Cleveland Indians: A major change to Indians coverage in 2019

Cleveland Indians fans have read Jordan Bastian’s work for years, but he is leaving his post to take a new opportunity in Chicago.

Cleveland Indians fans who avoided social media this weekend may be in for some confusion when seeing Jordan Bastian’s Twitter feed.

The long-time Indians beat writer for MLB.com is now tweeting about the Chicago Cubs, as he has left his post with the Indians to cover his hometown team.

It is always weird when a writer shifts to cover another team. But that is just the way the business works.

Bastian was a reliable source in the world of Indians coverage and never said anything outrageous, which can’t be said about some other writers on the beat. He stuck to the facts and embraced the way the game is changing.

It is easy for fans, including myself, to forget that the writers covering the Indians aren’t all hometown people. Sometimes these people take a job in Cleveland and end up sticking around for some time, but it is never home to them.

The key is to provide fair coverage that is critical when it needs to be, and also fun when the occasion calls for it. Bastian did both and it will be a major loss for the beat coverage of the team.

His current path is one that most baseball writers dream about. He has been covering the game for over a decade and now gets to write about a team he grew up watching. Getting to be in the locker room with your favorite team on a daily basis during the season has to be a magical feeling.

I am grateful Bastian spent so much time covering my favorite team. And maybe he will get to cover an Indians World Series victory. Just not on the side of the winning team.