WKNR’s afternoon host Kenny Roda has started a "Wedge Watch", marking time until the Tribe skipper is fired. Of course, eventually Wedge will lose his job because all managers do, and Roda will beat his chest proclaiming how he is correct once again. But, the reality is Eric Wedge is not going anywhere soon because of the trust GM Mark Shapiro has in him.
I feel Roda’s real problem with Wedge is that he won’t come on his "Happy Hour" show. Reportedly, Wedge has made comments that he feels WKNR’s Tribe coverage is too negative. It has been said that opinions are like noses (or some other body part), in that everyone has one, and certainly Roda is entitled to his. However, it would be nice if that opinion wasn’t formed because one party won’t talk to the other.
The host insists that the main problem is the lack of fundamentals with the club, and Wedge is responsible for this area. He may be right, but the team won 93 games last season with this being a problem area. If you watch a lot of Tribe games (and other teams games) you will notice that most major league squads have problems getting bunts down, run the bases poorly, and miss cut off men. It is hardly just a problem for the Tribe.
Roda keeps mentioning Tony Pena and Larry Bowa has possible successors to Wedge which is really frightening. Pena won more than half his games just once in his 2-1/2 years in Kansas City, and last year when the going got tough for the Royals, he quit his team. Bowa is a problem too. Ask Phillie fans if they appreciate that Bowa basically ran Scott Rolen out of town and badgered Pat Burrell into a horrible year. Bowa was canned in Philadelphia because his team hated him. These are guys you want to lead the Tribe?
Guys with Wedge’s demeanor last a long time in jobs. I’m not saying Wedge is as good as these guys because he hasn’t made a post season appearance yet, but skippers like Joe Torre, Bobby Cox, and Bruce Bochy last awhile because they can handle the different personalities on a ballclub.
Roda also continuously criticizes the Tribe for not giving Bob Howry $4 million. He didn’t sign for that amount, he signed for $12 million, that’s the committment the Cubs made. If Howry has an ERA of 5.00 next season or blows out his elbow, then who’s stupid? He has had numerous national baseball writers on his show who have said the Millwood and Howry contracts were ridiculous, but still he hammers the team.
I am turning to music and WTAM (heaven forbid) on the drive home so I don’t have to listen to the ravings on WKNR. My colleagues at Cleveland Sports Perspective feel the same way.
JK
Cleveland Sports Perspective 