Indians’ GM Mark Shapiro likes to say that he and Manager Eric Wedge are partners. They share the same opinions on most baseball matters. However, it is apparent that the make up of the roster isn’t one of them. Wedge plays with a 20 man roster. No, the Tribe still has 25 men wearing the Chief Wahoo logo. The manager hamstrings himself by not using everyone.
This came to light during yesterday’s game with the White Sox, when it was mentionned on the radio that the skipper doesn’t have the confidence to use relievers Jason Davis or Guillermo Mota with the game in doubt. I can understand the reluctance to use Mota, but if you don’t want to use Davis, then Shapiro needs to fill the roster with a more useful player. Heck, Davis is in his mid 20’s and throws in the high 90’s, I’m sure you can get somebody who has ability in return.
In fact the list of guys Wedge doesn’t want to use is as follows: Todd Hollandsworth, Davis, Mota, Tim Laker, and now rookie lefty Rafael Perez. Hollandsworth didn’t even pinch hit in the ninth inning of Friday’s loss to the Sox against Booby Jenks. Now, Wedgie will probably tell you the veteran didn’t have a chance since he hasn’t played recently, but who’s fault is that? The manager let struggling Jhonny Peralta bat against the flame thrower and where is the logic in that?
By contrast, Ozzie Guillen isn’t afraid to use anyone on his roster. I don’t like Guillen and I feel he has a short shelf life as a manager because of his abrasive style, but he doesn’t leave himself short players. With Casey Blake scuffling at the plate, why can’t Hollandsworth get some at bats. There is no reason Aaron Boone has to play every game. And you know our feelings on the Kelly Shoppach situation.
It seems the whole organization is caught with this type of thinking. In today’s Plain Dealer, it is mentioned the reason lefty Jeremy Sowers hasn’t been brought up is the brass doesn’t think he would be any better than Jason Johnson. That might be true for right now, but Sowers will get better, and Johnson is what he is. How long does Kevin Kouzmanoff have to hit .400 at Akron before he is promoted?
One other thing. The Tribe was the subject of an article on Baseball Prospectus.com a few days ago. The article addressed the team’s defensive woes. One player scoring higher on defense this year than last year was Peralta. The two biggest drops were Ronnie Belliard and Aaron Boone. Andy Marte’s bat is warming up at Buffalo. Let see him in a Tribe uniform before he hits his 30th birthday. Maybe at that point, Eric Wedge will have the confidence to use him.
MW
Cleveland Sports Perspective 