The Cleveland Indians are having about as average a year as any team could have.
They enter Tuesday with a record of 77-79 and finished up the home slate of the season with a 40-41 record at Progressive Field.
But we all know the biggest story surrounding the franchise.
Monday’s home finale was big because it was the last time the team would play under the “Indians” name in Cleveland.
As soon as the season concludes next week, the team will be known as the “Guardians” for good.
Fans have had mixed feelings about the change since it was announced and that won’t change once it actually becomes official.
It is going to take years for the conversation to die down.
The Game Itself
The final home game with the Indians name was a bit anti-climactic because it was supposed to take place Sunday, but a rainout pushed an extra game to Monday.
The crowd was small, yet the weather was perfect and the Indians took home the victory.
An average finish to a season when the playoffs were within reach at some point is nothing new to fans in Cleveland.
The final score of this historic game was 8-3 in favor of Cleveland over the Kansas City Royals.
Cal Quantrill, a key rotation piece for the future, pitched six strong innings and elite closer Emmanuel Clase brought the win home in the ninth.
Amed Rosario had four hits, while Jose Ramirez had zero.
That about sums up the way this up-and-down season has gone.
The Impending Change
There are plenty of vocal fans on social media and other airwaves declaring they are done with this team because of the new name.
If that is the case, more power to them.
But the organization is not moving anywhere, in contrast to what the Browns did back in the 1990s.
Time should heal all angst and the Indians name will fade into the background like so many other names from the past that we only remember when going on a team’s Wikipedia page.
The fans who do decide to stick around should be in for a better on-field product in 2022.
A healthy starting rotation instantly makes the Guardians a playoff contender and the change itself should mean the team is willing to spend to avoid making a change without any improvement on the field.
Fans won’t be holding their breath for the latter, but it does make logical sense.
The Indians have played their final game in Cleveland.
Next up is a new era of Cleveland baseball that will try to provide fans with a title for the first time since 1948.
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