CLEVELAND — At the beginning of the season I was assigned by WKYC to do a post-game commentary following every Cleveland Browns game, a task that I’m sure didn’t seem nearly cruel and demoralizing at the time as it does at this point, but I have a job to do, so here we are at the scene of the most recent crime.
But I think we all deserve a break today, so rather than just moping about all the bad stuff happening in Huntington Bank Field right now, we should really be focusing on all the good stuff that’s been happening over in Progressive Field, right down the street from all this sadness.
Because after all….why should we be focusing our attention and emotion on an unsuccessful and largely unlikable team, a team that's constantly letting us down and breaking our hearts...when we could be praising the scrappy, successful and thoroughly likable team that plays in our city as well? The one that consistently comes through for us against all odds?
I mean, the 2024 Guardians are a team that regularly exceeds expectations, a team that has advanced to the championship series despite having the 3rd lowest payroll in baseball, while the other remaining teams literally have the 3 highest payrolls in baseball. That’s some moxie right there.
Now, let’s compare that to a Browns team that currently features plenty of expensive talent and the highest payroll in the league yet STILL performs on the field like a drunk XFL team.
We also have to point out the stark difference in likability between the respective "face" of each franchise. For the Browns, it’s a problematic, underperforming Quarterback with who’s got more baggage than Southwest. Whereas, the face of our baseball franchise, Jose Ramirez is a jovial, perennial all star who took a hometown discount to stay here and is probably one of the easiest humans on Earth to cheer for.
And of course, the likability doesn’t stop there. The Guards are full of good vibes, overachieving underdogs and surprising heroes that keep coming out of nowhere. Whether the rest of the country likes it or not, they’re about to learn the names David Fry, Lane Thomas, Brayan Rocchio and a bunch of other guys they’ve never heard of, and they’ll probably fall in love with them too.
In a weird way, this uniquely horrific start to the Browns season might actually benefit the Guardians. Because they have a great organization, the Guards are usually engaged in the playoffs at this time of year. But because of Cleveland’s Stockholm Syndrome-like devotion to our undeserving football team, it tends to get overshadowed by the Browns regular season, which, embarrassingly, tends to take precedent over baseball postseason in these here parts.
But because the Browns were generous enough to start their 2024 campaign in such a uniquely dreadful manner, that has allowed fans to get mad and give up on their football team significantly earlier in season then they usually do, timing up perfectly with the Guards playoff action.
In other words, we have a lot of dejected area sports fans looking for some hope. Looking for something to believe in, or at least something to distract them from their pain. And based on the buzz around town it feels like the city might finally be ready to accept that and get behind this team properly. If nothing else, it certainly seems like the Cavs are on board. Did you catch them celebrating on Saturday, too?
So, there you have it folks. My analysis of yesterday’s Browns/Eagles game. In summation: It stunk. Who cares? Ignore it. Your Lovable Cleveland Guardians are in the ALCS against the Despicable New York Yankees and those guys deserve your attention far more than these guys right now. So let’s act accordingly. And go Guards.