Cleveland Indians: One final celebration of the 2016 season

The Cleveland Indians play their home opener today against the Chicago White Sox, and will begin the day with a celebration of the 2016 season.

The Cleveland Indians are back home and ready to celebrate.

The team comes home with a 3-3 record, but the excitement is all about what was done a year ago. Oh, and fans are just excited in general for the home opener. Who isn’t?

A banner was raised and rings were handed out, signaling the official end of the 2016 celebrations as this team now looks ahead at making a return to the World Series in 2017.

It is easy to get caught up reminiscing about what could have been, but there is no harm in casually looking back at the greatness that happened in 2016. However, it is nice to get some closure with today’s ring ceremony, as the players can enjoy it while also realizing that an American League title is not the ultimate goal.

This does not mean that anyone should look down upon the 2016 accomplishments, but this ceremony will only serve as motivation for everyone on the team to take that extra step in 2017.

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Not that the players haven’t already turned the page, but the focus now directly shifts to the rest of this season. Because as much as every single game matters, this home opener seems to be the real beginning of the season.

The fact the team started the year 3-3 means it is now a 156-game journey to keep rising above that .500 mark and get out to an early lead in the AL Central, and hold it all the way until October.

Fans should also enjoy today too, because although we are all expecting a return to the postseason, these special moments should be cherished. Nothing is promised in professional sports, so the good must be appreciated while the great continues to be hoped for.

So enjoy today and get ready for the next 156 games, (barring any rainouts), because no one would be surprised if there was another ceremony to begin the 2018 season. Only next time, it may be for more than just the AL pennant.