How did the Tribe draw this year? When are they the Guardians? – Terry Pluto’s Scribbles

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Scribbles in my notebook after the Tribe finished its home season Monday:

1. The Tribe ended the season with an attendance of 1,114,368 fans – an average of 14,472 per game. That ranks No. 20 out of the 30 MLB teams in average attendance per game. That could change as the season has another week to run, but probably not by much.

2. The team opened the season having traded Francisco Lindor and Carlos Carrasco to the Mets and having the second-lowest MLB payroll. On top of that, the name change was hanging over the franchise. At least some of those moves bothered the vast majority of the Tribe’s fan base.

3. The Tribe went into Tuesday night with a 77-79 record. It’s been a good year if you consider all the injuries and having the second-youngest roster in MLB. But it’s not been a playoff-caliber team, as often has been in the case in Cleveland since 2013.

4. That’s why the Tribe’s attendance is promising. COVID-19 rocked the pro sports world because many fans were very concerned about going to games for health reasons. At least, that was the case early in the season, especially when attendance was limited to 30% capacity for the first two months of the season.

5. Given all that, the Tribe ranking No. 20 out of 30 teams is respectable. They averaged more fans than Central Division rivals Detroit and Kansas City. They also drew more than the sizzling Tampa Bay Rays and playoff contender Oakland.

6. I hear the Tribe will put Guardians merchandise officially on sale a few weeks after the end of the World Series. That means sometimes in November. That also is when the team will probably become the Guardians.

7. Tribe fans can still wear Tribe gear to the games in 2022. The team has no intention of becoming the clothes police. The team also will continue to sell Tribe merchandise in 2022. Team Vice President Curtis Danburg said proceeds from the sale of those Indians items will go to some Native American causes. They will have more specific details later.