Paul Hoynes part 2: “Those Teams Probably Saved Baseball in Cleveland.”

Paul Hoynes part 2 edited transcript

Todd Jones (38:08):

So, what was Albert like to deal with on a day-to-day basis? As the beat guy covering the team and you got this very temperamental person, unbelievable ball player. And yet he's not easy to be around. How did you navigate that relationship?

Paul Hoynes (38:26):

Albert could charm the birds out of the tree one day and would just act like he hated you the next. And I think he just did that to motivate himself.

Paul Hoynes (38:43):

He got suspended so many times, cork bat, throwing a ball at Tony Thompson, the photographer, throwing a ball at the fan, Jeffrey Pillar, running over Fernando Vina in Milwaukee.

Paul Hoynes (38:55):

And back then, if you appealed your suspension, you could only do it when your team was in New York so they could go to the American League offices.

Paul Hoynes (39:05):

And I spent more time waiting out in the street at the American League office for him, or John Fear, or some union guy to come down and explain what-

Todd Jones (39:16):

It was like its own beat.

Paul Hoynes (39:17):

Alberts. Yeah. It was like how Yankees should had what ... when somebody covering Billy Martin, somebody covering Reggie Jackson, and somebody covering Steinbrenner. You had to have a Albert Belle beat guy, because you never knew what this guy was going to do. He was unpredictable. He just was …

Paul Hoynes (39:42):

The cork bat thing in Chicago-

Todd Jones (39:45):

Right. Misty Park.

Paul Hoynes (39:46):

... when he got caught and-

Todd Jones (39:48):

And the umpire, I think it was Dave Phillips, I think.

Paul Hoynes (39:50):

Yeah, yeah. David Phillips.

Todd Jones (39:51):

Confiscated the bat.

Paul Hoynes (39:52):

Put it in the room, in the umpire's room. And Jason Grimsley went through the fall ceiling, grabbed the bat.

Todd Jones (40:00):

Didn't he have like a flashlight?

Paul Hoynes (40:01):

Yeah, like he was falling down, tiles were all over the place. He drops down into the umpire's room and switches bats, but he didn't switch ...

Paul Hoynes (40:12):

The smart thing would be just put another Albert Belle bat in there, but he couldn't, because every bat that Albert had was court. He had to put a Paul Sorrento bat in there.

Paul Hoynes (40:22):

So, yeah, I asked Sorrento the next day, "How'd your bat end up in the umpire's room?" He goes, "I know nothing." Like Sergeant Schultz.

Todd Jones (40:33):

Sergeant Schultz.

Paul Hoynes (40:34):

Yeah. It was crazy. It was like a wild weekend in Chicago. They called the cops. And Hart, and I forget who the GM for the White Sox, they almost got into a fight over this thing. It was crazy.

Todd Jones (40:48):

It seemed like you enjoyed it though.

Paul Hoynes (40:50):

Yeah, I did it.

Todd Jones (40:51):

What did you like about it?

Paul Hoynes (40:52):

I just liked that action. It was like happening right in front of you. This all about a bat? Really?

Todd Jones (41:01):

Jason Grimsley, he was crawling across the ceiling with the flashlight.

Paul Hoynes (41:05):

Yeah, from the Indians locker room. They had figured out where the umpire's locker room was, and in the ... I don't know why. I still don't know how he did it, but he was crazy anyways.

Todd Jones (41:18):

Well, that's the thing about that team. And we're talking and about Albert and his temperament, but his talent was just unbelievable. I mean, think about the hitter that he was.

Todd Jones (41:29):

And that whole lineup, that renaissance of the Indians franchise with that type of offense in a new park, there was something going on there.

Todd Jones (41:39):

I remember, I worked in Cincinnati. I came up for the playoffs and the crackling energy and that team. What was that '95 team like to cover? It had to be like the team that there was always something to write about.

Paul Hoynes (41:54):

Yeah. The park itself, opening in '94, it was like going to Disneyland after the old stadium. I mean, everywhere you look people were wearing Indians gear. The park was brand new. And the team, like you said, was unbelievable.

Paul Hoynes (42:10):

I mean, you think of that lineup flood, Kenny Lofton, Vizquel, Carlos Baerga, Belle, and then you had Eddie Murray, and Tony, and Ramirez, and Sandy Alomar were at the bottom of the batting board.

Todd Jones (42:24):

Oh, right. Think about that.

Paul Hoynes (42:25):

Those guys were just young guys.

Todd Jones (42:27):

And Tommy's in the Hall of Fame. He's batting seven.

Paul Hoynes (42:28):

Yeah. Sorrento was in there. I mean, it was crazy. It was just like you said, a renaissance. And baseball had been so bad for so long in Cleveland that that team, I don't think it'll ever be forgotten. That run of teams that they had that saved baseball in Cleveland probably.

Paul Hoynes (42:49):

And the fans have really never forgotten that team. A little bit like the Big Red Machine, I would think. Like you latch onto a team, you don't forget those guys. You put them in your Hall of Fame. You bring them back every year. And there was such a ...

Paul Hoynes (43:05):

I remember Buddy Bell was a bench coach or a coach on that team. He said that team liked to be behind in the seventh and eighth inning. They thrived on that. They had so many comeback wins.

Paul Hoynes (43:19):

I remember in '95, they constantly came from behind. Tommy or somebody would hit walk off home runs. And the place was packed. That was the start of what, six years of sellouts.

Todd Jones (43:34):

Five in a row.

Paul Hoynes (43:34):

And you go down to the locker room, and you'd come back and the press box would be open. And the fans would still be circling the stadium in their cars with the honking horns.

Paul Hoynes (43:48):

And this is like in August. It wasn't like a playoff game or anything. It was just like one of those years that it just doesn't happen very often.

Todd Jones (43:57):

As a journalist, we're not fans. We're not rooting. But at the same time, there's this energy. What did it bring to the job for you?

Paul Hoynes (44:05):

Yeah, I mean, like it energized you. I mean, it was fun to talk to those guys. It was fun to see such talent every day. And those guys loved it. They were rolling.

Paul Hoynes (44:18):

Albert was a hit or miss, but those guys, Eddie Murray was on that team. And Eddie would only talk like once a year. But when he talked, he was-

Todd Jones (44:31):

He would like decree something once a year.

Paul Hoynes (44:32):

Yeah. It was like EF Hutton talking, everyone stopped and listened. But the skill was great. Lofton was a little prickly, but you had to get to know him. He was fine. And Carlos was great.

Todd Jones (44:44):

Tony was always accessible.

Paul Hoynes (44:46):

Like Tommy was always-

Todd Jones (44:47):

I remember one time I came up and Tommy, yeah, he didn't know me because I'm just parachuting into Cleveland. And I did an interview with him and he's thanked me. I'm like, "What?" "Thank you for interviewing me." I'm like, "What are you talking about?"

Paul Hoynes (45:00):

I remember like the first year they got Vizquel, I don't know if this was '93 or '94. And Tommy was on that team. Vizquel first game in Cleveland.

Paul Hoynes (45:09):

We'd heard all about this Gold Glove shortstop. It's against Kansas City. He makes three errors maybe for the first and only time in his career. And he stood up by his locker and answered every question.

Paul Hoynes (45:20):

Tommy was sitting there, a couple lockers down and watched that. And he never forgot it. And I think that's why he was always a standup guy.

Todd Jones (45:29):

Why do you think some guys got that? They understood it? Why?

Paul Hoynes (45:33):

I think some guys get it and some guys are just, I think get so upset with themselves and they think ... it's like human nature. Either you take the bullet or you blame somebody else. But you appreciate those guys because you need those guys in this job.

Paul Hoynes (45:52):

I mean, because not every game is perfect and not everybody's going to hit 300. But you appreciate the guys that understand it, that know, "Okay, today, I was bad, but tomorrow I could go four for four."

Todd Jones (46:07):

There's a go-to guy. Do you have a favorite go-to guy over the years? Not just as '90s teams, but since then, or maybe back even in the '80s?

Paul Hoynes (46:15):

Oh boy, that's a good question. I like talking to Julio. I like talking to Sandy. Baerga was always good. I always liked Brook Jacoby. He played third base for them for a long time.

Paul Hoynes (46:32):

And those guys that were always at their locker. Blyleven was like that. Hargrove was like that. Kuiper was like that.

Todd Jones (46:38):

And let's explain this. We're not talking about guys who were just friendly. We're not making friends. Right?

Paul Hoynes (46:43):

Right.

Todd Jones (46:44):

But they're there, they're at their locker for you. They understand almost like, "This guy's got to come in and he's got a deadline." Explain it from your perspective.

Paul Hoynes (46:54):

Yeah. And they can give you, "This is where we are as a team." And you can get that from a manager. But it's always better, I think, to get it from a player, because you can fall into the trap as a writer. I think you go down, just listen to the manager and that's all you quote.

Paul Hoynes (47:10):

And I always try to not do that. Throw the quotes, let the manager have his say, but get some reaction from the players because those are the guys on the field.

Todd Jones (47:21):

Why did you think that was important?

Paul Hoynes (47:23):

I thought it was important just because they're the guys. They don't come to see the manager, the fans. They come to see the players. They want to know what it felt like to hit the home run, what it felt like to get the big strike out, what it felt like to boot a ball in the ninth inning.

Todd Jones (47:39):

Right, right. And that's, again, the fans are reading your stories because they're not there. They want to know what it's like there. And you have that understanding of the fan base because you grew up here. So, there's like a relationship there.

Paul Hoynes (47:52):

Yeah. That's a good point. Yeah.

Todd Jones (47:54):

Speaking of relationships, you mentioned Corrales. You've had how many dozen managers or so, 15?

Paul Hoynes (48:00):

13 different managers.

Todd Jones (48:01):

Mike Hargrove was a manager in that great run in the '90s with John Hart as the GM. And you've had Terry Francona, great manager. Those two guys always struck me from afar as somebody who would just come in from afar as pretty good guys to deal with. Were they?

Paul Hoynes (48:18):

Yeah, yeah. Really good guys. I covered Grover as a player, a coach, and a manager. And he was always honest with you. And he never held grudges. Because I would write stuff that would piss him off.

Todd Jones (48:31):

Well, give us an example. Give us an example.

Paul Hoynes (48:33):

I'd ask questions and he'd get mad at me. I wrote something about, there was some kind of fight, or not an argument, or somebody was ... I forget, Mike Jackson was one of the coaches. They had a back and forth with ...

Paul Hoynes (48:51):

Mike Jackson was a reliever. I wrote about it and Jackson yelled at me. And I went into Hargrove's office. He goes, "It looks like you got bit in the ass today, huh?"

Paul Hoynes (49:01):

But there was other stuff when I would write something and maybe it just struck the wrong chord with him. And he'd get it out in the open and the next day he was fine. And I really appreciated that.

Paul Hoynes (49:18):

And he had a tough job with it. As talented as that team was, I mean, there were a lot of different personalities on that team and that whole run. And he kept things calm in the locker room. He was really good at that.

Todd Jones (49:31):

What made Hargrove the right manager for that team?

Paul Hoynes (49:34):

I always thought first of all, he was a player, he played for a long time. And he just had a way about him. He was calm with the players, you could see him. I know when I think they traded Eddie Murray in 1996 maybe.

Paul Hoynes (49:58):

And Eddie, he was losing playing time. He wasn't happy and he had asked for a trade. And you could see in the outfield before games, him and Hargrove would be walking in the outfield, walking along, talking things out, trying to get things settled.

Paul Hoynes (50:15):

And I thought he really did a great job that way. There was never-

Todd Jones (50:20):

Steering the boat. Right?

Paul Hoynes (50:22):

Yeah, yeah. And I thought he always kept things calm. He always kept things under control.

Todd Jones (50:27):

That's so key, especially with so many different personalities. Especially when a team is so talented.

Paul Hoynes (50:32):

Right. Exactly. And those managers never win manager of the year.

Todd Jones (50:37):

Right. Because they think, "Oh, they just roll the ball out. Sparky Anderson, well, he got the Big Red Machine. No, of course he's going to win."

Paul Hoynes (50:37):

And then you got to deal with Albert, you've got to deal ... there was always something going on in that locker room, but he kept a lid on things.

Todd Jones (50:51):

Seems like it always gets back to dealing with Albert. He was in that way.

Paul Hoynes (50:54):

He was a beauty. I got to tell you this one. Albert was ... this doesn't involve me, but Mike Sullivan, you-

Todd Jones (51:02):

Oh, Sully, yeah. He was a coworker of mine in Columbus. Yes.

Paul Hoynes (51:05):

Okay. Mike Sullivan and Andy Cole from the-

Todd Jones (51:08):

Yes. Another good guy.

Paul Hoynes (51:10):

... are talking to a player right next to Albert's locker. And Albert's not there. And Mike sits down in Albert's chair. And that's a no no. That's bad.

Todd Jones (51:22):

Oh, Sully. That was not a good move.

Paul Hoynes (51:23):

And Andy is on one knee talking to the player, and he's kneeling on that Albert's hat. Albert's hat had fallen out.

Todd Jones (51:34):

This could be a double homicide.

Paul Hoynes (51:35):

Yeah. Falling out of the locker. And I'm sitting back in the locker room watching this. Albert comes up and he is just looking at this. He's looking, and he didn't know what to say. He was like dumbfounded. And he just turned around and walked away.

Todd Jones (51:50):

Did he?

Paul Hoynes (51:50):

Yeah. And he went to Bart Swain or somebody. "Look at this. They're sitting in my chair. They're kneeling on my hat."

Todd Jones (51:57):

I like the fact that you let that unfold.

Paul Hoynes (52:02):

Yeah, yeah. I just ...

Todd Jones (52:05):

You didn't insert yourself into that.

Paul Hoynes (52:07):

Yeah, I had enough problems with him.

Todd Jones (52:10):

You talked about the '95 team in particular, and the comebacks, and I'm thinking about it from the perspective of a writer who's on deadline. And you got ... what was it like covering that team on deadline? And that's going to lead us into game seven in 1997.

Paul Hoynes (52:44):

Yeah. I mean, when your closer goes bad or is like not stable, it is a nightmare. It's a nightmare for the team, but it's a nightmare for the writer as well. Because it can flip so fast.

Paul Hoynes (53:04):

And you're sitting there, you've got all your running done, you've got your story written, you're ready to hit the button and boom, it flows up and you're just sitting ... but you've got two different leads written.

Paul Hoynes (53:22):

But this was the other way like they were always coming back. And if it happened at home in the bottom of the ninth, you still had time to write it. But on the road, if they blew a lead on the road and it ends like that, it's woo.

Todd Jones (53:43):

Yeah. It's like all of a sudden, the suddenness of it and if you're not ready.

Paul Hoynes (53:49):

Yeah. Because the game just kind of rolls along and the fifth inning you start writing. And then all of a sudden you're sitting there, I've got everything set. And it blows up. And it's like, "Good Lord."

Todd Jones (54:01):

Alright. Worst blow up ever on deadline?

Paul Hoynes (54:03):

Oh man. Wow. There was a couple, there was a lot this past season with class A blew 12 saves.

Todd Jones (54:13):

He changed more leads than any copy desk.

Paul Hoynes (54:16):

He gave me a heart attack. I'm trying to think. Well, I'll tell you. This wasn't a blown save, but when Kirk Gibson hit the home run in the World Series-

Todd Jones (54:28):

You were covering that game?

Paul Hoynes (54:29):

Yeah, I was covering that game. And I was sitting in the back of the, I think it was at Dodger Stadium. And I couldn't even see. I was like staring between two pipes. I was way back in the press box.

Todd Jones (54:41):

Right by the popcorn machine.

Paul Hoynes (54:44):

Yeah. And so, he hits the home run. I had already sent my story because early deadline. So, I'm trying to frantically retype this, put two graphs on the top and sent it back in. And here on the desk, they'd already rewritten the thing. So, I'm sitting there like, "Jesus Christ."

Todd Jones (55:00):

"Why am I here?"

Paul Hoynes (55:01):

Yeah. "Why Am I here?" Exactly. "We Didn't think you'd send." "Well, I'm here."

Todd Jones (55:05):

What was that moment like?

Paul Hoynes (55:07):

That was incredible. That was just like guy limps up to the plate, he can barely walk. I've looked at that swing time and time again. It looked like he didn't even swing, it was kind of like a half swing. And it just wham, it just went out. That was pretty cool. That was a hell of an ending.

Todd Jones (55:34):

I always like the image, if you see the ball going into the stands at Dodger Stadium on that home run, behind that in the parking lot are cars with the red lights on people who had already left.

Paul Hoynes (55:45):

Yeah, yeah.

Todd Jones (55:45):

They had written their stories, they're out of there.

Paul Hoynes (55:49):

That's right. They're gone.

Todd Jones (55:50):

Alright. Well, we're going to lead us to a painful topic for Indians fans. But in '97, speaking of deadlines, speaking of closers, it's game seven. It's in World Series in Florida, the Marlins. The Indians had the lead 2-1. Your story's ready to go, right?

Paul Hoynes (56:08):

Yeah. You're sitting there, you just ... so, we're all up there, Livy, me, Shaw are all lined up. And Roy Hewitt is the sports editor. And he's walking back and forth behind us. He goes, "You got 15 ..." He's telling you got five minutes.

Todd Jones (56:34):

He's like the raven on your shoulder.

Paul Hoynes (56:35):

Yeah, yeah. And when somebody-

Todd Jones (56:37):

On and off here.

Paul Hoynes (56:37):

When somebody tells me that, I lock up. And we're sitting there, and you see Mesa blow it and who is … God, who hit the sacrifice flight? The Cubs new manager that just-

Todd Jones (56:55):

I'm having a mind blank. We're having senior moments first.

Paul Hoynes (56:58):

Yeah. Well, so, Mesa's got the 2-1 lead. And years later, I heard and one of the documentaries about the '97 team, they asked Mesa ... I guess Sandy was calling for fastballs, Sandy Alomar. And Mesa didn't want to throw the fastball.

Paul Hoynes (57:20):

And finally, somebody asked Mesa why. And he said that Hargrove didn't like the way his slider was working. And so, he was calling the fastballs from the bench. And Mesa said, "He hadn't called my pitches all year. So, why was he calling them now?"

Paul Hoynes (57:40):

So, that's why he stuck with the one pitch and they hit the sacrifice flying, tied it up.

Paul Hoynes (57:46):

But the thing about that game was Charlie Nagy was scheduled to start that game. He was a veteran starter. They started a rookie Jaret Wright, and-

Todd Jones (57:57):

Yeah. Why did they make that decision?

Paul Hoynes (57:58):

Because Wright was the hotter pitcher.

Todd Jones (58:02):

But it's game seven. You got a rookie.

Paul Hoynes (58:05):

I know, game seven. And he pitched well.

Todd Jones (58:07):

He did pitch well. They had the 2-1 lead.

Paul Hoynes (58:08):

Yeah. 2-1 lead. And then in the 11th inning, I believe they bring Nagy in out of the bullpen. And Edgar Renteria, Tony Fernandez makes the air and the guy goes to third. And Edgar Renteria like bounces one over to Nagy's glove.

Paul Hoynes (58:28):

It just tips off the top of his glove and goes into center field and they win it. And it was just like, "Good Lord." I mean, it was like ... but I didn't get up that upset. You just think about the journey that team was on. I think they played what, 19 postseason games that year.

Paul Hoynes (58:50):

I mean, and in that locker room, they were exhausted. You could just see that every player on there was exhausted. They were just done. They were cooked. Because it seemed like every series, they beat Baltimore when Fernandez hits the home run in the 10th or 11th inning. When Herbie had the greatest call, the Herbie Score, he goes ...

Paul Hoynes (59:11):

So, Tony Fernandez hits the go ahead home run in the top of the 10th and top of the 11th inning. And Herbie goes, "And the Indians are going to the World Series. Maybe." That pause and then maybe because Baltimore still had to hit.

Todd Jones (59:31):

That's like a writer sending his story too early.

Paul Hoynes (59:36):

Yeah. Pregnant pause. Maybe.

Todd Jones (59:41):

What was it like in the press box? Because this is a story about doing the job, sports writing. What was it like in the press box at the moment when the game changed like that? Because again, you're not rooting, you're not a fan. You're trying to do your job. But this is game seven.

Paul Hoynes (59:58):

Yeah. And like I am in total panic mode. I'm like, "Just get the score right and get it in." And I'm sitting, I had some reference to the Atlantic Ocean or the Pacific Ocean. Bud is sitting next to me and I'm going, "What Ocean is that out there?"

Todd Jones (01:00:16):

That's how tense it is.

Paul Hoynes (01:00:17):

Pacific or Atlantic? And I'm like, "I've got no idea."

Todd Jones (01:00:22):

Just some body of water.

Paul Hoynes (01:00:24):

Yeah. Bud says the Atlantic Ocean. I go, "Okay." Asking me, "What are you asking me for?"

Paul Hoynes (01:00:32):

And it was just like, God, you hope it came out in English. That was my hope.

Todd Jones (01:00:43):

Well, you don't speak Spanish, so you can just type loud. I'll type this loud and they'll understand it.

Paul Hoynes (01:00:47):

That's right.

Todd Jones (01:00:48):

Alright. Body of water, World Series. I think that takes us to 2016.

Paul Hoynes (01:00:56):

Yeah. Oh man.

Todd Jones (01:00:57):

Alright. Hold on a second. Before we get to the body of water. September 16.

Paul Hoynes (01:01:03):

Oh God. I forgot about that.

Todd Jones (01:01:19):

You write a column in mid-September 2016, the Indians, the fans are really into this team. It's the first time in nine years they're going to win the division. They won the game. But Carrasco takes a ball off his arm. He's out, broken wrist. You write.

Paul Hoynes (01:01:39):

Yeah. So, Carrasco gets hit in the wrist, breaks his wrist, he's done for the season. Danny Salazar, a week earlier had blown his elbow out and he was done.

Paul Hoynes (01:01:51):

And I remember the sports editor told me, "Well, you're not just a beat writer, you're also the columnist too. We want ..."

Paul Hoynes (01:02:03):

So, Carrasco, he breaks his wrist, the Guardians win the game or won nothing, 2-1 great game against the Tigers. And so, I write my game story, then I write ...

Paul Hoynes (01:02:22):

I'm sitting down there, I'm saying to myself, "These guys are done. They're done. There's no way. They can't play against Boston. They can't play against Toronto in the postseason. And with two of their starting pitchers down."

Paul Hoynes (01:02:39):

And so, I wrote this column and said, "Okay, they're going to skate to the AL Central, they'll win the division title. But that's it." And I put some headline on it, September 15th, the day the Indians postseason hopes died before they start under ... some damn thing like that.

Paul Hoynes (01:03:01):

And I think, "Hey, I wrote it, I think everybody must be feeling this way." And it was a Saturday, the next day was Sunday. It was an off day.

Todd Jones (01:03:12):

You had an off day. Rare.

Paul Hoynes (01:03:13):

Yeah. And all of a sudden, my phone is blown up Sunday, all these people from the Indians are calling, they're up. Everybody, the front office is off. The players are threatening to boycott.

Paul Hoynes (01:03:25):

People are sending me text messages like, "Unsigned, don't show up. Don't come back to the locker room." I said, "Jesus Christ."

Paul Hoynes (01:03:34):

And honestly, I didn't think it was that bad, but when you reread it, it's probably something I could've … over the edge. It was probably something I'd I should have waited on.

Todd Jones (01:03:50):

Well, Jason Kipnis was like, "Hey, why bother to come?" He was like, "If you think we have no future, well what's the point of coming in here?" Come on, Hoynsie.

Paul Hoynes (01:04:00):

Yeah. So, one of the worst things was I had to go see my proctologist a couple days after the story ran.

Todd Jones (01:04:10):

Now, wait a minute. Like you haven't already had the proctology exam.

Paul Hoynes (01:04:15):

Yeah. And he didn't like to column either. And he told me that. So, put him in a vulnerable position.

Todd Jones (01:04:28):

Alright. Talk about having an editor.

Paul Hoynes (01:04:31):

Yeah. So, I think I was off Sunday, they were off Monday. I come back Tuesday.

Todd Jones (01:04:41):

After your proctology exam.

Paul Hoynes (01:04:42):

Yeah. And you know how like you walk in the locker room most of the time there's nobody in there?

Todd Jones (01:04:48):

Yeah, yeah.

Paul Hoynes (01:04:48):

I walked in the locker room, every chair was filled. They were all waiting.

Todd Jones (01:04:53):

They were waiting for you.

Paul Hoynes (01:04:54):

Yeah. And some guys talked to me, some guys didn't. And then it was weird. It was a couple days later some guy texts me.

Paul Hoynes (01:05:03):

I get a text and it says, "Hey, if the Guardians don't get to the World Series, I'll jump into Lake Erie. But if they do get to the World Series, you've got to jump into Lake Erie." So, I'm all over that. I said, "There's no way they're getting the-

Todd Jones (01:05:30):

You double down.

Paul Hoynes (01:05:30):

Yeah. I said, "Yeah, definitely. I-

Todd Jones (01:05:32):

This guy's like Mattie Cleveland. Right? The guy's name is Mattie Cleveland.

Paul Hoynes (01:05:35):

Yeah, yeah. Some guy ... yeah. So, I'm right on that.

Paul Hoynes (01:05:38):

And then, okay, so, I think they played Boston in the first round and what's his face? Bauer gets attacked by one of his drones, cuts his finger, so he can't pitch. So, they're down three starters. So, I'm thinking, "God, I'm golden here."

Paul Hoynes (01:05:57):

But they have basically a two man pitching staff, Josh Tomlin and Corey Kluber. But Francona like pulls this out of his hat. Like he revolutionized the way people use a bullpen. He is got Andrew Miller.

Paul Hoynes (01:06:15):

So, Miller becomes like the second starter almost. Whenever there's trouble, no matter what inning it is, sixth, seventh or eighth, he's in there. Then you got Bryan Shaw and then Cody Allen closing.

Paul Hoynes (01:06:15):

And they blow through Boston. They sweep Boston. They beat Toronto in the ALCS and I think game six, maybe four or five, maybe game five, they bring this left-hander, little lefty, Ryan Merritt, that they had stashed in Goodyear. He was out in Arizona staying sharp.

Paul Hoynes (01:06:48):

So, he comes in and throws four and a third scoreless, and they win that game. And they go to the World Series and I'm saying, "Jesus Christ."

Todd Jones (01:06:57):

Because now-

Paul Hoynes (01:06:59):

Now, I got to go in the Lake. And so, we're in bed one night, Jackie and me, and I'm driving her crazy because I'm thinking, "What I'm I going to do?"

Todd Jones (01:07:09):

No really?

Paul Hoynes (01:07:09):

Yeah. “What am I going to do? Am I going to do this? I don't know what I should do.” And Jackie goes, "You're going into Lake because you're driving me nuts."

Paul Hoynes (01:07:22):

So, we go out to Fairport Harbor, and she videotapes me. It's like this gray overcast, day before game one of the World Series, the Perry nuclear plant is in the background. And so, I go down to the lake.

Todd Jones (01:07:37):

Wait a minute. How cold was it? What was the temperature?

Paul Hoynes (01:07:40):

I don't know. It was like it was maybe 45, 50 outside.

Todd Jones (01:07:45):

Balmy.

Paul Hoynes (01:07:45):

I know. And the thing was, look for bloating. And so, the thing was there's like four or five geese walking by the shore, and they're not even in the water. And I'm going in the water. They're kind of looking at me. "Who Is this maniac?"

Todd Jones (01:07:59):

Even the geese were hot.

Paul Hoynes (01:08:01):

Yeah. So, I go-

Todd Jones (01:08:02):

Wait a minute. I think the geese had bet on the Indians making it, were glad you were going there.

Paul Hoynes (01:08:10):

Maybe. So, I go in there, dive in the water, and I think everything was cool after that. I think I'd made amends, maybe, I don't know.

Todd Jones (01:08:22):

Well, some people wish you had led shoes on.

Paul Hoynes (01:08:27):

Yeah. Right.

Todd Jones (01:08:28):

Well, you were a man of your word. You stood up to it.

Todd Jones (01:08:31):

When you went into that locker room after the column and everybody was sitting in the chairs waiting for you. What was that like?

Paul Hoynes (01:08:38):

That was uncomfortable. And I've been in situations where you walk in and you know somebody's waiting for you. But the whole team was kind of waiting for me right there. And I didn't really go up to anybody to talk to them. I just kind of followed the pack.

Paul Hoynes (01:08:58):

And all the reporters came down with me and I'll give them credit. They didn't leave me out on an island.

Todd Jones (01:09:05):

They surrounded you, protecting.

Paul Hoynes (01:09:08):

Yeah. But yeah, that was-

Todd Jones (01:09:10):

In all seriousness, what was the relationship like with covering the team on a daily basis after that, as they made this great run? Did anything change in terms of how they responded to you, or?

Paul Hoynes (01:09:22):

Well, Kipnis came up to me after they beat Toronto and gave me a half bottle of Champagne and we toasted like, and I took a drink. So, I think at least he got over it.

Paul Hoynes (01:09:37):

I don't know if anybody else did, but yeah. I figured it worked out alright. And by then I didn't care. I was just glad I got past that.

Todd Jones (01:09:48):

Exactly. Well, it didn't quite all work out. Again, for the Indians fans and the team. You're facing another game seven here in Cleveland, the Chicago Cubs, they've got their own curse. The Indians are trying to win with their own curse.

Todd Jones (01:10:03):

I was here that night covering the game. I remember the atmosphere. Again, you're there to do your work, but the feeling in that stadium was unbelievable.

Paul Hoynes (01:10:15):

Of all the games that I've covered, I remember the vibe in that park that day or that night. And especially when Rajai Davis hit the home run to tie it up. I've never heard the ballpark like that.

Paul Hoynes (01:10:30):

And the thing was, the Indians season ticket holders, they'd given them extra tickets, all the season ticket holders. And they'd sold them all to Cubs fans. So, there was probably as many Cubs fans as there was Indians fans at the ballpark.

Paul Hoynes (01:10:47):

But when Davis hit that home run, I mean, it was like the ballpark was shaking. Like remember like old Yankee Stadium would shake during the postseason, you feel the press box shake. It didn't move it Progressive Field. But that's what it felt like to me.

Todd Jones (01:11:02):

I remember when I thought Kipnis was going to hit a home run.

Paul Hoynes (01:11:05):

Yeah, just yanked at foul. And that would've been the game winner that would've been winning.

Todd Jones (01:11:10):

Yeah. Chapman, because he had him just teed up like the timing of that. And so, we're almost on this historic moment for Cleveland fans. And again, you've got your story written and then they roll the tarp out.

Paul Hoynes (01:11:24):

Yeah.

Todd Jones (01:11:25):

It started raining. It's like five minutes to my deadline. I don't know what deadline you were on, but I was sitting there, "Are you kidding me? You're going to have a rain delay?"

Paul Hoynes (01:11:35):

Yeah. And what, it was 11 minute rain delay. It was like two minutes. I said, "God, play through this." And then that was, it seemed like all the momentum they had.

Paul Hoynes (01:11:44):

And he brings Shaw back out after the rain delay and I think what they scored a couple runs, what? 8-7? They lose 8-7.

Todd Jones (01:11:53):

Do you think it impacted the outcome?

Paul Hoynes (01:11:55):

I think it did. Yeah.

Todd Jones (01:11:56):

Why?

Paul Hoynes (01:11:57):

I just thought it killed the momentum. I thought they were ready to win that right there. They tied it up and you get back out there and the Cubs what, scored twice, I think. And made it 8-6.

Paul Hoynes (01:12:18):

And then I think Rajai drove in another run in the bottom of the 9th or the bottom of the 10th to make it 8-7.

Paul Hoynes (01:12:25):

And then who made the last out Martinez? Michael Martinez. And Michael Martinez grounds out the third base makes the last out. And he had come in as defense for Coco Crisp in left field. And you would've much rather had Coco up there. At least he had a chance to hit the ball out of the park.

Paul Hoynes (01:12:45):

So, it was a great game, but like you said, it just didn't work out. I mean, it's just something about game sevens extra innings, it's not made for Cleveland.

Paul Hoynes (01:13:00):

And I always think one game shouldn't decide a whole season. That was a great run by those guys and it was a great season. I'm more into the journey of it, the whole season from spring training on, but it helps if you win the last game.

Todd Jones (01:13:19):

Right. When you think about that night, when you went home that night, the journey, I mean, everything that you've covered so many games from spring training on, and all these different things happened, things we were laughing about, but also the ups and downs.

Todd Jones (01:13:32):

And to get that close, again, you don't necessarily personally care about the outcome, but that journey you were on as a journalist, as a writer, what did you feel when you went home or woke up the next day?

Paul Hoynes (01:13:43):

I was just exhausted because I don't think we left the ballpark till 5:00, 6:00 in the morning. Because with the internet now, you can write forever. You write different stories.

Todd Jones (01:13:58):

It's like you're on the road, Jack.

Paul Hoynes (01:14:01):

That's right. They want that.

Todd Jones (01:14:02):

Just scrolling.

Paul Hoynes (01:14:04):

Yeah. At the end of every season, I go and lay down in the middle of my living room and just look at the ceiling for about an hour and count cracks in the ceiling because it's over. And you made it through another one.

Todd Jones (01:14:23):

And yet you're still going.

Paul Hoynes (01:14:28):

That's right. But yeah.

Todd Jones (01:14:31):

Hoynsie, you're still going. You're still going to the park every day, covering this sport, this demanding beat day after day. What has kept you going and so invested in this beat?

Paul Hoynes (01:14:43):

I just like it. I still like it, Todd. I just like the storylines that develop. I like seeing the players as they develop and get better or get worse, and talking to the players, talking to the coaches. I just like it.

Paul Hoynes (01:15:02):

I can't explain it any other way. I just like the flow of the season. I like traveling. I like being on the road most of the time. And yeah, I just like it.

Todd Jones (01:15:17):

Beats working.

Paul Hoynes (01:15:19):

Yeah. Beats working. And like you said, your office is Fenway Park. That's not too bad.

Todd Jones (01:15:24):

Not too bad. Not too bad. Well, we certainly appreciate your time and I know the Cleveland fans, they might get mad at you sometime, Hoynsie, but they're very lucky to have somebody like you that does have all this knowledge about baseball since the early '80s here in the city.

Todd Jones (01:15:40):

And you're a trusted voice in that regard. I mean, you know the ups and downs and the ins and outs of what's happened here. And I think that's very appreciative here in Northeast Ohio. And I just want to speak for the audience in that regard.

Paul Hoynes (01:15:57):

Well, I appreciate that. Thank you. Thanks, Todd. That was a blast, man.

Todd Jones (01:16:01):

Yeah. You paying or I'm paying you?

Paul Hoynes (01:16:05):

Yeah.

Todd Jones (01:16:06):

Thanks, Hoynsie.

Paul Hoynes (01:16:09):

Alright. Thank you.

Todd Jones (01:16:14):

That was like a standup.

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