It only took 19 years for the Indians to have the opportunity to wipe clean the memory of Tony Fernandez and Jose Mesa melting down in excruciating fashion. We also have the chance to put away 21 years of bad memories of the Braves’ vaunted rotation being gifted a strike zone that was earned by the name recognition of Maddux, Smoltz and Glavine.
The exoduses of Albert Belle, Manny Ramirez and even Mr. Statue, Jim Thome, all bolted for big green pastures while the Indians pieced together a franchise that was living under constraints that saw prized players be shipped away en masse who were supposed to be the bedrock of the next wave of players that would lead the Indians to prominence again.