Home Blog Page 17

At the End of the Day, What Will Become of the GOP?

When President Trump departed from Washington D.C. last month after saying "have a good life" and clapping to the song 'YMCA', he left an uncertain future for his party, the GOP.
By Terry McCafferty ’22

This week, the House Democrats unveiled their message for the midterm elections where they will be defending their slim majority: the GOP is the party of QAnon. According to The Hill, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) has already launched “an early six-figure ad campaign tying House Republicans to the QAnon conspiracy theory and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene” who lost her two committee assignments on account of her conspiracy theorizing proclivity. 

Politically, the message works in the same way that their anti-Trump messaged worked in 2020. It can draw in moderate upper middle-class and suburban voters in places like Georgia and Arizona while not alienating the party’s left-flank, unifying the broad fragile coalition and allowing them to eke out majorities in the House and Senate. 

Instead of choosing a message based on their popular policies or recent achievements, they have settled on this. While the strategy has the potential to succeed, the lack of an affirmative message makes passing policy harder because it relies on swaying voters who are much less likely to support the agenda of the Democratic Party. Additionally, spending large sums of money to tie moderate Republicans in swing districts to QAnon could backfire if it lends the conspiracy an aurora of legitimacy and increased attention. Setting aside the potential pitfalls of running an opposition message while in power, this choice reflects the struggles and opportunities of the Republican Party as various internal factions seek to win over its future.

While pundits like to predict the downfall of both our parties from time to time, the collapse of the GOP is nowhere in sight. The last time a major party ceased operations was in 1854 when divisions based on geography and slavery crushed the Whig Party. The divisions causing strife within the GOP have more to do with loyalty to a single person, Donald Trump, than they have to do with any policy or ideological differences. The worst thing Trump could do to the GOP at this point would be to form his own party, but with the entire political system set up to curtail viable third parties, Trump’s party’s biggest impact would be handing several election victories to the Democrats before fading into history as the Progressive Party formed by Theodore Roosevelt did. In other words, Trump’s power over the GOP’s future will not last forever.

Ultimately, a persona-based faction cannot long stand because while ideas are eternal, people only live so long, and enthusiasm around a single person fades even quicker. As the GOP has to determine what ideas it will espouse in the post-Trump years, here are three steps the party should take to set itself up for future long term success:

#1. Tell the truth and govern with facts: 

Climate change is a real threat to our security and future, the election was not stolen, and there is not a secret cabal of Satan-worshipping, cannibalistic pedophiles who run a global child sex-trafficking ring. As Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz learned the hard way, it is unwise to spew lies that you do not yourself believe. The tendency of some members within the party to embrace misinformation for short term political gain is not a strong long term political strategy because eventually the truth coming out is inevitable. It is also easier to govern when you accept the reality of the problems you are attempting to solve. Reembracing truth and facts is the first step in winning back college-educated voters who fled the coalition, and it will allow the party to begin rebuilding trust with the American people. You would think being truthful is easy, but when it means admitting past untruthfulness, it will not be easy. Regardless, it would make a world of difference.

 

#2. Restore compassion and empathy within the party: 

There is undoubtedly an audience for the Trumpian style of hurling insults, punching back ten times harder, putting others down, and getting down in the mud. To some people it feels genuine and authentic, to others, it expresses the anger and resentment they themselves feel, and yet, to others, it is necessary in order to shake up the orderly stagnation that they believe plagues our politics. In 2016 it made Trump interesting and entertaining to enough people to fuel his rise. But after four years of name-calling, frivolous fights, and hurtful statements, the vast majority of the country is tired of that style of politics. Without going into detail about all of the uncouth things the GOP let Trump say freely, it is high time for a more compassionate and empathetic Republican Party.

 

#3. Retain the working-class voters in the coalition that elected Trump in 2016 by catering to their economic interests: 

While a move toward a gentler, fact-based GOP might alienate parts of the Trump base, moving to policies that further his base’s economic interests could counter that. Trump was elected, in part, due to his ability to be seen as an advocate for the working-class people of this country. Once he got into office, his promise of economic reforms for regular people largely did not pan out due to his inability to effectively wield power and the hijacking of his administration’s agenda by the GOP establishment in Washington, who made tax-cuts his only major domestic policy achievement. But the charlatan’s rhetoric alone opened the door for other Republican politicians to openly support popular pro-working class policies (like $2000 stimulus checks). This was the best thing that Trump did for his party. If he had been able to use his popularity and power to corral populist and moderate Republican votes and work across the aisle to pass major legislation that would make our economic system work better for ordinary Americans, he not only would have won reelection, he would be incredibly popular. If the GOP is not afraid to be popular, they should consider moving away from their traditional economic orthodoxy, not just in rhetoric, but in action. 

 

If the GOP does these three things, challenging as they would be, and the Democrat’s only message is that one of the Republican representatives in Congress is nuts, the GOP undoubtedly will not only survive but thrive in the post-Trump years. The party that has only won the popular vote once in more than three decades could even start winning that again. Quips aside, at the end of the day, honesty, compassion, and worker-friendly economic policies are the best way for Republicans to reunify their party and win.

 

– No. 2 –

____ _______ ____

‘At the End of the Day’ is a weekly column written by Terry McCafferty ‘22. Each week focuses on a different topic often related to politics, faith, culture, or society at large.

Wildcat Weekly | National Signing Day

Miracles on the Shore of Lake Erie: The 2020 Cleveland Browns

Seamus Walsh ‘24

With the Cleveland Browns falling short to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, January 17th, their season has ended. Having a historic season amid a global pandemic is no easy feat, in the spirit of reflection, a season recap is in order. The season began with Baker Mayfield experiencing a sophomore slump; with a rookie record 27 passing TD’s in his first season, 21 picks was a surprise. Another setback was defensive end Myles Garrett’s indefinite suspension for hitting Mason Rudolph with his helmet. The season ended as a disappointing 6-10. The Browns set their sights on the draft, they ended up acquiring T Jedrick Wills Jr., and signing lineman Jack Conklin. And of course, a revamped front office, with Kevin Stefanski taking the reins from Freddie Kitchens, and a new GM in Andrew Berry.But then Covid-19 struck, leaving the Browns without a preseason and very little training camp. 

This may have been why, in the season opener, the Baltimore Ravens blew out the Browns, 38-6. The Browns had a short week, with a Thursday night home opener against #1 overall pick Joe Burrow and the Bengals. Fending off the persistent Bengals, the Browns cruised their way to a win. After a painless victory against the Washington Football Team, the Browns traveled to Dallas to take on the favored Cowboys, with Dak Prescott and former Buckeye Ezekiel Elliot. After an explosive offensive half, the Browns let up and allowed America’s Team to pull within 3. But a 50 yard TD run by Odell Beckham Jr., along with 2 other TD catches, secured the W. Myles Garret was awarded AFC Defensive Player of the Week with two sacks and a FF. Pro Bowl RB Nick Chubb succumbed to a knee injury. Regardless, the Browns moved to 4-1, their best start since 1994. 

The Browns returned back to Cleveland to host the Indianapolis Colts. They pulled out in a 32-23 victory, The Browns were humbled in their next game, falling 38-7 to Ben Roethlisberger and Juju Smith-Schuster. Next to Cincinnati to rematch Joe Burrow. After a close fight, it came down to the final minute. With the Browns down 31-34, receivers made some clutch catches on the final drive, culminating with a spectacular, toe-tapping game-winning snag from Michigan rookie Dovovan Peoples-Jones with only 15 seconds remaining, giving the Browns their 5th win of the season. One stain on the amazing game was the injury to flashy receiver Odell Beckham Jr. He tore his ACL and was placed on the IR of the season. After the win against the Bengals, they hosted the Las Vegas Raiders. In a cloudy game, with rain and high winds of up to 35 mph, it was a low scoring affair. Hunter Renfrow of the Raiders had the lone touchdown catch, leading Las Vegas to a 16-6 win. 

Now 5-3, the Browns had a bye week. Week 10 had very similar weather to Week 8, with blustery winds and severe precipitation, delaying the game. But the Browns persevered against Mother Nature and won a close game 10-7, the only score coming from a run courtesy of recovered Nick Chubb. The Browns hosted the Philadelphia Eagles, and an excellent defensive showing, including a pick-six by LB Sione Takitaki and three sacks and a safety from DE Olivier Vernon, led the Cleveland Browns to their 7th triumph of the season. The Browns headed south to take on the struggling Jacksonville Jaguars. They escaped with a 27-25 win. Week 13 the Browns squared off against the Tennessee Titans. Baker and the Browns exploded with 38 points in the first half, including a TD pass to lineman Kendall Lamm. This win the Browns secured their first winning season since 2007. 

Next up was a Monday Night Football game at FirstEnergy Stadium, rematching the Ravens. With both teams looking like they were heading to the playoffs, people expected a good game. The Ravens had the lead 21-14 at halftime, and scored again after the break. Eventually the Browns were able to take the lead on two TDs by Mayfield. Lamar Jackson, Ravens QB, went to the locker room with an injury, but returned and threw a touchdown! Kareem Hunt punched it into the endzone, but Ravens kicker Justin Tucker sealed the game with a field goal, handing the Browns their 4th loss of the season. The Browns headed to the Big Apple, taking on both New York teams. After an easy win over the NY Giants, they faced the Jets. The Browns were huge favorites, and a win would almost guarantee a playoff spot. But in a shocking game that surprised every fan, the Browns lost! A would-be game winning drive was halted on a turnover on downs. 

Heading into Week 17, the Browns controlled their destiny. With the 10-5 record, they had to win to earn a wild card spot. Their opponent was the Steelers, who already destroyed them earlier in the season. The Steelers already clinched, so they rested their starters. After the Browns went up 24-9, the Steelers made a late push but Baker was able to hold on and clinch the Browns first playoff berth since 2002, and their best record of 11-5,  since 1994. In the playoffs,the Browns again faced the Steelers, this time playing with a full lineup. But tragedy struck for the Browns, with many inactives due to Covid, and most notably head coach Kevin Stefanski. 

Regardless of this, the Browns erupted with 28 points in the first quarter! The team held off the Steelers, winning the game. An amazing victory and the first playoff win since 1994. They headed to Arrowhead Stadium to take on the #1 seed Kansas City Chiefs. After a good start for the Chiefs, the Browns mounted a comeback following an injury to Patrick Mahomes, but it just wasn’t enough. A critical first down by the Chiefs clinched their path to the AFC Championship, with the Browns falling short. 

The Browns had an amazing season, arguably the best since their return to Cleveland in 1999. Thomas Keberdle ‘24, an avid Browns fan, had some thoughts about the season and the future of the Browns. “Surely a disappointing end in a winnable game thanks to the Mahomes injury, but it was a very successful season.”, says Keberdle, “Stefanski showed he was the right coach, Baker showed he is the QB of the future, and they played excellent in the playoffs for the first time in 17 years.” The future is bright for the Cleveland Browns, and I would expect to see them in the playoffs of the next years to come. As most of Saint Ignatius is thinking, we salute and thank you Brownies for a miraculous season. Super Bowl LVI next year?

Students to Return to Campus for Full Day In-person Instruction

BREAKING NEWS | 12:01 pm

According to a letter sent by Dr. Fior to all parents Friday morning, “On Thursday, February 4, we were notified by local health officials when and where our faculty and staff would receive the vaccine. With these dates now confirmed, all students will return to campus for a full day of in-person instruction starting Monday, March 15 for the remainder of the semester. However, should the distribution of the vaccine by the State of Ohio be disrupted, we will adjust these plans accordingly.

The following dates and plans are scheduled to provide adequate time for faculty and staff to receive the vaccination, to recover from possible reactions to the vaccine and to maintain student learning.

● Thursday, February 18 — Our faculty and staff will receive the first inoculation of the Pfizer vaccine. Students will have an off-campus asynchronous A-Day from home.

● Friday, February 19 — Students will return to campus for an in-person B-Day of teaching
and learning.

● Wednesday, March 10 — We will move the originally planned professional learning day
from 3/11 to 3/10. Our faculty will gather for professional collaboration and learning. We
will conduct our Parent Teacher Conferences that evening as well.

● Thursday, March 11 — Our faculty and staff will receive the second inoculation of the Pfizer vaccine. Students will have an asynchronous B-Day from home.

● Friday, March 12 — Advice from our partners at University Hospital has indicated that side effects of the second inoculation are more prevalent and will vary from none to “flu-like” symptoms. We will maintain the previously scheduled “Day Off” from school.

● Monday, March 15 — Students will return to campus resuming all-day, in-person
instruction. A bell schedule is currently under construction and will be shared as soon as it is available.

Upon returning to campus on March 15, the following protocols will still be in place: universal mask wearing; the pre-arrival health assessment; frequent hand washing and hand sanitization; windows will be opened; and the strong recommendation to stay home if you are experiencing any Covid symptoms. Due to our large student population and physical facilities, classrooms and common areas in the school will be unable to accomodate 6’ physical distancing. We will do our best to maintain 3’, but we cannot guarantee that.

We realize that some families may not feel comfortable sending their sons back to campus on March 15. Any family that does not feel comfortable may enroll in our distance learning program. This option is meant for families that have existing medical conditions or students who have substantial anxiety about returning with so many students or who require this option temporarily due to quarantine or illness. Therefore, you will have the opportunity to opt in to virtual learning effective March 15, 2021. However, this will be an irrevocable decision for the remainder of this school year (with the only exception being a temporary need for distance learning due to student quarantine or illness). If you anticipate that your son will either continue with distance learning or switch to our distance learning program, please complete this Google Form by Friday, March 5. Students that are enrolled in the distance learning program may continue to participate in on campus activities. Finally, the essential vaccination dates may require us to amend our calendar and previously scheduled events. We will communicate those as soon as possible.”

Ignatius Eyes Bold New Schedule for Next Year

clock, clock in trees, clock tower,
Photo via Nathan Kuczmarski '22

By: Nathan Kuczmarski ‘22

After more than a decade of scrutinizing over 55 different bell schedules, Saint Ignatius administrators are in the final stages of implementing a new bell schedule for the 2021-22 school year.

According to Principal Dr. Anthony Fior, the coronavirus pandemic has created a unique opening to institute this change. “We can’t waste the good opportunity that this crisis provides,” says Fior. “Our faculty and our students are way more flexible and amenable than we thought they were before.” Given this flexibility, Fior sees this as the ideal moment to “rip the band-aid off and jump in two feet first into this pool of change.”

Despite an official schedule not yet being released to the public, Fior confirmed some aspects of the upcoming schedule. One of the biggest changes is that individual classes will be longer and will not meet every day. That being said, Fior insists that the new schedule is still not a block schedule. “Let me be crystal clear: we are not going to a block schedule.” He explained that no formerly year-long classes would be condensed into a single semester.

Several of the other changes confirmed by Dr. Fior were said to be adopted with the student experience in mind. One alteration that should be welcome news to bleary-eyed commuters is that a later start time is “likely” to be implemented. Additionally, rotating class periods will ensure that no student gets stuck in the same period at the same time of the day every day.

One of Fior’s favorite features of the plan was that “there’s great time in the schedule for clubs to meet and students to meet” during the school day. He followed up by saying that going forward, “the excuse of ‘our bell schedules don’t line up,’ or ‘I’ve got to catch a ride’, or ‘I’ve got practice’ will be eliminated” as an obstacle to participating in on-campus activities.

The last big change that Fior addressed was that there will be a common lunch period for all students during the day.

Since March of 2020, the Ignatius schedule has changed three times. First, in the spring last year, all classes were pushed online as lockdowns grasped the nation. During the first few months of the 2020-21 school year, students and teachers were then thrown into a new schedule in which students attended campus for an alternating hybrid schedule in which students alternated between on-campus learning in either the morning or afternoon depending on the day. But as internal cases of the coronavirus rose, Ignatius was yet again forced to adapt to a new schedule–one in which students spent 5 hours a day in Zoom classes, 4 days each week.

Now the school is placed on hold as it waits for the specifics of its 4th schedule change since the start of the pandemic. The only indication from Fior of when this information will be divulged was given in one word: “soon.”

At the End of the Day, Unity is Still Possible

– No. 1 –

By Terry McCafferty ’22

As our nation nears the one-month anniversary of the Capitol riots of January 6th, we find ourselves at a crossroads. Ever since that infamous day, the notion of unity has been pondered and spoken about extensively. Ironically, even the notion of unity is divisive as some conjure up their worst conception of ‘the other side’ and ask themselves, “why would we want to unify with that?”

Perhaps the question we should ask ourselves is: what are the real-life consequences of deepening divisions? Too often, ideas of unity and healing are seen in the abstract, and lost is how these concepts directly play out in our lives. One visible consequence of division is family members and friends fighting with each other leaving relationships broken and society’s social fabric frayed. 

It could be said that the social fabric of our society is already in tatters because the pandemic has left many people isolated and alone. 

With so many of the activities that bring people together – church, birthdays, weddings, sporting events, service opportunities, and the like – limited or unavailable, people have been increasingly lonely and disconnected, longing for the sense of community they lack. 

Often it is in community, that unity is found. Community can bring people together for a common cause, and common causes unite us. Labre is one clear example. As food is delivered to people in need, smiles are shared, and bonds are formed, the buses are not divided into factions of Democrats and Republicans, Biden voters and Trump voters, or liberals and conservatives. Everyone is in it together, united in a shared mission. While it is rarely thought of in that way, that is unity. 

We should not count on too often unreliable political leaders in Washington to deliver unity to us. The divisive political battles in Washington are not going to end anytime soon with another impeachment trial on the horizon and stark contrasts between the views of different factions within our government. 

Instead, we, the citizens, must ask ourselves, as we journey on toward the end of this pandemic, are we going to come together and more importantly, what are we going to unite around? How can we build community with one another, and what will be our common cause?

Some people came together around the egregious common cause of storming the Capitol, and others united to send GameStop stock through the roof with the more honorable intention of giving market-manipulating hedge funds a taste of their own poison. 

But is there anything better to unite around than love? Not the feeling, but the action of caring for one another? 

Let that be our common cause. The power of love transcends any person, any faction, and any division. It is not limited to one political party, one race, one religion, one creed, one nation, one culture, one age, or one level of income. If we come together to care for each other, and more specifically to care for the most vulnerable among us, greater unity is possible. Not only could you possibly be helping someone who is on ‘the other side’, you very likely could be helping others alongside ‘the other side’. 

Regardless of all of the things that divide us, love, compassion, and care for one another are things that almost all of us share as a common value. No matter what our beliefs are, the notions that “I am my brother’s keeper” and “I am my sister’s keeper” tie all of us together because we are all brothers and sisters living, working, hoping, dreaming, and dying together. 

Unity does not have to be an unattainable ideal, something we wish our leaders would work for. At the end of the day, the choice between unity and division can be ours.

____ _______ ____

‘At the End of the Day’ is a weekly column written by Terry McCafferty ‘22. Each week focuses on a different topic often related to politics, faith, culture, or society at large.

Pre-Med Student Shares Why You Should Get the Vaccine

By Brendan Oliss ‘21

It seems that there is finally some light at the end of the tunnel with the introduction of the new COVID-19 vaccines to combat the pandemic. The vaccines, however, were made with astonishing speed, and this has raised concerns for many people, particularly those who are hesitant to get vaccines anyway. With the rollout in full effect, these questions have captured the globe, but what does all of this mean for high schools like Saint Ignatius? 

Brendan Oliss ’21 is an currently working as an intern in the medical field where he regularly comes into contact with undiagnosed COVID patients.

Speaking as a student from Saint Ignatius and a technician in the medical field, I could not be more excited about the vaccine. Through my internship, I work with many undiagnosed COVID patients, as well as many sick and elderly patients. So, when I was given the opportunity to get the vaccine, I jumped at the chance. Contrary to some people’s beliefs, I did not grow a third arm or develop any mental conditions. In fact, my two side effects were as follows: slight muscle soreness in my arm for two days and feeling much safer interacting with some of the most at-risk patients in the Cleveland area.

On top of that, the day that I actually got the vaccine was incredibly  smooth. Due to the frantic nature of life with COVID, particularly in healthcare over the past few months, I had expected the chaos to continue when I went to get the first dose of the Moderna vaccine. After they checked my ID, I cruised through their vaccination center, and I got the shot still sitting in my car. After waiting for 15 minutes to monitor any possible reactions, I was good to go. 

Hopefully as many people as possible, including any eligible people at Saint Ignatius, have the same experience as me. Following phase 1A, which includes healthcare workers and the elderly, teachers are set to be vaccinated remarkably soon in phase 1B. With our own Wildcat staff approaching vaccine clearance, some people have brought up the idea that Saint Ignatius could make it mandatory for staff—and even students—to be COVID vaccinated (it is approved for people 18-years-old and older, so this could only include staff and some teachers). As a private school, this is certainly possible in the future, but I encourage everyone to stay informed and get the vaccine as soon as they can regardless. 

Recently, I was honored to speak with a few doctors at the University of Cambridge about biology and the Oxford vaccine, one that their colleagues were working on. Simply put, they were glowingly excited about the vaccine. Through this experience, I was able to briefly learn more about the mechanisms behind the vaccines. It is essential for everyone in the position to get the vaccine to know the differences between the types of vaccine (Pfizer and Moderna are currently approved in the U.S., and AstraZeneca is being used in the U.K. and other countries). Overall, however, what I took away from this was not which vaccine was more resilient and DNA-based; it was how important these vaccines are to the doctors and researchers who made them and how important they are to the world. 

So, as long as you’re willing to have arm soreness for a day, I hope you will get the vaccine.

The Decision to be Vaccinated Belongs with Families

By Jack Hille ‘21

There is a lot of uncertainty regarding the coronavirus vaccine, and one of the questions being asked is, “Should schools require all students and teachers to be vaccinated?” Personally, I don’t feel that it would be right for schools to mandate that everyone receive the vaccine. According to the Pfizer website, “The Pfizer-BioTech COVID-19 vaccine has not been approved or licensed by the FDA, but has been authorized for emergency use by the FDA …” While the vaccine has been tested thoroughly and seemingly there are a relatively small amount of adverse reactions since the various vaccines have been released, it is still hard to tell whether or not they could have any long term effects. Kara Gavin, PhD MPH, a researcher at the University of Michigan makes the argument that the longest anybody has had either of the two current vaccines in their system is eight months. She then goes on to explain how the only way we will be able to tell of long-term side effects is with time and further research. Normally, it takes many years for a vaccine to be developed and be distributed on a commercial basis. For comparison, it took twelve years to start distributing a Hepatitis B vaccine from the beginning of research and other diseases such as Influenza have taken decades to complete research. 

Essentially, we have never seen a scientific advancement like this in all of human history and if students and parents do not feel comfortable with the vaccine, they should be able to make their own decision on receiving it. When looking at the path that other vaccines have taken we are still in the early experimental phases of the COVID vaccine. Plus, the testing and trials that have been performed on the virus have all mostly been performed on adults who are not only at a higher risk of contracting the virus, but also have a higher chance of coming down with more severe symptoms. According to Dr. Cauwels from Sanford Health, since children do not have as high of a risk of catching the disease, pharmaceutical companies held off on testing children at first to try and get the vaccine out quickly.

While the production of an effective vaccine this quickly is one of the biggest scientific feats in history, it is still not a reason to force students to get the vaccine. For some individuals, there are just too many unknowns with this unprecedented vaccine to feel comfortable receiving it. Even if the school does mandate that students be vaccinated how would they enforce it? The only way would be to somehow punish non complying students and families, which does not seem right considering that they are just doing what they think is best for their health. It should not be the school’s responsibility to mandate vaccination. The students and their parents should be able to do their own research and make their own decision on whether or not they would like to receive the vaccine.

Gerome: “It’s time for the Indians to Reload”

By Bobby Gerome ‘21

After trading Francisco Lindor to the Mets, many have questioned what the Tribe should do going forward. The simple answer: do not rebuild, reload. 

Everyone knows that last season’s team was solid for the worst division in baseball, but was not built for the success that Cleveland saw in years past. Looking back, as much as fans would have liked to see Lindor, Carrasco, Brantley, Encarnacion, and the many others lost over the past few years stay in Indians uniforms, fans have to get real with themselves. The success seen in 2016 happened five years ago, the team’s shot at winning it all was then, it did not happen, and  those days are gone. The Indians now have many young prospects who with time will become good major league players. Tribe fans may not be happy with the results this season, but will be happy in a couple of years when the team is contending again. 

While there are many areas on the roster that need improvement, there are a few spots where the Indians are in a good place. First, the pitching. Let’s take a look at what the Tribe has lost in the past two and a half years when it comes to pitchers: two time AL Cy Young winner Corey Kluber, current NL Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer, Mike Clevinger, Carlos Carrasco, Andrew Miller, and Cody Allen. The entire rotation from the team that went to the World Series is gone, but the Indians still have one of the best starting rotations in baseball. Current AL Cy Young winner Shane Bieber still has three years left on his contract, Zach Plesac and Adam Plutko have proven themselves to be solid starting pitchers, plesac with a 3.32 ERA and Plutko with a 5.06 ERA, Aaron Civale also proved himself to be a starter to keep with his 3.7 ERA. Finally, 23 year old Triston McKenzie showed signs of being a future Cy Young winner in his first season in the big leagues. The starting rotation is good, no work needs to be done. It just goes to show how good the Indians’ farm system is when the team can lose two Cy Young winners and still have a World Series calibre starting rotation. 

Outside of pitching, there are many other spots where the Indians are set. First is at DH. Franmil Reyes may not have had the season in 2020 that he had in 2019, but the man is still a home run machine. The 25-year-old is projected to hit twenty one home runs in 2021, and is under contract for another five years. The second spot where the Indians are fine is in the infield. Yes, losing the best shortstop and probably future Hall of Famer Francisco Lindor is a huge hit to this team, but the Tribe have hope. Jose Ramirez, at the time this article is being written, is still an Indian. If he stays on the team, everyone knows how good he can be. Regardless of what happens with Ramirez, incoming prospect Nolan Jones can play either third base or shortstop. The prospect will be getting his first experience in the big leagues, and while the hype around him may not be as big as the hype around Lindor when he was coming up, the stats are very similar. Lindor hit .280 in the minors, and in 79 fewer games, Jones hit .283 in the minors and had 15 more home runs than Lindor. The 22-year-old’s stats of course have to translate from the minors to the majors, but the rookie seen today could be the face of the franchise in a couple of years. Even if Ramirez were to go, he could be replaced with good talent as well. Yu Chang has shown great promise both in the minors and as a big leaguer, last season, Chang had a .308 OBP in just 11 at bats. The farm system also has more shortstops than the Tribe could ever ask for. Angel Genao and Fran Alduey are both shortstops in the top 30 international prospects list and can both have bright futures as Indians. Andres Gimenez is another shortstop who is ranked the 66th best prospect in baseball who can make an immediate impact on a team. With all of that, the Tribe also just signed 15 international players to play in the minors. Out of those fifteen, eight are shortstops. 

With all of that being said, here is where the Indians need to improve: the bullpen, first base, and the outfield. Losing Brad Hand in the bullpen is a big blow for the Tribe, and as of now James Karinchak appears to be the new closer. Outside of the Wild Thing, the bullpen is not that strong. Improvements need to be made there for the future, but for now, the team will approach this season the same way they approached last season, by relying whoever the starter is to throw for six innings, and hoping the bullpen can hold a lead at the end of the game. At first base it is between Josh Naylor, Bobby Bradley, and Jake Bauers. All three of them will get playing time, and this is a make-or-break season for all of them. How they play this season will either determine that one of them is the guy for the future, or show the front office that the team needs to find a new first baseman. Finally, the team does not need new outfield prospects, but rather, the team needs to determine who to move forward with in the outfield. It already appears that Oscar Mercado is the center fielder for the future, but there are four other guys fighting for the next two spots. These men are Tyler Naquin, Jordan Luplow, Delino Deshields, and Daniel Johnson. All four are good in the field, the two that end up getting the jobs will be the two that get on base the most. The weak point of this team last year was the hitting, and anyone who improves, and is consistent hitting the ball this year will stay on this team in the future. 

The Indians do not need to blow up the team and rebuild, they need to reload the team with all of the young prospects obtained, and wait for the magic to happen. Have trust in this front office. Cleveland has proven time and time again that the Tribe’s farm system is one of the best in the game. The front office knows what it is doing, and will make the right moves to set this team up for future success. This season will probably not be very successful for the Tribe, but give it a year or two, and the Indians (or whatever they are called then) will be contending.

O’Neill on the Future of MCU: “Endgame was just the beginning…”

Patrick O’Neill ‘23

WandaVision officially kicked off the fourth phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe with its premiere on January 15. Starring Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany, the Disney+ original series allows Wanda Maximoff, also known as Scarlet Witch, and her husband Vision to enjoy the spotlight for the first time. Although the series may seem like a light-hearted comedy at first, the heartbroken and uncontrollable Wanda might have actually created something much more than a fantasy: a multiverse.

What’s on the Horizon? 

The multiverse may prove to be a catalyst for the future of the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s fourth phase and beyond, with nine other projects planned to be released just this year. Although these dates are liable to change due to COVID and other complications, Marvel Studios is looking to drop the first episode of The Falcon and the Winter Soldier on March 19, 2021. The six-episode miniseries will focus on Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes (portrayed by Anthony Mackie and Sebastian Stan respectively) as they battle against an anarchist group known as the Flag Smashers. As the first feature film of Phase Four, Black Widow will focus on Scarlett Johansson’s aforementioned spy. The summer blockbuster hopes to have a theatrical release on May 7, 2021 after a year-long delay. Loki, a series centered around the fan-favorite “God of Mischief” (played by Tom Hiddleston) is scheduled for a May release as well. Finally, What If…?, an animated anthology series that will focus on alternate timelines, is expected to be released in mid-2021. 

The MCU hopes to diversify its collection of superheroes even further, especially with the introduction of Chinese character, Shang-Chi, as he is forced to confront the Ten Rings organization in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings on July 9, 2021. Also, the Eternals, described by Marvel Studios’ President Kevin Feige as “an immortal alien race created by the Celestials who have secretly lived on Earth for over 7000 years”, will get their own movie on November 5, 2021. The last Marvel Cinematic Universe feature film in 2021 will be the third Spider-Man installment, which is currently untitled. Actors from previous Spider-Man films such as Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire have been rumored to appear as well, further hinting towards the multiverse. The film is scheduled to be released on December 17, 2021. Jeremy Renner is also slated to reappear as Hawkeye  in his own series. Lastly, Iman Vellani will debut as Ms. Marvel, a Pakistani-American teenager with shape-shifting powers, in her own series.

Feige Doesn’t Intend to Slow Down in 2022

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness will star Benedict Cumberbatch as Doctor Strange as he faces off against a friend-turned-enemy. Interestingly, Elizabeth Olsen has also been revealed to co-star. Notably, the film will be the first R-rated film in the MCU, and will hopefully be released on March 25, 2022. Next up is Thor: Love and Thunder, which will include the return of Chris Hemsworth as well as members of the Guardians of the Galaxy. Natalie Portman will return as Jane Foster, who will possibly become her own superhero known as The Mighty Thor. Thor: Love and Thunder is targeted to be released on May 6, 2022. Although it is unknown who will take the mantle after the tragic passing of Chadwick Boseman, Black Panther II is scheduled to release theatrically on July 8, 2022. Brie Larson will return to the MCU on November 11, 2022 as Carol Danvers in Captain Marvel 2. On the Disney+ spectrum, Oscar Isaac and Ethan Hawke will star in a series based off of Marc Spector, who is also known as Moon Knight. Meanwhile, Tatiana Maslany will play Bruce Banner’s cousin, Jennifer Walters, who gains superpowers after receiving a blood transfusion from him. She-Hulk has been described as a legal drama, with Mark Ruffalo returning, as well. Both series will land on the streaming service in 2022. Finally, the Guardians of the Galaxy will receive a holiday special in late 2022, just in time for the Christmas season. 

In Development…

Marvel Studios has also revealed plans for some projects in 2023 and beyond. Director James Gunn will return for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 in 2023. Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania, which does not have a release date yet, will reunite Paul Rudd and Evangeline Lilly as they explore the quantum realm even further. Jonathan Majors has been cast and will appear in the film as Kang the Conqueror, an otherworldly villain who has the potential to cause even more destruction than Thanos. Marvel Comics’ first family, the Fantastic Four, also have been announced to have a feature film in development, with no set release date or cast announcements at this time. Samuel L. Jackson and Ben Mendelsohn will reprise their roles as Nick Fury and the skrull Talos in Secret Invasion, a Disney+ series based off of the Skrull infiltration comic saga. Iron Man character James Rhodes, portrayed by Don Cheadle, and newcomer Dominique Thorne, who was recently cast as Riri Williams, will each get their own series, titled Armor Wars and Ironheart, respectively. Although Avengers: Endgame feels like it came out recently, it seems like the Marvel Cinematic Universe is just beginning.

1...161718...146Page 17 of 146

Instagram

About The Eye

The Eye is the student-led publication of Saint Ignatius High School.

Editors-in-Chief: Kelly Coleman '23, Young Kim '23 & Aidan Oliss '23