baseball

The Cleveland Indians are beginning spring training with a lot of uncertainties. The pandemic has forced the team to cut payroll and part ways with key players. Now, their manager for the past eight years, Terry Francona, is facing more health problems.

WKSU’s sports commentator Terry Pluto explains why Francona remains committed to the team and why the team has vowed to stick with in their skipper.

There will be no new players enshrined to the Baseball Hall of Fame this year. None of the 25 players on this year’s ballot reached 75% of the vote required for induction.

WKSU's sports commentator Terry Pluto is part of The Baseball Writers Association of America that selects Hall of Famers. Sports writers must cover baseball for at least 10 years to receive a ballot. Pluto says the numbers fluctuate, but there are as many as 500 voters.

The Cleveland Indians are now deep into a rebuild. The most recent trade of Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco has all but disbanded what was left of the 2016 World Series team. WKSU sports commentator Terry Pluto says between Lindor and now former star pitcher Corey Kluber signing with the Yankees, this is a painful new era for Cleveland fans.

An era has come to an end as the Cleveland Indians this past week traded star shortstop Francisco Lindor and starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco to the New York Mets in exchange for four players.

Everybody knows what to sing during the seventh inning stretch.

Root, root, root for the home team. Right?

But in Cleveland, fans are now unsure of what the home team is.

Owner Paul Dolan announced this week that the team is dropping “Indians” and looking for a new team name starting in 2022.

"We gained a deep understanding of how tribal communities feel about the team and the detrimental effects is has on them,” Dolan said in a statement this week.

This is a winter of changes for Cleveland baseball fans. The team confirmed Monday that it will be dropping the Indians nickname after more than 100 years. But there are some more immediate changes coming. WKSU’s sports commentator Terry Pluto says while the name change isn't a surprise, it's one of many reasons fans will feel a lot of loss in the coming year.

Updated: 4:29 p.m., Monday, Dec. 14, 2020

Cleveland Indians ownership on Monday afternoon confirmed that the process of changing the team name has officially begun.

The New York Times first reported the team’s intent Sunday night, using anonymous sources.

Updated: 11:13 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020

The Cleveland Indians will change the baseball team's name, according to a Sunday evening report from the New York Times

The Wall Street Journal, ESPN and the Washington Post quickly followed with additional confirmation, all from anonymous sources.

The Cleveland Indians are in the hunt for the playoffs during this pandemic-shortened season.

The team made waves earlier this week when it shipped ace pitcher Mike Clevinger to the San Diego Padres in return for a handful of younger players and promising prospects. 

WKSU sports commentator Terry Pluto said the trade may not be splashy, but it makes sense for the Indians. 

The day after the Reds suspended TV announcer Thom Brennaman – in the middle of the game! – we  have many questions and no answers. 

After the game, the Reds announced it was "devastated by the horrific, homophobic remark" made by Brennaman, 56, who has done baseball play-by-play for 33 years, including since 2007 with the Reds. And Fox Sports has dropped him for NFL games this fall because of his comment. 

However, the Reds also said they "will be addressing our broadcasting team in the coming days." About what, specifically?

It was 100 years ago this week that a tragic moment in baseball history centered on Cleveland. Tribe shortstop Ray Chapman was struck and killed by a pitch. He’s the only player in major league history to die while playing the sport.

WKSU sports commentator Terry Pluto says Chapman's legacy carries on in Cleveland to this day. 

Major League Baseball’s pandemic-shortened season is just getting started, but if television ratings are any indication, sports-starved fans are hungry for major league sports.

According to WKSU sports commentator Terry Pluto, without fans in the stands at Progressive Field, TV viewership is key this year for the Cleveland Indians.

Major League Baseball starts the COVID-shortened season this week. The Cincinnati Reds host the Detroit Tigers Friday evening. Because of the pandemic, there won't be fans in the ballpark. Reds Chief Operating Officer Phil Castellini says the team is getting ready for when they can welcome fans back.