NewsPioli visit helps Tribe keep spirits up
New Chiefs GM puts early results in perspectiveBy Robert Falkoff / Special to MLB.com
04/14/09 9:25 PM ET
KANSAS CITY -- Indians manager Eric Wedge was greeted by an avid Cleveland fan in the clubhouse Tuesday afternoon. New Kansas City Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli, a friend of the Tribe, walked across the parking lot from his office at Arrowhead Stadium and held court for awhile with Wedge and other members of the organization."We talked about everything -- baseball, football, life," Wedge said. "Scott is a bright guy. He's a genuine person and a genuine friend."
After a 2-14 season, the Chiefs hired Pioli away from his executive position with the New England Patriots. Pioli is generally credited with making major contributions to the Patriots' success in the National Football League.
With the Indians off to a 1-6 start prior to Tuesday's game, Pioli offered some football/baseball perspective that drove home the point about how Cleveland's start is no cause for major alarm.
One game in the NFL's 16-game regular season roughly equates to 10 in MLB's 162-game season.
. "Scott said, 'If you're me, you haven't even played one full game yet,'" Wedge said.
Comforting words for a baseball team trying to keep its eye on the big picture.
Robert Falkoff is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
