The Cleveland Indians return from a 2-5 road trip to take on the Los Angeles Angels tomorrow night at Jacobs Field. It was a trip in which the Tribe led six of the seven games. Not only that, they led those six games in the seventh inning or later. It was an amazing because the optimists following this team realize they could have been 6-1 in this period, easily. However, the game isn’t over until the 27th out is recorded, and currently the ballclub doesn’t have anyone who can do that.
The amazing thing is how this team continues to bounce back. I realize many people are critical of Manager Eric Wedge because of the disappointing season and the club’s record in one run games somehow suggests he is deficient in game management. However, I think the skipper’s most important job is to manage the players in the clubhouse. Wedge’s message of one game at a time is more important than ever after tough losses, and obviously the fact this team took early leads in the following game after one of these devastating defeats shows his message is still getting through.
One of the criticisms I do have of Wedge is his failure to use his entire roster. Right now, the Tribe has a five man bullpen because of the manager’s reluctance to use Guillermo Mota (for obvious reasons) and rookie Tom Mastny. Mota should be dealt for a low level prospect or released, and if the pilot isn’t going to use Mastny, he should be returned to Buffalo. Apparently, Jason Davis is the new closer, and since we have been critical of Davis in the past, it’s funny that JD attributes his recent success to not thinking. That is what we felt the problem was all along.
The Tribe may have lost Casey Blake to an ankle injury on Saturday night. Since Ryan Garko is struggling, I would like to see the team bring up Kevin Kouzmanoff from Buffalo. Kouzmanoff has hit a combined .380 at Akron and Buffalo this year, and has belted 3 HR’s in his time in AAA in a little over a week. This move would be assuming that Kouzmanoff can play a passable 1B. The 25 year old is a lifetime .300 hitter in the minors, proving he can flat out hit. He doesn’t have any overwhelming "tools", except for the ability to hit ’em where they ain’t. It would be a message to all in the minors, that if you produce, you can get a shot on the big club.
This week’s action features a match up of young pitchers on Tuesday, when Jeremy Sowers takes on the Angels’ Jared Weaver. Sowers passed his test against the Red Sox in Fenway, allowing two runs in five innings. These are the things a Tribe fan has to look forward to in 2006.
MW
Cleveland Sports Perspective 