It’s been four long years since Mike Hargrove took in a spring training as a member of an organization. 

Driving up to Goodyear, Arizona from the neighoring city of Tuscon, Hargrove and his wife Sharon – who was at the forefront of her husbands decision to walk away from the Seattle Mariners in 2007 – discussed the feelings that were being experienced en route to joining his former team.

Words like “interesting” and “butterflys” came to mind, but all nerves were calmed within a few claps of the ball hitting the leather-clad hands of the 2011 Cleveland Indians.

“Its been great,” said Hargrove of his current run as the Indians’ special advior. ”Manny and his staff have been absolutely fantastic in welcoming me and making me feel like I’m a part of it which is just a good thing.”

Hargrove has undoubtedly meant a lot to the team since his return, seemingly becoming the face of the front office.  With Mark Shapiro moving from general manager to team president and Cleveland fans not knowing very much about his replacement, Chris Antonetti, Hargrove as accepted the responsibilities of being part of several team-based marketing campaigns. 

Hargrove was present at several Cleveland-area mall stops and will be the sole recipient of a bobblehead for the 2011 season.  However, he has also been tasked with working on improving young first baseman Matt LaPorta.  The former Tribe skipper applauds LaPorta’s athleticism, willingness to work on getting better at several facets of being a first baseman – footwork, glovework, etc – and says the 26-year old is “further along than most people think.”

Hargrove spoke highly of the current team’s work ethic from top to bottom, claiming that even the veteran players are working as hard as the young players still looking to make the final roster.  But most of all, he spoke highly of what it is like to be back in Cleveland.

“Its good to be back in uniform,” said Hargrove.  “It’s good to be back in an Indians uniform. It feels good.  It feels right.”