Indians Tidbits (2009 season)

[LitlBuck]

Cleveland.com

Decision time? As Cleveland Indians stumble, pressure increasing on manager Eric Wedge
by Paul Hoynes/Plain Dealer Reporter
Sunday June 21, 2009, 4:43 PM
UPDATED: 10:05 p.m.

CHICAGO -- The fate of manager Eric Wedge is in the hands of owner Larry and team president Paul Dolan. If they say he's gone, he's gone.

The Dolans were at Wrigley Field for Friday and Saturday's extra-inning losses to the Cubs that extended the Indians' losing streak to five games and dropped them a season-high nine games out of first place in the AL Central and 12 games below .500. They were there as part of the team's annual family trip.

Besides seeing Wrigley's ivy-covered outfield walls, they would have been better off spending the weekend at Cedar Point.

When asked if he was considering a change, Larry Dolan said, "I'll talk to you later." When asked if that meant a change was being considered, Dolan said, "I just don't want to lie to you."

Sunday evening, Paul Dolan responded in a text message, "I spoke with my father. He refutes that the conversation with you was in any way a statement on Eric's performance."

It's believed no immediate change is planned, but the team's performance will be evaluated in the near future.

GM Mark Shapiro said Saturday night that he does not believe Wedge should be fired.

"I don't feel one person, coach or manager is responsible for the problems we're having," he said. "It's the magnitude of the injuries we've suffered combined with a bullpen that has performed at a very poor level.

"Part of the bullpen's performance is tied to the inconsistency of our starting rotation and not having three-fifth of the rotation we opened the season with."

Shapiro added, "If anyone is to blame, it's me."

The Dolans trust Shapiro implicitly. Outside of the team payroll, they do not meddle in team decisions. If they push for Wedge's firing, it will be a first in their tenure as owners.

Shapiro said this has been his most trying season as general manager. He feels a responsibility for the bullpen, which has blown 13 saves, because he put it together.

Continued

if the last statement by Shapiro is correct then maybe they both should go.

 

[Piney]

I did not watch the game yesterday after watching Friday and Saturday. That was enough for me but Drennan said that yesterday the team did not even look like you wanted to be there and if that is the case that is even more reason to let him go.

As I have said before, he might not make the pitches or might not be responsible for hitting the ball but he sure as hell is responsible for who he puts out there and how they perform. In addition, when it comes to strategy I really have not seen much from him since he became manager of the Indians. The Dolan's will be fools if they don't tell Shapiro to get rid of him and, if it takes his firing, so be it. They have lost quite a bit of their fan base already and they will just continue to lose more if nothing is changed.

You can tell with the slew of recent articles that it is just a matter of time before Wedge is fired. When the Indians shilling media starts questioning the manager you know they were given the 'ok' through backchannels from someone in management. Always seems to work that way.

Now the question is when. If the rumor of the upper management shuffling is true they will probably wait til then to fire him cuz til that happens, and/or let him hang himself to dry til the end of the season. But what they really need to is fire him before they decide to go young. I don't want Wedge around when LaPorta, Brantley and any other young player comes up cuz I don't want him to taint the young players more than he already has.

 

[NFBuck]

But what they really need to is fire him before they decide to go young. I don't want Wedge around when LaPorta, Brantley and any other young player comes up cuz I don't want him to taint the young players more than he already has.

Wedge already handled LaPorta incredibly poorly in his first call-up by barely playing him. You don't call up the crown jewel of your farm system to play him once or twice a week. That was a complete waste of time.

 

[tsteele316]

Wedge already handled LaPorta incredibly poorly in his first call-up by barely playing him. You don't call up the crown jewel of your farm system to play him once or twice a week. That was a complete waste of time.

especially when laporta was losing AB's to David Delucci, who sucked so bad that he was DFA'd about 2 weeks later.

 

[NFBuck]

Here's what I hope to see going forward:

• Wedge shitcanned at the All-Star break, pick an interem. In the offseason find a manager that isn't a complete fucking moron.
• Trade Victor for at least one near major league ready starting pitcher and another decent prospect or two. I hate to see Victor go, but he's our most valuable trading piece.
• Trade DeRosa for a couple of decent prospects.
• Unload the following (if possible) to the highest bidder: Peralta, Pavano and Wood. I know none of them have much, if any, value now, but if any of them get hot, somebody may show interest.
• By late August, LaPorta and Brantley getting significant playing time. LaPorta continues to hit well in Columbus and Brantley has come around after a slow start. Hopefully Brantley shows enough to allow him to take over the leadoff spot next season and slide Grady down in the order where he belongs.
• Move Sanatana up to Columbus and call him up in September. We need his development to be fast because Shoppach is not any everyday catcher.
• Hopefully Victor nets a good young starting pitcher that's ready for some September work.
• In the offseason, sign at least one decent SP to supplement the rotation: 1) Cliff, 2) Hopeful FA, 3) Hopefully Jake, 4) Trade acquisition via Victor, 5) Fausto/Laffey/Huff/Somebody else
• Sure up the BP through decent FA signings.
• Sign a capable FA 3B...doesn't have to be a big money guy, just somebody better than Peralta.

I know that's asking a lot, but it's not outside of reason.

 

[ysubuck]

Here's what I hoipe to see going forward:

• Wedge shitcanned at the All-Star break, pick an interem. In the offseason find a manager that isn't a complete fucking moron.
• Trade Victor for at least one near major league ready starting pitcher and another decent prospect or two. I hate to see Victor go, but he's our most valuable trading piece.
• Trade DeRosa for a couple of decent prospects.
• Unload the following (if possible) to the highest bidder: Peralta, Pavano and Wood. I know none of them have much, if any, value now, but if any of them get hot, somebody may show interest.
• By late August, LaPorta and Brantley getting significant playing time. LaPorta continues to hit well in Columbus and Brantley has come around after a slow start. Hopefully Brantley shows enough to allow him to take over the leadoff spot next season and slide Grady down in the order where he belongs.
• Move Sanatana up to Columbus and call him up in September. We need his development to be fast because Shoppach is not any everyday catcher.
• Hopefully Victor nets a good young starting pitcher that's ready for some September work.
• In the offseason, sign at least one decent SP to suppliment the rotation: 1) Cliff, 2) Hopeful FA, 3) Hopefully Jake, 4) Trade acquisition via Victor, 5) Fausto/Laffey/Huff/Somebody else
• Sure up the BP through decent FA signings.
• Sign a capable FA 3B...doesn't have to be a big money guy, just somebody better than Peralta.

I know that's asking a lot, but it's not outside of reason.

There isn't anything on your list that can't be done. And hey, I just realized...I dont' have to watch the Indians today!!!!!!

 

[NJ-Buckeye]

I predict the Indians will win a game yet this year

 

[NFBuck]

I predict the Indians will win a game yet this year

Do they play the Nationals?

 

[NFBuck]

2009 Cleveland Indians:
5.25 ERA, 1.518 WHIP

1987 Cleveland Indians:
5.28 ERA, 1.527 WHIP

Oooofah...

2009 Cleveland Indians
5.30 ERA, 1.527 WHIP

1987 Cleveland Indians:
5.28 ERA, 1.527 WHIP



*I use the '87 Tribe as a comparison because that's the worst Cleveland pitching staff I can remember...this year is worse.

 

[NFBuck]

I'm trying to think of ways the Indians haven't lost a game...

Midges...yet.

 

[OHSportsFan]

Midges...yet.

If the midges turn against us...

 

[LitlBuck]

From everything that I have read on Cleveland.com, it sounds like if the Dolan's want to get rid of Wedge that Shapiro will probably go also because he does not think that Wedge should be terminated.

 

[NFBuck]

From everything that I have read on Cleveland.com, it sounds like if the Dolan's want to get rid of Wedge that Shapiro will probably go also because he does not think that Wedge should be terminated.

If that's the case, good fucking riddance. I don't care how good of friends they are, if he can't see the man's incompitence, he's either too stupid to have that much authority, or he's putting his friendships over good buisness practice. Either way...hit the bricks.

 

[AKAK]

Here's what I hope to see going forward:

• Wedge shitcanned at the All-Star break, pick an interem. In the offseason find a manager that isn't a complete fucking moron.
• Trade Victor for at least one near major league ready starting pitcher and another decent prospect or two. I hate to see Victor go, but he's our most valuable trading piece.
• Trade DeRosa for a couple of decent prospects.
• Unload the following (if possible) to the highest bidder: Peralta, Pavano and Wood. I know none of them have much, if any, value now, but if any of them get hot, somebody may show interest.
• By late August, LaPorta and Brantley getting significant playing time. LaPorta continues to hit well in Columbus and Brantley has come around after a slow start. Hopefully Brantley shows enough to allow him to take over the leadoff spot next season and slide Grady down in the order where he belongs.
• Move Sanatana up to Columbus and call him up in September. We need his development to be fast because Shoppach is not any everyday catcher.
• Hopefully Victor nets a good young starting pitcher that's ready for some September work.
• In the offseason, sign at least one decent SP to supplement the rotation: 1) Cliff, 2) Hopeful FA, 3) Hopefully Jake, 4) Trade acquisition via Victor, 5) Fausto/Laffey/Huff/Somebody else
• Sure up the BP through decent FA signings.
• Sign a capable FA 3B...doesn't have to be a big money guy, just somebody better than Peralta.

I know that's asking a lot, but it's not outside of reason.

Well, hmm.

I think the thing is that it all has to go pretty much in that order.

You'd have to can Shapiro and Wedge to move Victor (and maybe even Peralta-- Wedge has some strange affintity for that streaky Mofo.)

Even then, I think that to get value for Victor, a lot of things have to happen.... first, someone needs to be desperate enough to give you the best guys they have AND those guys need to be good enough. I can see where the Red Sox, for example can use him, but, will they be willing to part with Clay Buchholz and an extra or two, for example?

De Rosa will get traded, but, it could be as good as Casey Blake, or just a "move him" for the sake of getting something kind of thing.

Wood and Peralta are a little tougher...

Having said all that, yeah, all those other guys need as many AB's as possible.

 

[NFBuck]

Even then, I think that to get value for Victor, a lot of things have to happen.... first, someone needs to be desperate enough to give you the best guys they have AND those guys need to be good enough. I can see where the Red Sox, for example can use him, but, will they be willing to part with Clay Buchholz and an extra or two, for example?

The Sawks have always seemed the most likely destination to me. If they're still neck-neck with the Yanks at the deadline and Big Papi continues to struggle, I'd think they'll be willing to talk turkey. They have a pretty deep farm system, so who knows. Then again, Dice-K's issues may make them a little hesitant to part with premium pitching prospects.

I think the Mets may be another possibility with Delgado's situation.