To prove it, he points to his staff. O'Dowd has been with Hart during his entire tenure in Cleveland. Minor-league director Mark Shapiro recently turned down a chance to be assistant general manager of the Yankees to stay with the Tribe and Hart for a sixth season. For all their disagreements, Hart and Manager Mike Hargrove have been together since 1991. But the player marketplace is different.
Players become free agents.
Players demand trades. Players are divorced and become heart and home sick. And most of all, pitchers get hurt. The biggest hole in Hart's resume with the Tribe has been his inability to acquire a star starting pitcher, be it through a trade or free agency. And the fans like it, voting with their feet and wallets.