Shapiro Hoping Risk Earns Reward For Indians In 2009

Mark Shapiro's "relentless" offseason was topped off this week when he filled his final concern for the 2009 Cleveland Indians. While other teams were playing for the World Series, Shapiro was talking with reporters in an empty ballpark and he was less than satisfied. "We need to go out and be relentless. We need to execute an offseason plan that acknowledges that we have areas to improve. We cannot, and will not, be complacent. We acknowledge we have spots where we can be better." Then it was trendy to use quotation marks around the word relentless, as if it was a joke that Shapiro would go out and make as many moves as he did. Remove the quotations ladies and gentlemen, Shapiro not only went out and got the job done in a year were the economy has strapped all of Major League Baseball, excluding the Yankees, he topped anything Cleveland fans had imagined. Are they all slam-dunk moves? Was Brad Lidge a slam-dunk move last year? The answer to both questions at the time they happen, are ... (link)