The Cleveland Indians are at a crossroads. In 2005, the team went to the last weekend of the season before being eliminated, and since then they have been considered by many as a team that could win the AL Central Division, if not win a World Championship, but have only made the playoffs once, in 2007. The even numbered years in that span, 2006 and 2008, have not been kind to the Tribe. This is an organization that needs some self-examination.
The Dolan family runs the team the way you want a ballclub to be run. That is to say, they let their baseball people make the baseball decisions. Many teams have continued to wallow in mediocrity because the owner interferes and doesn’t allow the proper decisions to be made for many reasons, including how the fans will perceive it. No team should be run that way. Although there is no question fans are needed, they shouldn’t be considered in baseball decisions. Every move made must be to bring a World Championship to the organization and therefore the team’s fan base. Fans are too emotional to be included in the process.
However, the organization needs a swift kick in the pants, and the owners must provide it. It is time for the Dolans to sit down with Shapiro and ask what will be done differently in this off-season. The farm system is important to be sure, in fact, it is the lifeline of any successful baseball team. But, it is time to trade some of the excess in order to get a good, proven major league player who can help this team in 2009. If that is Brian Roberts from the Orioles, that is fine, he can help you get back to the playoffs. Look at the logjam in the organization at 1B/LF: Ryan Garko, Ben Francisco, Matt LaPorta, Nick Weglarz, Trevor Crowe, Michael Brantley, and Beau Mills. Not all seven of those guys can play the two spots, so some of these guys can be moved.
Also, take a look at left-handed starters. The candidates for one spot in the starting rotation include Jeremy Sowers, Aaron Laffey, David Huff, and Scott Lewis. Huff is showing the most potential, but the others are pretty similar in terms of stuff. You don’t want to unload three of them, but certainly one of them can be included in a deal to get help in other areas.
Another thing that has to change is the attitude toward spring training. This team has not had enough success for the opening day roster to be pre-determined before camp starts. There should be some competition. For example, if LaPorta hits .480 in the exhibition games with 7 home runs, why shouldn’t he get a spot on the big league roster, and if he does that, he should play. The idea that players have to serve an apprenticeship is old. Other successful organizations give young guys a chance to play if they’ve earned the shot. Based on that type of thinking, Manny Ramirez would have opened the 1994 season at AAA. He hit his way on the team, and the rest is history.
Another thing Shapiro needs to do is exert the fact that he is the boss on his manager, Eric Wedge. Wedge has a number of excellent traits as manager, but the fact is he has made the post-season once in six years in charge. Wedge does a great job getting guys to “grind it out”, but has had problems connecting with some players who are talented. Can anyone imagine Wedge getting along with Albert Belle? Wedge has to be more flexible in his thinking, because once again, this team has only made the playoffs once in his tenure. It’s one thing to believe in you, it’s another to be too stubborn to realize some change is needed.
I have always been a supporter of how Mark Shapiro runs this ballclub, but that doesn’t mean it is blind faith. This team needs to look inward and make some changes to be a contender, not just in 2009, but also for a sustained period of time. Hopefully, the front office doesn’t follow the same direction they have in the past. Let’s look at the road less traveled.
KM
Cleveland Sports Perspective 