Many fans seem to be frustrated with the Indians cutting their payroll from $134M to about $120MGETTY IMAGES
As the Indians are set to open this season with the "payroll challenges of a middle-market franchise," they do so under the leadership of President of Baseball Operations Chris Antonetti and GM Mike Chernoff, who have "both turned down opportunities to leave for other franchises" in bigger markets, according to Terry Pluto of the Cleveland PLAIN DEALER. Antonetti, who has spent 21 years with the team, said, "I go to bed at night thinking about ways we can win a World Series. I wake up thinking about ways we can win a World Series. Anytime a season ends and we don’t win a World Series, I’m disappointed." Chernoff said, "I stay because of the people. It starts with ownership and then Chris. They allow us to create a good working environment." Antonetti said the same thing, "stressing Paul Dolan’s ownership 'allows us to build an organization and a culture conducive to winning.'" Pluto noted many fans are "frustrated with the Indians cutting their payroll" from $134M to about $120M. But Antonetti said, "It’s part of the challenge. We recognize what our challenges are. Our goal is to overcome those challenges and win a World Series." Chernoff: "We’ve had the winningest record in the American League in the last six years. Our payroll is nowhere near the Red Sox and Yankees -- the two teams behind us. Payroll is not everything" (CLEVELAND.com, 3/24).
