CLEVELAND — Beyond the Dugout is back again virtually on Zoom. For years, 3News' morning anchor Dave Chudowsky has been interviewing Indians players, coaches and staff during Spring Training in Goodyear, Arizona. The segments air weekly on GO! in the morning on channel 3 and here on WKYC.com.
Due to the pandemic, Chudowsky did not travel to Arizona this year -- but that is not stopping him from asking the tough questions you want answered. Well, not really! The questions are fun and help fans get to know their favorite players better.
Pinch hitting this week on Beyond the Dugout is WKYC weekend sports anchor Nick Camino. Camino flexed his muscle and went right to the top of the front office by putting Indians President of Baseball Operations Chris Antonetti on the hot seat.
The 46-year-old Antonetti been a member of the Indians franchise for 23 years, becoming president in 2016. As general manager back in 2013 he helped reshape the franchise that began with the hiring of Terry Francona.
In the eight years since, Cleveland has posted the American League's best record (.565, 673-519) by a six-win margin -- second-best in the Majors overall -- while entering the final week of each of those seven campaigns in postseason contention, highlighted most notably by five playoff appearances and an American League pennant in 2016. Antonetti was named Executive of the Year by Baseball America following the Tribe’s World Series run that season and 2017 Executive of the Year by Sporting News after Cleveland achieved the third 100-win campaign (102-60) in the 120-year history of the franchise.
Antonetti has become a fixture in the Cleveland community. He and his wife Sarah live in Rocky River with their daughters, Mya and Ella. When Camino asked Antonetti what makes him "GO!" the answer was easy.
"My family," Antonetti said. "I think that's the thing that is at the center of my world, and combine that and my job and it doesn’t leave me time for a lot else. But I would definitely have to say my wife Sarah and my two girls, Mya and Ella."
Going "Beyond the Dugout" was a nice change of pace for the Indians president, who is usually tackling questions about payroll, trades, and roster decisions.
"I think I can handle these," he joked. "As long as our questions are typically these, I think I'd be in a good place."
You will have to watch the attached video to find out what his family's go-to takeout meal was during the pandemic, along with who he would choose to have dinner with if he could pick anyone in the world!