Francona: We could be playing in Siberia and 'we'd still want to win'

Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona isn't letting a shortened season amid a pandemic take away his team's desire to win a World Series.

"We could be playing these games in Siberia, and it could be a 10-game season, and we'd still want to win," Francona said Friday, according to Zack Meisel of The Athletic. "That's how we're built. ... Nothing against Siberia, by the way. I've never been there."

The Indians are expected to play 40 games against the AL Central and 20 contests versus the NL Central this season. Cleveland will have 10 games each against the defending division champion Minnesota Twins and the much-improved Chicago White Sox, and up to 18 matchups combined versus the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals, Milwaukee Brewers, and Cincinnati Reds.

Cleveland hasn't won a Fall Classic since 1948, which is the longest current championship drought in MLB.