Watching the Season Swirl Down the Cammode

The Cleveland Indians wake up this morning 8-1/2 games behind the first place White Sox in the AL Central Division.  Not to say we told you so, but the offensive explosion in Texas was indeed a combination of a hitter friendly ballpark and a poor Ranger pitching staff.  The Tribe went back to its sputtering attack in Motown, scoring just 10 runs in the first three games of the series.  Therefore, it’s time to start looking ahead to the 2009 season, because it doesn’t appear a repeat division title is in the cards in 2008.

The primary trading chip that GM Mark Shapiro has is, of course, C.C. Sabathia.  The big lefty will be a free agent at the end of this season, so the Tribe is not going to get a young, budding superstar in return.  However, dealing him to a National League team, and getting a hitter and a pitcher who are close to the big league level would be a start.  It would also be better than the two amateur draft choices the Indians would get if they held on to the Cy Young Award winner through the end of the year.  The Dodgers have a deep farm system, and might be the team to swing this type of deal in order to win the division in Joe Torre’s first year with the team.

What other veterans might have some market value?  Obviously, Paul Byrd is still an effective right-handed starter that could help a contender get over the top.  Also, David Dellucci might attract some interest from a team looking for a left-handed hitter with some pop.  GM Mark Shapiro should try to make a move with the latter as soon as he can, since Dellucci is taking at bats away from young players this team needs to play, guys like Shin-Soo Choo and Franklin Gutierrez.

It’s also time to cut bait with a few other veterans.  Casey Blake should have some value because he can play multiple positions and carries a decent stick.  Blake signed a huge, (for him) one-year contract for 2008, and it is unlikely Shapiro will do that again.  So, he likely will not be back in 2009.  The front office should also put out feelers on SS Jhonny Peralta, who is not showing any signs of becoming an all-star type player.  He has regressed from his breakout season of 2005, and his defense is average at best for the position he plays. 

Despite the outstanding starting pitching the Indians have had this season, it is clear the 2008 Indians do not have what it takes to make the playoffs as currently constituted.  Their offense and bullpen is simply not good enough.  Therefore, it’s also time to stop waiting for people to perform to past standards and try out some different personnel, especially in the bullpen.  Rafael Betancourt should be relegated to mop up work until he shows he is straightened out.  Manager Eric Wedge should take a look at Rick Bauer in the 7^th inning.  He wouldn’t be the first reliever to have a career revival in his early 30’s.

It’s not out of the realm of possibility to make a run this year, but it’s not going to happen with this group as it is.  Only a few years ago, the Phillies dealt Bobby Abreu, who was a free agent to be, and suddenly started to play better, almost making the playoffs as a wild card.  Maybe dealing Sabathia and/or Dellucci and Peralta would spur this team to play better.  Mark Shapiro and Eric Wedge are very patient men, more patient that the fans, but it’s time to look ahead to the rest of ’08 and ’09, and quit remembering last year’s playoff team.

MW