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Indians executive very high on Tito
By Greg Gulas
BEAVER TOWNSHIP
During his 39 years in Major League Baseball, there really isn’t much that the Bob DiBiasio hasn’t seen.
The Cleveland Indians’ senior vice-president for public affairs has formulated some strong opinions about the game.
On Monday, the Curbstone Coaches heard some of those opinions during their weekly meeting at Avion Banquet Center.
“We had an incredible run last year and believe me, it’s always great to talk to a group when the Tribe is in first place,” DiBiasio said. “In fact, the last four years have been incredible and it’s because Terry Francona has been at the helm.
“When he joined us, we gained we gained instant credibility,” DiBiasio said. “He’s always prepared, has excellent player skills and there was instant bounce in everyone’s step.
“He’s definitely a Hall of Fame manager.”
The Indians’ appearance in the 2016 World Series wasn’t by accident, according to DiBiasio. Twenty of the 25 roster players played in their farm system, including 15 home-grown draft picks.
DiBiasio said that Francona’s ability to create a team-first atmosphere has been the biggest difference.
“I’ve dealt with 15 managers during my career and watched how they each dealt with the clubhouse,” DiBiasio said. “Those 25 players have a finite period of time to make as much money as they possibly can and that window is usually between 22 and 32 years of age.
“With Terry, he knows the ‘we’ aspect of the game and not the ‘me’ attitude. He creates the ‘we’ and not the ‘me’ attitude and that ‘we’ has put us in a great spot right now.”
Omar Vizquel turned 50 on Monday, so it was only natural that DiBiasio compare the Indians’ former 11-time Gold Glove shortstop with the team’s current slick fielder, Francisco Lindor.
“I never believed that I’d see another Omar Vizquel, but Francisco is close,” DiBiasio said. “Omar won eight of his 11 Gold Gloves while wearing an Indians uniform while Lindor, at age 22, won his first Gold Glove and made his first All-Star team.
“There are only 18 Gold Gloves awarded each season, nine in each league which signify the best fielder’s at each position,” he said.
“MLB also awards two platinum gloves, given to the best fielder overall in each league and Francisco was last year’s American League recipient. Plus, he was given Sports Illustrated’s ‘Rising Star Award,’ which takes into consideration all young athletes in every sport, globally.
“He’s humble, hard-working and faith-based and we kid around that when he’s old enough to rent a car, he’s going to be hell on wheels.”
DiBiasio said he believes that Vizquel and Jim Thome are first ballot picks when they initially appear on the Hall of Fame list in 2018.
He also added baseball might never again see another .400 hitter.
“With a 13-man pitching staff and a bevy of relievers who can throw in excess of 95 miles per hour, hitting .400 over the course of the season is going to be very, very tough,” he said.
When asked if Pete Rose belongs in the Hall of Fame, his answer was a resounding ‘no’ as he justified his reasoning.
“I asked Herb Score that very same question and his reply was that there were only two rules back when he was breaking in, the first being never touch an umpire and the other to never bet on baseball,” DiBiasio said. “He then replied that Pete was 0-for-2.”