Comments on: And the past comes crawling out of the woodwork

By: Swift

Swift — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 14:41:36 +0000

I too was a big Albert Belle fan back “in the day”. It was for Albert that I came up with the expression “yes, he is a psychopath, but he is OUR psychopath” (I was only about 40% kidding).

But he is the last Indians batter that other pitchers feared. And not because he was going to charge the mound or anything like that, but because of his presence at the plate and what he did with the bat. Yes, Thome passed his 50 HR mark, but Belle had his 50/50 season (50 HRs, 50 2Bs), which is even more impressive.

By: Chip P

Chip P — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 06:28:44 +0000

How is it Albert Belle looks older than Mike Hargrove?

By: Justin

Justin — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 17:00:15 +0000

I had heard rumors that a few years ago AB was trying to get in with the Indians as a hitting instructor either in ST or as their full time hitting coach. I would love to see what he could do with LaPorta and the rest of our prospects. His approach to the plate was magical and he is really a bright guy, he is an avid golf and chess player and does have a college degree.

By: Charlie

Charlie — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 02:42:32 +0000

Kenny looks great. Now that we know what was going on in the 90s I suppose we have to presume Albert was on the juice, and that no doubt contributed to his famous ill temper. Glad to see him doing better nowadays.

I remember so well the grandslam he hit off Armando Benitez in the 1996 playoffs. Never have I heard a baseball crowd as loud as that moment. Benitez was an enormous man with sizzling stuff, and Albert just smoked it to center field. What a great run those guys had.

By: Susan Petrone

Susan Petrone — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 01:54:33 +0000

Pat, I agree, although I wonder if part of that is a trick of our memory. We had so little for so long that when these guys came on the scene in 1995, it was like getting being struck by lightning. I think we’ll see teams with that amount of talent again, but perhaps it won’t have the same impact on us.

Matt, it took me a second to recognize Carlos too. He always had a round face, but it looks a little rounder these days.

By: Matt Ring

Matt Ring — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 22:02:47 +0000

I too was a fan of Albert and the whole team. On a side note, I didn’t even recognize Carlos! Maybe its because he no longer has the stache??

By: Pat M

Pat M — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 21:44:40 +0000

OK, I admit it. I’m nostalgic, I miss these guys playing.

There will never by anything like the 1995 and 1997 teams ever again.

By: Susan Petrone

Susan Petrone — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 21:31:05 +0000

An excellent point.

By: John Z

John Z — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 21:25:04 +0000

Albert took a lot of flak on things that he shouldn’t have. For example, if you replaced him with someone else in two specific incidents with someone else, his actions would be praised. Specifically, replace Albert with Cal Ripken, Jr. on the Fernando Vina baseline incident, and an 80-year old grandma in the house-egging incident and you’d have a completely different narrative from the media.