The Indians hitters continued their month long slump this weekend, dropping two out of three against the Twins in a series where Minnesota could have been removed from the pennant race. Tribe bats have produced three runs or more just twice in the first seven games of this home stand, which ends with a three game set against the Rangers this week. Since the team isn’t producing offensively, Eric Wedge’s moves are coming under a little more scrutiny, and there were some curious moves this weekend.
Let’s start on Saturday night. Johan Santana no-hit Cleveland for the first 5-2/3 innings, leading 2-0. But, Travis Hafner reached the two time Cy Young Award winner for a two run blast to knot the game at 2. That’s when the weird moves began.
Wedge pinch hit Kenny Lofton for Josh Barfield to lead off the eighth inning. He was leading off the inning so there was no one on base. Lofton made an out so he was wasted. Since Mike Rouse had to enter the game defensively, Wedge lost his only pinch running option late in a game. Had Victor Martinez, Hafner, or Ryan Garko reached in the ninth, only Trot Nixon or Kelly Shoppach were available to pinch run. However, a bigger gaffe was the decision to not use Rafael Betancourt to pitch the ninth. Even though Joe Borowski is the Tribe closer, Betancourt is their best reliever, and Wedge lost a one run game late because he refused to use his best option out of the bullpen.
Betancourt was rested too. He had not pitched since Tuesday night against Boston. It was another example of a manager not using his best option because you are supposed to use your closer in a tie game in the ninth at home because there will be no save chance. The reason is that normally the closer is the team’s best reliever. That’s not the case for the 2007 Cleveland Indians.
On Sunday, Wedge left his best defensive right fielder on the bench in the eighth inning of a 1-0 game and it cost him when Mike Redmond hit a C.C. Sabathia pitch over Trot Nixon’s head to tie the game. If your team is based on pitching and defense, why not have Franklin Gutierrez in the game in the late innings. This is also my problem with the Lofton trade. The problem on offense is not LF, where Jason Michaels, Gutierrez, and Ben Francisco did a decent job, it’s right field. It appears Nixon will continue to play there while Gutierrez loses at bats. The youngster has four more home runs and only 14 less RBI despite getting almost 175 less at bats. The bigger improvement in the attack would come from replacing Nixon with Lofton.
The trading deadline is less than 48 hours away, and the Tribe still needs another relief pitcher and a utility infielder. They also need to clear a spot on the 40 man roster if lefty Aaron Laffey is going to start on Saturday. In the meanwhile, they are wasting a roster spot on Fernando Cabrera who is a ten run man, only pitching when the Tribe is up or down by that many runs. I have a feeling another deal is in the offing, this one to assist the bullpen. The biggest thing though is the Tribe needs to start winning again. The Tigers aren’t going to keep struggling, and the Mariners and Yankees are playing well.
MW
Cleveland Sports Perspective 
Hallelujah, brother. I’m hoping the Trot Nixon problem takes care of itself via hamstring or some such ailment, much like the way the Tribe benefitted from Delucci’s injury. Sorry to root for someone to get hurt, but there’s no way Wedge is going to see the light on this one.
I’m also irritated that all the headlines are blaming Barfield for blowing the game, when Trot’s misplay was so indefensible. Here’s a rule of thumb any little-leaguer will be happy to explain to our over-the-hill right fielder and oxygen-starved manager: when there’s two out and a man on first, BACK UP!