James Ramsey.

Susan talks about the pace-of-game changes that are put into action during the Arizona Fall League.

Vern looks at forgotten Indian John Gochnaur and how his defensive issues would make him at home with the 2014 Indians.

Stan Massey joins IPL in December and talks about his favorite Tribe memory.

2015

Mike talks about why he’s thankful for the Tribe.

As he did at the end of 2013, Joe again asks if Bourn and Swisher will be able to live up to their contracts.

Dave Scott joins IPL in March and talks about his love for Double-A baseball.

Rob Vaughan joins IPL in March as well and looks at the renovations at Progressive Field and says that the park is still a gem.

Stanford Crissey also joins IPL in March and talks about the state of the AL Central in 2015.

In mid-May, Alex wonders why the Indians are so bad right now.

Noah Gross joins IPL in June and takes over podcasting duties with It’s Pronounced Podcast.

Stan looks at the Indians’ crushing 17-0 loss to the Cubs in June.

Vern talks about the trades of David Murphy and Brandon Moss.

Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn are traded to Atlanta – Rob recaps the major deal.

Ryan looks at what Chris Johnson could bring to the Tribe.

Chris talks about how Swisher’s relentless enthusiasm wore on his teammates.

Adam wonders what ever happened to Andy Marte.

Susan looks at past Indians team presidents and their legacies after Rob writes about Mark Shapiro’s legacy in Cleveland.

I wonder how in the world the Indians are  still in contention, and if they could actually pull off a wild card berth.

2016

Chris looks at the Indians somewhat quiet offseason and the need for a good 2016 season.

Susan talks about the baseball clinic that the Lake County Captains held for young girls.

Ray Danner joins IPL in March and looks at what Swisher, Bourn, and Johnson are up to after their departure from the team.

Ryan looks at Joba Chamberlain’s arsenal after the makes the team out of spring training.

Vern notes that former Indian Eddie Carnett is now the oldest living MLB player.

Rob and I look at how Opening Day is magical and also the worst.

Many thanks to our readers that have stopped by our site over the years to read our various musings on the Tribe, and all of the writers that have contributed their talents to IPL.  Here’s hoping for many good years to come! (And good baseball to go with them).

2 Comments

  • Jimbo says:

    Thanks for posting this. It’s kinda fun to look back over the past few years. I started following you guys in 2013; but I’ve been a Tribe fan since 1994.

  • Peter says:

    Stephanie, Do you still have a Carlos Santana fixation or did you get it fixed? Loved looking back. Vinne Pestano? so many names have come and gone.