Vote on the 'Next' Statue at Progressive Field

[peeker643]

No real statue will be built as far as I know but Andrew Clayman has a great idea out there and an interactive bracket-type poll to boot.

It's pretty cool and it's good idea.

That's why I asked him to set about doing it.

Okay. I didn't have anything to do with but still..... http://bit.ly/lszBj0

[jb]

Where is the write in for Joey and keith hernandez?

Joey thoring a ball at a fan & keith inabsentia in the form of an empty bench would each make for a great photo backdrop.

[peeker643]

And that first knob that mentions that Austin kearns, Shelly Duncan and Shin-Soo Choo are actually already statues at Progressive Field gets banned for life.

Don't care how much truth there may be to it...

[peeker643]

Where is the write in for Joey and keith hernandez?

Heeeeeere we go.

The 'What about Joe Inglett or How about that dude that slid down the aisle of the plane bare-assed?' have already started.

[jb]

Or the rookie picther in USC pom pom girl garb?

Or Jeff Manto's suitcase?

Jim Thome's 3b mit? (They wouldn't have to bronze it)

[motherscratcher]

Cool poll:

My votes:

1. Herb Score - I eliminated Cy Young because he didn't "feel" like an Indian as much as the other guys for some reason. I wanted to vote for Sachel, but I couldn't vote for a guy who only spent 2 seasons with the Tribe. Lemon is the most deserving for on field achievements, but fair or not, he seems a bit like a poor man's Feller. Herb Score was great for a time on the field, but means even more to us off it.

2. Lou Boudreau - Nap would be a great choice too. Chapman, c'mon, sorry the guy died but that's no reason to build him a statue. As much as I like Omar I can't believe he's currently beating Lou. I can't believe it's even close.

3. Lary Doby - My God, how do you choose here? A vote for Doby is a vote for diversity, and while that shouldn't be the only reason, it can be one of them. What he did was historic. He was fucking good too.

4. Rocky Colavito - I didn't vote for Chief Sock because the story about the Indians being named after him is bullshit. The Indians were not named after a drunk guy who barely hit his own weight in less than 100 total games. He's out. I like John Adams, but be serious. The Indians aren't going to have 2 statues be Feller and a guy who bangs a drum in the bleachers. Andre Thornton was OK. He just seems like he was better because of the state of the Indians back then. Colavito in a landslide. At least it should be.

These aren't really opinions BTW. These are the actual correct answers.

[RedDawg53]

Manny Acta if we go all the way this year

A statue of him holding the WS trophy, being soaked with chapaign, and a tall can of Budweiser in his hand. Also a cigar?

[skatingtripods]

Only way we put up a Colavito statue is if we get to destroy it when the curse is gone.

[motherscratcher]

Only way we put up a Colavito statue is if we get to destroy it when the curse is gone.

Why no fan of the Rock?

[skatingtripods]

Why no fan of the Rock?

[peeker643]

I went Herbie, Boudreau, Averill and Adams.

Herbie because of what Mother said, Boudreau and Averill because of what my maternal grandfather talked about non-stop and Adams because he should be beatified for the shit hes seen.

War correspondents?? Pfffttt..... Adams will never get some of those visions out of his head either.

[jb]

3. Lary Doby - My God, how do you choose here? A vote for Doby is a vote for diversity, and while that shouldn't be the only reason, it can be one of them. What he did was historic. He was fucking good too.

Meh. What K-Love did was historic, too. No Tribe CFer was better wearing more gold chains. Ever.

Plus Swerb can swear at the statue for stiffing him on a tip every time he goes to the yard.

And I could care less about anyone before 1993 before Bob Feller and Score, frankly. I appreciate what they all did, but they are too disconnected.

[hermanfontenot]

Lary Doby - My God, how do you choose here? A vote for Doby is a vote for diversity, and while that shouldn't be the only reason, it can be one of them. What he did was historic. He was fucking good too.

Doby didn't get the constant, fawning attention of the East Coast press that Jackie Robinson got, either. I'm not minimizing how tough it must have been for Jackie, but it might have been even tougher for Doby. He was really out there on an island.

[FUDU]

Make a statue of the fans.

[hermanfontenot]

How about a statue showing one of our '90s heroes "in action:"

- AB smashing a clubhouse thermometer

- K-Love cold-shouldering a reporter

- Omar giving his room # to some club skank

- Baerga eating/drinking/doing a bump

[RedDawg53]

How about a statue showing one of our '90s heroes "in action:"

- AB smashing a clubhouse thermometer

- K-Love cold-shouldering a reporter

- Omar giving his room # to some club skank

- Baerga eating/drinking/doing a bump

Jason Grimsley climbing through the vent in the "1994 Bat Burglary"

[googleeph2]

Pena smacking Mesa with his mitt.

Lofton complaining to the ump.

Add Skinner with his hands up, as one of the statues of a statue.

Grimsley crawling in a ceiling.

Manny with $thousands sticking out of his glove box.

Kaz Tadano doing -er, never mind.

[motherscratcher]

Why no fan of the Rock?

Yeah, dude. I get the curse, but it ain't like Rocky himself put the oogabooga on us. He didn't trade himself.

[Am I Here Again?]

Why no fan of the Rock?

Yeah, dude. I get the curse, but it ain't like Rocky himself put the oogabooga on us. He didn't trade himself.

In that case we'd have to smash a statue of Trader Lane. Not worth the materials to make the statue unless you use petrified cow dung.

[Dellucci TailGator]

Mike Hargrove adjusting his batting gloves. The statue would be in real-time.

[Soul_Thief_420]

just a thought....how about Cy Young?

he has some street cred http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cy_Young

[motherscratcher]

just a thought....how about Cy Young?

he has some street cred http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cy_Young

Um...

[Madre Hill, Superstar]

Eric Wedge's porn stache

[Soul_Thief_420]

just a thought....how about Cy Young?

he has some street cred http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cy_Young

Um...

Um...just because you deleted him from a shot at the statue doesn't mean everyone else did....look at the ego on that guy...sheesh

[gotribe31]

just a thought....how about Cy Young?

he has some street cred http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cy_Young

Um...

Um...just because you deleted him from a shot at the statue doesn't mean everyone else did....look at the ego on that guy...sheesh

Thanks for including Cy Young's wikipedia page. All this time, I thought that was just the random name they came up with for the award.

[motherscratcher]

just a thought....how about Cy Young?

he has some street cred http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cy_Young

Um...

Um...just because you deleted him from a shot at the statue doesn't mean everyone else did....look at the ego on that guy...sheesh

You know what dude, maybe you're posts shouldn't read "...how about Cy Young" as if you just thought of him and he wasn't one of the choices in the original post.

Or maybe you didn't actually read the article and the thread until after your post, which wouldn't be a big deal.

Either way.

[1Perry]

I voted for Score and while there is no way they would build a statue of him I would like to see the Indians make some sort of shrine to him.

[Larvell Blanks]

This


I miss his neon brother hanging out on the stadium roof.
Plus this gives the protesters a meeting point that makes sense.

[paulcousineau]

Realizing that the manner in which Thome departed leaves him as a non-option in many minds, the guy is the franchise leader in HR (and not by a small margin as he has 92 more than #2...Manny) and 3rd in Extra Base hits. If you prefer rate stats, he's 3rd best OBP in franchise history, the 3rd best SLG in franchise history, 3rd in OPS, 4th in Total Bases, and Top 5 in basically every offensive category, advanced stats or not.
http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CLE/leaders_bat.shtml

Like I said, I know that he's persona non grata for many, but if you're looking for the player that had the longest tenure and the greatest organizational impact from that "Era of Champions" (that did not include a WS Championship), Thome's probably the guy.

Not saying he deserves a statue (although it was rumored to be part of the Indians' final contract pitch to him before he left for Philly), but Thome has to be part of the discussion.

[aclayman]

I don't disagree about Thome. In fact, I never even really held the same grudge against him that most people seem to. We were heading into a rebuilding period, and his departure helped clear up the money to sign the "new core" in '03 and '04. Up until he left, he was clearly the most obvious choice for a future stature candidate. Even beyond the stats, he was a guy who came through our system, was part of the team's rise from the ashes, and was a high character / great in the community type (he was our Ripken/Gwynn).
That said, people are STILL pissed at the dude a decade later (maybe in large part BECAUSE he was all of those things and we lost him). And that "turncoat" aspect of his story, however unfair, pretty much erases the stature discussion for me. To get a statue, you pretty much need 99% of the fanbase in agreement that you're the man.

[JCoz]

I guess my vote would go to Boudreau or Young, but I dont really think any of them make a whole lot of sense right now at this point in time.

[paulcousineau]

I don't disagree about Thome. In fact, I never even really held the same grudge against him that most people seem to. We were heading into a rebuilding period, and his departure helped clear up the money to sign the "new core" in '03 and '04. Up until he left, he was clearly the most obvious choice for a future stature candidate. Even beyond the stats, he was a guy who came through our system, was part of the team's rise from the ashes, and was a high character / great in the community type (he was our Ripken/Gwynn).
That said, people are STILL pissed at the dude a decade later (maybe in large part BECAUSE he was all of those things and we lost him). And that "turncoat" aspect of his story, however unfair, pretty much erases the stature discussion for me. To get a statue, you pretty much need 99% of the fanbase in agreement that you're the man.

You're probably right Andrew and I wonder if the ol' "time heals all wounds" will ever apply to Thome. I'm probably close to you in terms of my perception of Thome (and I don't mean this to devolve into that "argument"), but I wonder if a few years down the road if Thome doesn't get remembered for his playing career here and not his exit.

[peeker643]

LeBron made it easier for a lot of guys who left to look just a bit better.

And PC is right and we've had this argument before, but I'm with both of you and maybe a bit beyond. I have zero animosity toward Thome. Not an ounce. Dude was a tremendous offensive player and he was a good dude in my opinion. Never a hint of trouble, well-liked in the clubhouse, productive on the diamond.

YMMv

[hermanfontenot]

I have zero animosity toward Thome. Not an ounce. Dude was a tremendous offensive player and he was a good dude in my opinion. Never a hint of trouble, well-liked in the clubhouse, productive on the diamond.

Me neither. And I don't think the Indians really wanted him back anyway- not at those prices. I don't blame the organization for that stance and I don't blame him for taking the dollars elsewhere. I don't see bad guys on either side of this situation. It was just one of those things you have in baseball.

[gotribe31]

Agree with the above takes on Thome. I wasn't even mad at him at the time. It sucked, but it wasn't his fault.

[motherscratcher]

Agree with the above takes on Thome. I wasn't even mad at him at the time. It sucked, but it wasn't his fault.

Me too. I never had a problem with him leaving, and I wouldn't mind a statue of him outside the Prog. Just not until he's been retired for a while.

Truthfully, I was supplies by the amount of people on the TCF boards that hate him.

[peeker643]

Agree with the above takes on Thome. I wasn't even mad at him at the time. It sucked, but it wasn't his fault.

Me too. I never had a problem with him leaving, and I wouldn't mind a statue of him outside the Prog. Just not until he's been retired for a while.

Truthfully, I was supplies by the amount of people on the TCF boards that hate him.

You lapsed back into your native Mandarin there for a second dude. You assured me that you and your speech therapist had talked about Rs and Ls when we gave you a column to write.

And any Thome statue, if it was authentic at all, would be of that big rube adjusting his god damn cup.

[Cerebral_DownTime]

"Don't worship false idols", The Bible says that....... i'm pretty sure it's in the old part.

[OldDawg]

I don't hold Thome in the same disregard as some of the others that left us. But his departure was not spotless. If I recall, did he not refuse to be traded because he wanted to be an Indian. And then when the Indians offered him more money than any of us or he ever thought the Tribe brass would, suddenly it wasn't enough. I lost respect with the refusal to be traded angle he took. He believed the Tribe would low-ball him. They did not.

I don't dislike the guy for going for more cash. I lost respect because he acted like he really loved Cleveland and would give us the hometown discount. He played us. He wanted his cake and eat it too. He wanted to leave us for more money, but (like some of you suggest), he didn't want it to really seem that way.. like it was his fault. Sorry. My wife is my rock.

Clearly no statue. He could have stayed and made a ton of cash and earned a statue. He opted no to.

[1Perry]

Not saying he deserves a statue (although it was rumored to be part of the Indians' final contract pitch to him before he left for Philly), but Thome has to be part of the discussion.

No he doesn't. He is the man without a team.

[peeker643]

Not saying he deserves a statue (although it was rumored to be part of the Indians' final contract pitch to him before he left for Philly), but Thome has to be part of the discussion.

No he doesn't. He is the man without a team.

[Rat_Tail]

Not saying he deserves a statue (although it was rumored to be part of the Indians' final contract pitch to him before he left for Philly), but Thome has to be part of the discussion.

No he doesn't. He is the man without a team.

Wait, what?

[General]

Tony Horton crawling back to the dugout prior to being committed.

[gotribe31]

Not saying he deserves a statue (although it was rumored to be part of the Indians' final contract pitch to him before he left for Philly), but Thome has to be part of the discussion.

No he doesn't. He is the man without a team.

Perfect. I've missed this type of thing with the Indians solid start. Welcome back, old friend.

[1Perry]

One has nothing to do with the other. I didn't bring it up. Thome isn't getting a statue. A strong start this season isn't going to change that.

Not only that, while Thome will make the HOF, most likely as an Indian, even if he doesn't go in as an Indian, fans wont care that much.

Nobody is going to clamor to have Thome wear their hat into the HOF. A man without a team.

[Dnthateonthepronk]

Thome, Vizquel, Alomar, Lofton, Lemon, Doby would have to be the favorites

[gotribe31]

Thome, Vizquel, Alomar, Lofton, Lemon, Doby would have to be the favorites

Vizquel, Alomar and Lofton are men without teams.

[Dnthateonthepronk]

Thome, Vizquel, Alomar, Lofton, Lemon, Doby would have to be the favorites

Vizquel, Alomar and Lofton are men without teams.

I dont agree.

[Dnthateonthepronk]

I went Herbie, Boudreau, Averill and Adams.

Herbie because of what Mother said, Boudreau and Averill because of what my maternal grandfather talked about non-stop and Adams because he should be beatified for the shit hes seen.

War correspondents?? Pfffttt..... Adams will never get some of those visions out of his head either.

I forgot about Adams.


It should be Adams.

[gotribe31]

Thome, Vizquel, Alomar, Lofton, Lemon, Doby would have to be the favorites

Vizquel, Alomar and Lofton are men without teams.

I dont agree.

Neither do I, I was kidding.