Ringo: Hargrove has stuck with Tribe through thick and thin

Mike Hargrove knows the Cleveland Indians — good times and bad. He played for them in the late 1970s and early ’80s, arguably as rough a stretch as the franchise ever faced. He managed them in the ’90s to what can be called the best run of success in franchise history.

Now, as a senior advisor to Tribe president Chris Antonetti, Hargrove has enjoyed the team’s run to a World Series appearance for the first time since 1997, when Hargrove was the manager and the Indians were making their second Series appearance in three years.

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And Hargrove is enjoying his view from afar, watching the way long-time friend Terry Francona maneuvered his way to an American League Central title, swept the Red Sox in three games in the AL Division Series, and on Wednesday eliminated the Blue Jays in five games in the AL Championship Series. 

Now the Tribe awaits the outcome of the Dodgers-Cubs NLCS to see who will be its opposition in the World Series, in hopes of claiming the franchise’s first championship since 1948, the second-longest drought behind the Cubs, who haven’t celebrated since 1908.

World Series Game 1: Tuesday on FOX

“This [Indians] team is a team of grinders,” said Hargrove. “They just don’t know when enough is enough. Jason Kipnis is probably my favorite player on the team. He embodies what this team is all about. He’s consistent, busts his butt, gives everything he’s got that night. That’s kind of the way this team is.”

Game Date Time Matchup TV Gm 1 Oct. 25 TBD LAD/CHC @ CLE FOX Gm 2 Oct. 26 TBD LAD/CHC @ CLE FOX Gm 3 Oct. 28 TBD CLE @ LAD/CHC FOX Gm 4 Oct. 29 TBD CLE @ LAD/CHC FOX *Gm 5 Oct. 30 TBD CLE @ LAD/CHC FOX *Gm 6 Nov. 1 TBD LAD/CHC @ CLE FOX *Gm 7 Nov. 2 TBD LAD/CHC @ CLE FOX * If necessary | All times listed ET • World Series coverageShop for postseason gear: Indians

And Hargrove is quick to point out that the club’s 2016 accomplishments are very much a reflection on the ability of Francona to slot players into roles in which they can succeed. More importantly, Hargrove noted, Francona doesn’t let setbacks, like the absence of starting pitchers Carlos Carrasco and Danny Salazar, become road blocks to success.

“It’s built on pitching,” said Hargrove. “Going into the season, they arguably had one of the best rotations in the game. The fact that Terry Francona is a …

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