CLEVELAND, Ohio — As the calendar flips from 2025 to the new year, somewhere in Northeast Ohio there are Guardians fans already convincing themselves that the upcoming season can be different. Not necessarily easier, but different: less stress, more joy at the ballpark, and so many mornings filled with positive vibes when reflecting on the previous night’s effort.

It’s an annual ritual of optimism sharpened by experience. Witnessing a team rally for a historic 15 1/2-game comeback to capture a division title will do that. It’s the hope inspired by an intriguing young roster, but also tempered by the scars of walking away from another playoff exit feeling like you just didn’t have enough of a lineup to get the job done.

Being a Guardians fan isn’t about blind faith, it’s about figuring out where to invest your hope. In 2026, Cleveland needs to block out the noise and focus on what makes baseball in northeast Ohio great.

Remember, for every frosty April night game, there is a red-hot August walk-off home run from Kyle Manzardo just around the corner. For every time the club stands aside on a December free agent to bolster the offense, there is a flashy Brayan Rocchio defensive stop, or Steven Kwan’s next outfield assist waiting in the wings. For every question about where the lineup’s power is going to come from, there is Chase DeLauter’s regular-season debut, or Travis Bazzana a phone call away in Columbus.

Guardians fans are adept at convincing themselves the things that went wrong last year are unlikely to happen again — despite all available evidence. As 2026 arrives, here are five resolutions that reflect how Cleveland fans should actually approach baseball in the new year: with some patience, optimism, accountability and preparation for the next unexpected unforgettable moment.

It’s only April

The early portion of Cleveland’s schedule is brutal, with an opening road trip against juggernaut favorites including the Mariners and Dodgers, a visit from Craig Albernaz’s newly reloaded Orioles and a trip to Toronto at the end of April. In 2026, Guards fans absolutely must resolve not to overreact after one bad week, even when the club loses four of six on the road while Steven Kwan goes 6-for-12 and they somehow still can’t score because the offense collectively forgets how to hit with runners on base. Calmly remember that it’s early, that the weather matters, and that no one should be judged before Memorial Day. Don’t wonder aloud why Manzardo didn’t start against a lefty, or why Gabriel Arias always seems to strike out on three pitches in leverage at-bats. Don’t declare the season over before it even begins. Simply remember that certain lessons should have been learned by now.

Hope springs eternal

Pin your hopes to Cleveland’s superstars. José Ramírez is no longer MLB’s underappreciated All-Star laboring in obscurity. He’s an icon, regarded as one of the top all-around players in the league. The Guardians will continue winning games that look unwinnable on paper based almost entirely on Ramírez’s will alone. Kwan will continue to turn singles into stress for opposing pitchers as long as he is on the roster, and the newly-endowed mega bullpen won’t collapse at the first sign of adversity because Cade Smith is as unflappable as they come. Cleveland’s young offense will do just enough that by mid-June the conversation will shift from “Are they real?” to “Why does no one take them seriously?” Believe in this fully. Because pessimism is exhausting and optimism is how you survive 162 games following the Guardians.

Look to the North Star

When the Guardians had every reason to pack it in during the 2025 regular season, manager Stephen Vogt wouldn’t let them. His daily approach and leadership provided a beacon for the club in its darkest times. The focus for 2026 is simple: follow Vogt’s lead, play the game clean, pressure opponents, and trust the work. Kwan sets the tone by refusing to give away at-bats. Ramírez leads by doing everything well and never making excuses. Smith is fearless, attacking hitters like it’s his job. The team doesn’t need flash. It needs execution, depth, and the quiet confidence that comes from doing the little things better than everyone else. Guardians fans must resolve to trust Vogt will keep them on task.

Nobody wants to be here

Resolve to embrace the Progressive Field weather like it’s Cleveland’s sacred rite of passage. Baseball isn’t supposed to be comfortable here. Cold April nights, wind cutting across the outfield and a crowd bundled like it’s a Buffalo tailgate are not inconveniences: they’re part of the test. Guardians players, like their fans, are built different. Manzardo hails from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho and feels just as comfortable in a flannel and beanie as he does in a cap and glove. Smith, catcher Bo Naylor and lefty Erik Sabrowski have the blood of true Canadian northmen coursing through their veins. When climate-controlled clubs like Houston and Tampa arrive for their early season matchups, be part of the home-field advantage that nobody wants.

Departures and arrivals

Resolve to emotionally prepare for at least one fan-favorite player’s departure from the roster before all is said and done. Maybe it’s Kwan. Enough has been written about the Gold Glove All-Star outfielder and his chances of being traded before the season even starts, but if he opens 2026 in left field for the Guardians without a contract extension, the chances are pretty good he won’t be around after July. Start building up your callus now. But leave room in your heart for a new arrival. Fans got a taste of what DeLauter could be all about during his two-game playoff debut last season. And Bazzana could show up from Triple-A any time after May. There will be plenty of chances to fall in love again, even after your heart is broken. Tell yourselves that you always saw it coming, ask how the lineup ever survived without them and insist that it was always part of the plan. It’s not lying to yourself. It’s part of being a fan.

These resolutions won’t make the season stress-free or stop anyone from checking the standings too often. But they will make the ride familiar, frustrating, and — when it works — deeply satisfying. Which, for Guardians fans, is kind of the whole deal.