The Ace threw aces.  The Natural knocked one out.  The Southpaw sizzled.  And the closer conquered.  Cory Kluber, Francisco Lindor, Andrew Miller, and  Cody Allen all stepped up with big performances to secure game 1 for the Cleveland Indians.

Winning game 1 was, in the words of Donald Trump, HUUUUUGE.  Rarely is a game 1 considered a must win for a team, but this opener was pretty darn close to that for the hometown boys.  With their starting rotation a bit fragile due to injuries to Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar–not to mention Trevor Bauer and is drone difficulties–it was imperative that Cleveland cash in their ace’s performance for a W.

If the Tribe had lost that game, they would be faced with a must-win situation to avoid going across the Canadian border down 0-2.  And while Josh Tomlin has pitched well in the last month, he is not a guy you want to have to put your full trust into.

By winning game 1, the Tribe avoided having to wear that heavy pressure.  Heavy pressure can elevate the performances of athletes in many sports.   Baseball, however, has been aptly described as a game of failure.   The best hitters fail 70% of the time.  More often than not, heavy pressure increases that failure rate.

That game 1 win also knocked the Blue Jays down a few notches.  After winning their first four playoff games, Toronto reeked of confidence and swagger like a group of teenage boys reek of Axe Body Spray.   Their powerful offense definitely can be intimidating.  The shutout performance of Kluber, Miller, and Allen brought the Jays back to earth and reminded them that playoff baseball is NOT EASY.

Game 1 is in our back pocket.  This young Indians club definitely feeds of the energy of the hometown crowd, so Cleveland fans, let’s keep it Progressive Field rocking in game 2.

No need to save any cheers for the Sunday football.

Follow the author on twitter:  @macaljancic

 

 

 

Growing up in the 1970s and 80s as a Cleveland Indians’ fan, I never came close to experiencing the roller coaster ride that is playoff baseball.

I was a sophomore Muskingum College in the fall of 1990 when Pittsburgh and Cincinnati met in the National League Championship Series.  Because of the school’s location (near the intersection of I-77 and I-70), the dormitories were inhabited by numerous Pirates’ and Reds’ fans.

The Reds, led by Rob Dibble and the ‘Nasty Boys’ bullpen, won that match-up, as well as the World Series that followed.  The Pirates, led by Barry Bonds, Bobby Bonilla, Andy Van Slyke, and Doug Drabek, returned the the NLCS the next two years, both times suffering crushing game 7 losses to the Atlanta Braves.

I wonder if any Pittsburgh fans remember the name of Francisco Cabrera.  If not, let me refresh your memory.

As I observed my fellow dorm mates watching those epic playoff series, night after night, for hours on end, a thought entered my head.

“If the Indians are ever lucky enough to reach the playoff holy land, I am gonna be in BIG TROUBLE.”  

Being a double-major student and also playing football at the time, my weeknights were budgeted with a good portion of study time.  Baseball games that last 3 to 4 hours can put a serious kink into those academic plans.

Fast forward to 1995.  The Indians amazingly became the darlings of Ohio, going 100-44 in a shortened season to smash their way into the playoffs.  That fall, I was newly married, in my third year teaching, and also coaching varsity football.  I came to realize at that time that the college version of myself didn’t have a clue as to what ‘busy life’ truly was.  College Mac never had to get up before 7 am.  Working Mac relished the rare morning when he got sleep in past 7 am.

Those 1995 Indians knocked off Seattle to get to the World Series.  Unfortunately, one of the games occurred the same night that I had parent-teacher conference duties, which didn’t end until 9 pm.  I can remember getting pretty jittery as I agonizingly worked through the final few conferences of the evening with my four-person teaching team.  No smart phones at that time, or any cell phones for that matter, to keep me up to date on the score.  

We finally made it to our final 15-minute conference. Each member of our teaching team shared their thoughts with the parent.  I probably talked for a grand total of 38 seconds as I eagerly anticipated the moment that I could bolt out the door.  Unfortunately, one of our teaching veterans decided to give that last conference her full teaching treatment.  9:00 passed.  Then 9:05.  It was at least 9:10 before the meeting mercifully came to an end, and I raced home.

During the Tribe’s glory years from 1995-2001, when they made the postseason in six of seven seasons, Working Mac was able to manage his time well enough to savor every tense-filled moment of those playoff runs, even though every one sadly ended with a loss.

Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner helped lead the Indians back to the post-season in 2007.  By that time, Working Mac evolved an even busier species:  Working/Parenting Mac.  Unfortunately, one hat that I wore stayed the same:  Disappointed Fan Mac.

Nowadays, I am Working/Parenting/Writing Mac.  Let’s hope that this time around, Terry Francona and his squad can help all of us busy Cleveland fans drop that ‘Disappointed Fan’ label.

Follow the author on twitter:  @macaljancic

 

 

In honor of the retirement of two broadcasting legends–Vin Scully and Dick Enberg–I wrote a an article in the October 2nd Times Reporter ranking MY top 10 sportscasters of all time.  You can click here to read the list.

I decided to follow up with a list of MY top 10 Cleveland sportscasters of all time.  Like the previous list, I am excluding announcers that are before my time (sorry Mudcat Grant and Jimmy Dudley).  Unlike that list, I am considering non-game broadcasters (such as sports news anchors and sports talk hosts).  Here we go…

#11 Matt Ritzert and Jim Johnson

I decided to add my favorite local broadcasters to this list.  In my early years as a Tuscarawas County resident, I always enjoyed hearing Matt Ritzert describing high school games on WJER.  Jim Johnson, with his deep baritone voice, is a legend to Stark County residents.   It was a big highlight for my brothers and me to hear Mr. Johnson say our name on a WHBC high school football game broadcast.

#10  Casey Coleman

This former Channel 8 sports anchor was a strong vocal supporters of Clevelanders and their teams.  He also wasn’t afraid to speak his mind, and stand up for what he felt was right.   He announced Browns games in 1995 and 1996.  He unfortunately died at age 55 of pancreatic cancer.   I will always remember how he signed off his broadcasts…

“I am rounding 3rd and heading home”.

#9   Michael Reghi

A solid sports talk host, but he was an excellent  TV play-by-play announcer for Cavaliers from 1993-2006.  He brought great passion and energy to the games. Go to the 40 second marke on this LeBron highlight montage to here a Reghi call a playoff game winner.Or Check out his call on this LeBron dunk.

Unfortunately, when Dan Gilbert bought the team, he decided to replace Reghi with Fred McCleod (who has really grown on me).

#8 Rick Manning

It is hard to believe, but this former centerfielder is now in his 27th year  as a color commentator for Cleveland Indians’ games.  He does a solid job, and is definitely not shy to give an opinion.  He always has some fun stories from his playing  days to share, and he knows the game well.

#7  Herb Score

This former flame-throwing pitcher (whose potential superstar career was derailed by a line drive to the face) broadcast Indians games from 1964-1997.  He was far from the smoothest of announcers, but he was OUR announcer.  Hearing his familiar New York accent over the airwaves was like listening to your grandpa tell stories on the front porch.

#6 Gib Shanley

The Gibber was the radio play-by-play man for the Browns for 24 years, starting in the 1961.  He called the 1964 NFL Championship win over the Colts, as well as the dismal Red Right 88 loss to the Raiders on a cold January Sunday in 1981.

Shanley also was a long time sports anchor for WEWS Channel 5.   He made national headlines for his burning of the Iranian flag during this live broadcast in the early days of the ugly Iranian Hostage crisis.

#5 Jim Donovan

There once was a time when local news channel personalities were more than just reporters;  they were regional icons.  Names like Dick Goddard, Dorothy Fuldheim, Wilma Smith, Don Webster, Ted Henry, and Gib Shanley.  Jim Donovan deserves to be right along side those legends.

Jim is a native of Boston, but he has become a Clevelander through and through.  He is has been the sports anchor at WKYC Channel 3 since 1986, and has been the play-by-play voice of the Browns since their return from exile in 1999.

Jim not only brings great enthusiasm to the games; he also incorporates great humor and wit, while also relating to (and empathizing with) his Cleveland audience.  He is not just a broadcaster.  He is a friend.  And he has been in the prayers of many of us during his courageous battle with leukemia.   I am proud to say I got to shake his hand, speak with him briefly, and introduce my sons to him at a Browns’ training camp practice.

Here is a great Donovan call of a William Green touchdown run.

How about a couple of Phil Dawson snow bowl field goals.

#4  Tony Rizzo

Tony worked for many years as a sportscaster for the Fox 8 News.   He earned this lofty ranking, however, primarily due to his stellar performance for the last decade as the host of The Really Big Show on 850 WKNR.  He is by far the best radio talk show host I have ever heard, local or national.  He avoids the two common sports talk traps that most other hosts fall into:

1.  Mr. ‘Know-It -All’

2.  Negative Ned

Tony flips this on end by magnificently pulling off the deadly 1-2 combo of being every fan’s best bud as well as the life of the party.  He sounds like he is having a lot of fun, which infects both his radio show sidekicks and the listening audience.  He does this while incorporating solid, professional sports knowledge.

Cleveland fans love him because he is one of them.  He wears his fandom, his frustrations, his fun, and his joy on his sleeve.

I would put the following Top 3 against any other media market trio…

#3  Tom Hamilton

“Swing and a DRIVE!………..DEEP LEFT FIELD!…………WAY BACK!………..GONE!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Hammy has been spreading his infectious energy over the radio waves for 27 Indian seasons now.  He was the perfect fit those exciting powerhouse Tribe teams in the 1990s.  Though he can be a bit of a homer, he isn’t afraid to call out the Indians when they make mistakes.

I think Times Reporter Sports Editor Hank Keathley is a little disappointed that I didn’t have Hammy at #1 (check the end of his 2014 article).

#2  Joe Tait

“WHAM with the right hand!”

This guy is Mr. Cleveland Cavalier.  He did the Cavs radio play-by-play from their inception in 1970 all the way until his retirement in 2011 (other than two years in the early 1980s after inept owner Ted Stepien replaced him).

Joe was able to paint a masterpiece portrait of each game with his vibrant, succinct words, powerful energy, witty humor, and an occasional tactfully placed dagger.   And his passion for the game was always apparent.  Just listen to his call during the clinching game 7 of the Miracle in Richfield in 1976.

Joe also did separate stints radio and TV stints as the Indians’ play-by-play voice in the 1970s and 80s.  I will always remember being a 10-year-old boy watching  and listening on a cold spring Friday night in 1981 as he called the last out–a catch by Rick Manning– to seal Len Barker’s perfect game.

#1  Nev Chandler

“Pandemonium Palace!”

It’s hard to put anyone ahead of Joe Tait, but Nev Chandler gets the nod in my book.  He did Indians’ radio play-by-play (where he did Barker’s perfect game).  I can remember him doing Cavs’ TV games when World B. Free and company almost knocked off the defending champion Celtics.

But he was most known as the voice of the Browns during the heyday of the Bernie Kosar/Dawg defense era.  He simply did a great job in both describing and capturing the energy of the game, no matter the sport.  Here is his great call from the 1993 Steelers’ game when Eric Metcalf returned his second punt for a touchdown to seal the game.

Unfortunately, Nev’s life was tragically cut short due to colon cancer less than a year later.  But he will live forever not only on the internet, but as the voice of some of our favorite Browns’ memories.

These are my rankings.  Who do is your favorite Cleveland announcer?  CLICK HERE TO VOTE

Follow the author on twitter:  @macaljancic