Will Browns continue to follow Indians’ lead

Will Browns continue to follow Indians lead?CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 08: Mike Clevinger #52 of the Cleveland Indians reacts after walking Alex Bregman #2 of the Houston Astros (not pictured) in the fifth inning during Game Three of the American League Division Series at Progressive Field on October 8, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

Posted By: County Sports Network September 1, 2020

WILL BROWNS CONTINUE TO FOLLOW INDIANS’ LEAD?

By STEVE KING

The Browns should conduct their business just like the Indians, and the good news is that they finally may be doing just that.

The Indians on Monday, just hours before Major League Baseball’s trade deadline, sent starting pitcher Mike Clevinger, outfielder Greg Allen and a player to be named to the San Diego Padres for six players in one of the game’s biggest deals of the day.

Clevinger is one of the American League’s best pitchers, and the Indians controlled his rights for two more years. Plus, at 29 years old, he is in the prime of his career, likely with a lot of good years left.

Clevinger, in fact, was a key piece on MLB’s best starting pitching staff, and the Indians, who went into Monday night’s road game against the Kansas City Royals tied with the Chicago White Sox for first place in the American League Central, were hoping those guys could lead the team into the playoffs.

So, why, then, did the Indians trade such a great talent?

Because, pure and simple, Clevinger was a knucklehead.

He and fellow pitcher Zach Plesac broke rules on a road trip to Chicago and left the club’s hotel, thus possibly endangering their teammates to COVID-19. Those teammates were furious, and they wanted Clevinger permanently gone. They couldn’t trust him.

The Indians have a bunch of good people who are committed, disciplined and principled. Those are the kind of players they seek, believing strongly that character matters. It’s hard enough to build a winner, and the Indians don’t want to try to also work out around character flaws.

With the success the Indians have had in recent seasons, it’s a philosophy that has worked well.

The Browns have been just the opposite with their continued dysfunction and the losing it has helped cause. They have had bad teams and bad characters. Those two things are indelibly linked in a negative way.

But with General Manager Andrew Berry and head coach Kevin Stefanski, that seems to be changing, at least in theory. They are cleaning up their act greatly. The Browns hope that the winning also ensues soon, too.

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