The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
STAFFERS READY FOR TEAM’S 11TH PLAYOFF RUN
Experience matters in behind-the-scenes preparation
It isn’t just the Indians players, coaches and veteran manager Terry Francona readying for another playoff run.
Behind the scenes, Indians team employees Jim Folk, Curtis Danburg and Brandon Koehnke are working long hours to make sure all systems are go when the American League Division Series between the Indians and Houston Astros shifts to Progressive Field on Oct. 8 for Game 3.
Games 1 and 2 of the best-of-five series are scheduled for Minute Made Park in Houston on Oct. 5 and 6, respectively.
Game 4, if necessary, is scheduled for Oct. 9 at Progressive Field.
Folk, Danburg and Koehnke are seasoned veterans when it comes to major-league baseball’s fall showcase. They’ve all been on the payroll and involved in the planning and execution of the the team’s 10 previous playoff appearances since the downtown ballpark opened in April 1994.
This is the third straight year the Indians have won the American League Central Division title and secured a playoff berth.
“An understanding of history is very helpful when it comes to the postseason,” said Folk, vice president of ballpark operations, Oct. 2 as the Indians worked out and played an intrasquad
“For us, it’s a big thrill to be a part of these playoff runs.” — Indians team employee Jim Folk
game at Progressive Field.
“We can look back over past playoff runs here and see what worked, what didn’t and what adjustments we made,” Folk added.
“For this playoff run, the things we know have to be done are either in place already or being done on schedule. If last minute changes need to be made, we can handle them smoothly.”
Just such a last-minute change was necessitated on Oct. 2. With the weather forecast calling for potentially heavy rain in the afternoon, the start of the intrasquad game was moved from 3 p.m. to 1:55.
Folk oversees a staff of about 800 employees.
“For us, it’s a big thrill to be a part of these playoff runs,” he said. “Every one of them has been exciting.”
On Oct. 2, Folk’s crew was attending to a variety of tasks that included the cleaning of sets and conversion of the family play area on the suite level to an auxiliary press box.
“I don’t want to say we have this down cold, but we know what to expect and how to pull it all together if our team makes the playoffs,” Folk said.
Folk and Danburg, the team’s senior director of communications, both discussed playoff logistics that will have direct bearing on fans who have secured tickets and will be in the stands for the ALDS game or games at Progressive Field.
Because of traffic flow changes caused by the ongoing construction project at Quicken Loans Arena, adjacent to Progressive Field, fans are urged to arrive early for Game 3 and, if it is needed, Game 4.
Major League Baseball has yet to finalize start times for those games. The gates at Progressive Field will open two hours before
the first pitch. During the regular season, gates open one hour before the first pitch.
For playoff games, the security perimeter will be extended from the ballpark’s entry gates into Gateway Plaza and the plaza behind the center-field entrances.
That means fans will pass trough security gates before they get to the ballpark entrances.
Danburg said the pace of ticket sales has been brisk for Games 3 and 4 of the ALDS.
“We are working through the process to get a sellout for Game 3. The demand is there,” Danburg said.
Crowds in excess of 36,000 are expected for the game or games at Progressive Field between the Indians and Astros.
The majority of available tickets will go to season ticket holders and to individuals who spent $50 to secure a purchase opportunity for playoff tickets through the Indians.
Danburg cautioned fans who plan to purchase playoff tickets on the secondary market that StubHub is the only authorized online ticket exchange for Indians playoff tickets.
As of late afternoon, on Oct. 2, only a limited number of Game 3 tickets remained on StubHub. Prices ranged from $99 for standing room to $685 for Diamond Box.
StudHub prices for Game 4 ranged from $70 for standing room to $800 for Diamond Box.
Rates charged by parking lot owners in the vicinity of Progressive Field also skyrocket for Indians playoff games.
Koehnke has been the head groundskeeper at Progressive Field since its opening.
His 24-person crew readied the field for the Oct. 2 workout and will do the same when team returns for another workout on Oct. 3.
“Every playoff run is special. You get an extra adrenaline rush,” Koehnke said.