Fandom is rooted in Hope. Hope that players execute. Hope that stars align, for even one crucial moment. Hope that those responsible for making it all happen consistently endeavor toward fielding the best team possible.

We hope because that’s all — as fans — we have.

Meanwhile, fans are expected to maintain hope — while expensing emotion and time and money — while reading shit like this:

“Everyone understands he's not going to spend the rest of his career boxed into a small-market budget...” https://www.espn.com/mlb/insider/story/_/id/30476703/this-winter-mookie-betts-trade-why-cleveland-indians-ready-deal-francisco-lindor

The Indians aren’t willing to pay him. (Save your “can’t afford” horseshit.) And if they did, they wouldn’t surround him with talent. And *they* want to deal him *now* so *they* don’t have to hear about it up to the trade deadline.

Like, what are we even doing here?

As @ZackMeisel tweeted, if they trade Francisco Lindor, the Indians' projected payroll will be roughly $45mm — *one-third* of what it was in 2018.

This is all less than a year after the owner said, in a room full of humans with ears, the true fans are the ones who buy suites.

There are plenty of options out there for those looking to reallocate their emotion.

The present-day Cleveland Indians, as an organization, do not deserve any of it.