An Open Letter to Indians GM Chris Antonetti

We shouldn't be in this position. In fact, we should be about ten games out in the division, looking up at the White Sox, Twins, and Tigers, dreaming of April 2012. The date your predecessor, and now team President, told us all to count down to about two years ago. But 2012 came a year early. We're 1.5 games out. We have a different hero every night. Names like Hafner, Santana, Kipnis, and Masterson, are becoming synoymous with older names like Alomar, Thome, Belle, and Nagy. Attendance is up (but not as much as it could be); yet people are waiting for this team to fall apart. Waiting for the Curse of Colavito, or Modell, or LeBron, to kick in.

But this team has too much spark. Too much fight in them to quit so soon. Too much chemistry to listen to the "experts" explain why they aren't contenders. They play hard every night. Whether they're up 1-0, or down 10-2, they try to find a way to win until the game's over.

Which is why you don't break this team up. The motto for the 2011 season has been, "What if?". So here's my question for you: What if this rag-tag team of rookies and not-so-super-stars made it to the playoffs without any help? What if we gave up names like Pomeranz and White for a year-and-a-half rental of a name like Upton, only to have those two names lead a team to consecutive playoff appearances and World Series rings? What if we shocked the world, and in the last series of the regular season, beat those Tigers, and rode that momentum into a playoff run that may not bring us a championship, but respect, and a bit of fear?

This isn't a championship contender team. One power bat and one solid starter is not going to improve this team to that level, either. So, why bother? Why trade away some of the best prospects in the minors for one or two players who would probably only be here until next offseason, or worse, this offseason?

Kosuke Fukudome

You've already traded for Cubs outfielder Kosuke Fukudome. Not the sexiest deal in the world for a team pining for their first pennant since 2007 to make, but it's a decent step. You gave up hardly anything to get him, and, it would be nice to maybe see him in a deal for a Hunter Pence or B.J. Upton.

But the most important reminder here is: making a big splash in the free agent pool with one, or two, players is not going to catapult this team to the top of the AL pennant race. The best thing for this team to do is to keep fighting through this tough stretch. If a deal presents itself that does not involve big name prospects, or even a few solid pieces on the current major league roster, don't pull the trigger just to say you did.

Hold on to Chisenhall. Hold on to White and Pomeranz. Hold on to Kipnis; even Tomlin, McAllister, Weglarz, and Washington. These are names that can be synonymous with those other names we have plastered around the Jake, but only if they're given the right amount of time to grow and flourish. 2011 may not be our year for a championship, but 2012 and on? I like our chances. You should, too.