At around 8:30 Monday night it was announced that the Indians had agreed to a four year, $48 million contract with free agent outfielder and leadoff hitter extraordinaire, Michael Bourn.
David Goldman/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports
This came as something of a shock for almost everyone. For those who had been paying close attention to the Bourn situation, it was widely believed that the best remaining free agent on the market was headed for New York to suit up for the Mets in 2013. Unfortunately, it’s being reported that although the Mets were Bourn’s first choice and were also offering four years at $48-million, it doesn’t appear as though they were willing to part with their 11th overall draft pick as compensation.
With all of that said, when the details of the news broke Indians fans lost their collective minds. In one fell swoop, their world had been completely flipped upside down. Everything they had ever complained about in regards to the Dolans was crumbling around them. When combined with the trade of Shin-Soo Choo for Drew Stubbs and Trevor Bauer and the free agent signings of Mark Reynolds and Nick Swisher it’s safe to say that the Indians officially got their swag on this offseason. If nothing else, it was quite whimsical.
So what exactly are fans of the Indians and rival teams, as well as the media, saying about the signing? Something of this magnitude was sure to get people talking. Curious, I took to the Twitterverse to find out.
I guess it's safe the say the Indians have officially been Bourn again.
— Sonny (@SonnyPisano) February 12, 2013
We got life on 9th & Ontario again! #RollTribe
Wonder what it would take to trade for #Brantley? #Indians need SP, #Mets have SP. Ahem.
— Ben Berkon (@BenBerkon) February 12, 2013
IM SO EXCITEDDDDDD. HOLY SHIT THIS IS AMAZEBALLS. #INDIANS #BIGTHINGS
— sportsyelling (@sportsyelling) February 12, 2013
Did we just sign michael Bourn?!
— Jason Kipnis (@TheJK_Kid) February 12, 2013
Is it too early to get the #BourntoRun hashtag started?
— Lewie Pollis (@LewsOnFirst) February 12, 2013
Yeaaaaa budddyyy!!!! #ROLLTRIBE #bourn
— Matt Swetel (@swetel) February 12, 2013
gotta admit, it's kinda fun watching people be pissed someone signed with a Cleveland team for a change #RollTribe
— Brian (@TGIBriday83) February 12, 2013
#indians are a better team w/Bourn than without but not a big fan go guys who have lower body skillset.
— Steve Kinsella (@Steve_Kinsella1) February 12, 2013
Standing ovation for the #Indians. I can no longer say they arnt trying to win. Crushed the proverbial "homerun" this offseason
— Will Burge (@WillBurge) February 12, 2013
If you would've told me in Sept #Indians would get Terry Francona, Nick Swisher & Michael Bourn I woulda suggested the nuthouse for ya
— Daryl Ruiter (@RuiterWrongFAN) February 12, 2013
Life is good for Cleveland fans....Michael Bourn! Still kinda shocked.#GoTribe!
— Catherine. (@CLEmlbgirl) February 12, 2013
Michael Bourn to the Indians...hell to the yes#ROLLTRIBE
— Dustin Konig (@kronite1) February 12, 2013
You're damn right the Indians just got Michael Bourn! #WorldSeries
— Dylan (@DyldoMcBuckets) February 12, 2013
That’s all pretty overwhelmingly positive. Naturally though, with a move like this the haters are sure to come crawling out of the woodwork. And boy, did they ever. I guess it’s like they always say, “Haters gonna hate.”
Really Michael Bourn? The Indians? Stop it. What a clown. Enjoy that one horse town. Swisher will keep you laughin
— Paul Santasieri (@paulie_nuts) February 12, 2013
Michael Bourn couldn't get a better job than the Indians? Sad. You'd think a good team would want him.
— Michael Fisher (@FishSTL) February 12, 2013
Indians fans really think Michael Bourn is going to suddenly put them over the top in the division or nah
— Listen Here Baseball Commissioner (@spacemnkymafia) February 12, 2013
Am I supossed to get excited for nick swisher & michael bourn? They're both decent but neither are studs. Where's the pitching?
— Mike Macdonald (@MikeyMac58) February 12, 2013
Yes, that’s all a very small sampling from the wide world of Twitter, but for the most part, reaction to the Michael Bourn signing appears to be overwhelmingly positive. Both the fans and media view the signing as a step in the right direction for a team looking to get back into contention after five lackluster seasons. You could even go as far as to say that fans are drinking the kool-aid for the 2013 Cleveland Indians The surprising nature in which the signing happened probably helped fuel the mass hysteria. It’ll be interesting to see where fan reaction settles once Spring Training really gets going.
Let’s us know what you think. You can find us on Twitter @WahoosOnFirst
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