ABOUT TV RATINGS
When it comes to what Tribe fans like to do best, the answer is in the numbers – watch their favorite team on TV. According to Home Team Sports' rating service, the Tribe ranked No. 1 in ratings: 6.61. The Cardinals were right behind at 6.55.
“We’ve been in the top three for television ratings in the last four years,” said Curtis Danburg, the Tribe’s Senior Director of Communications.
There are several reasons for that. Cleveland is an older market in terms of demographics, and those people like to watch television.
“During baseball season, it’s routine programming for a lot of people," said Danburg. “There’s a game on almost every day. We have an engaged fan base and they look forward to it.”
Danburg said the Tribe, Cardinals and Royals usually are among the leaders in ratings. That doesn’t mean the Indians have more people watching their games than other MLB markets – it’s the percentage of the market.
A Forbes story on the ratings stated: “While the Cleveland Indians had the highest rating number for 2020 (6.61), compared with a 2.50 rating for the New York Yankees, the Yankees saw their viewership average 118,739 more per game (than the Tribe).”
It’s why teams in larger media markets such as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, the Bay Area and Boston can charge far more for their TV rights than the Tribe. They have millions more viewers who can be reached than in Northeast Ohio.
Nonetheless, looking at the data in the Forbes story, it still was an impressive season on the air for the Tribe.
Here are the leaders in average viewership per game:
1. Yankees: 260,592.
2. Dodgers: 233,939.
3. Phillies: 195,083.
4. Cubs: 176,457.
5. Mets: 173,734.
6. Astros: 154.645.
7. Indians: 141,853.
8. Twins: 141,633.
9. Braves: 109,538.
10. White Sox: 90,708.
The six teams ahead of the Tribe are all in the top 10 media markets. The Indians are the No. 19 media market.
Some other ratings notes:
1. Detroit came in at No. 11 with an average of 90,098.
2. The Indians averaged 105,840 viewers in 2019, growing to 141,853 in 2020. That’s a 34 percent increase during the pandemic.
3. The worst? Miami averaged 21,082 per game. Others fewer than 50,000: Baltimore (36,701), Oakland (44,257), Pittsburgh (46,386) and Dallas (Texas Rangers, 48,488).
4. Usually the Red Sox have a huge audience, but they had a lousy year and dropped a MLB-worst 54 percent, from 158,614 in 2019 to 72,515 in 2020.
5. Tampa Bay averaged 75,362 viewers for a team that was one of the elite of 2020.
Terry Francona watching a statue representing the name "Indians' being torn down. Illustration by Ted Crow.
ABOUT THE NAME
I was told the Paul Dolan ownership team is still “talking to various people” about the name, adding “no final decision has been made.”
The Indians have talked to Native American groups, sponsors, civic leaders and others as they ponder the name change. But in this political climate, the Tribe is not about to say, “Never mind, we’re not changing anything.”
A change will be coming. Here is what I’ve been hearing:
1. At some point in the next few months, the Indians will announce “we plan to change the name."
2. They will not announce the name without working to engage fans, sponsors and others in finding a new name for the franchise.
3. It won’t be a simple change to “the Tribe.” They want to move away from anything close to a Native American reference.
4. The team also is learning it’s hard to figure out what is the best decision. It’s one thing to say, “OK, we’re not the Indians anymore.” Then what? That’s why the NFL’s Washington franchise is the Washington Football Team as they try to decide the next move.
5. When they do announce a change will be coming, it won’t happen until 2022. They will play as the Indians in 2021.
Cleveland Indians relief pitcher James Karinchak pitches during their intra-squad game. Joshua Gunter, cleveland.com
ABOUT THE CLOSER
1. No surprise the Tribe declined the options on Carlos Santana and Brad Hand. They were trying to work a waiver deal for Hand, who had an excellent season with a 2.05 ERA and 16-for-16 in saves. Even with those numbers, teams don’t want to pay $10 million for a closer in COVID-19 baseball.
2. The biggest name for a possible closer in 2021 is James Karinchak, who had a 1-2 record and a 2.67 ERA in rookie season. He struck out 53 in 27 innings. Or put it this way: 53 of 81 outs for the right-hander were strikeouts.
3. Karinchak did walk 16, which was more common than hits allowed (14). He also heaved five wild pitches. So control is an issue. He was nervous in his one playoff appearance. He faced three hitters, walking two and serving up a homer.
4. A year ago, the Indians traded Corey Kluber to Texas for Delino DeShields and Emmanuel Clase. The key to the deal was Clase, who had a 2-3 record and 2.31 ERA in 2019 at age 21.
5. Clase suffered a lat injury in spring training. Then he failed a PED drug test and that led to his being suspended for 2020. Clase is healthy and eligible to play, taking part in the Tribe Fall Baseball Program in Goodyear. I’ve been told he’s “throwing great.” He was considered an elite bullpen prospect when the Tribe traded for him.
6. Another possibility would be Nick Wittgren, but the Indians see him more in the role of a set-up man.
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