Mark Shapiro had the unenviable job of taking over as the Cleveland Indians’ general manager after the departure of John Hart, who many fans still identify as synonymous with the Tribe’s winning ways of the 1990s. He inherited a team whose fan base, right or wrong, would never fully appreciate the moves he made for this franchise.
Shapiro’s arrival coincided with the team’s sale to Larry Dolan, forever linking Shapiro with Dolan and his “cheap” and “oft-rebuilding” ways. Due to his connect with Shapiro, protégé Chris Antonetti has been dealt a similar hand in Cleveland despite the duo being the crux of a front office that has built — and taken steps to sustain — the foundation for a young and competitive team.