Let me start by saying who I am not. My father was not a sports agent with high profile clients such as Cal Ripken and Eddie Murray. I did not run a major league farm system, a very successful one, for many years before working my way up the organization to assistant general manager, ultimately taking over that job for a major league baseball team.
I also was not an All-American catcher at a very good college baseball program. I was never drafted by a professional team, and did not work my way up the organizational ladder over time, climaxing with a promotion to the big club. I also did not have injuries, which hampered my playing career, leading me to change my career path to managing in the minor leagues, which led me to a big league gig.
However, I am a fairly knowledgeable baseball fan that has followed the game for over forty years, and considers him to be more than a casual fan. I certainly don’t think I’m ignorant about the sport.
Unfortunately, I am treated like I’m an idiot by Mark Shapiro and Eric Wedge, and I guess by association, by the Dolan family.
I’m tired of it.
Shapiro says there is no room on the current roster for prospects like Matt LaPorta and Michael Brantley, and even former prospect Andy Marte, who is tearing it up at the Triple A level.
I suggest he look in the following areas: LF, where Ben Francisco is a below average major league player who shouldn’t be playing everyday. And 3B, where Jhonny Peralta keeps giving away at bats like candy at Halloween.
MLB.com’s Anthony Castrovince suggested in his mailbag this week that Peralta keeps playing because the Tribe has him under contract for $4.6 million next season. That’s nice, he gets to play because of his paycheck, not his production.
When an organization is making decisions on that basis, it’s time for a change. A big change.
Wedge keeps saying he is happy with the lineup he is writing out everyday. As SNL’s Seth Meyers would say, “REALLY!” He’s happy that after Travis Hafner bats, opposing pitchers are doing a collective jig on the mound thinking about facing Peralta, Francisco, Jamey Carroll or Luis Valbuena, and Kelly Shoppach? He cannot be serious.
Peralta and Francisco are performing worse than the average major leaguer. It’s time for them to take a seat next to their great defender, and it’s time to see if there is an in-house alternative. In fact, it was time for that about a month ago.
The Indians’ management’s refusal to make any moves either at the All Star break or before this nine game road trip is telling the fans that they don’t care about this season anymore. That’s the wrong message to send for a team that bases its payroll on attendance. Why should we care if you don’t?
Now comes word that the Indians tried to deal its best hitter, Victor Martinez, to Boston for a pitching prospect, and that the ballclub is talking to other teams about trading Cliff Lee before the July 31st trading deadline. It would be the second straight year Shapiro dealt a Cy Young Award winner.
Trading both of these guys would be the icing on the cake for the most ardent of fans. Isn’t it about time this franchise kept its good players? The apologists will point out the signings of Jake Westbrook and Travis Hafner, but Westbrook is not an elite pitcher, and Pronk was suffering through a tough season when he inked his contract.
Yesterday, they traded their most consistent relief pitcher over the last few years, Rafael Betancourt, for a 23-year-old starter in Class A ball. Connor Graham, the righthander picked up from Colorado in the deal was not ranked among the Rockies top ten prospects. Perhaps Shapiro’s success getting players from other organizations will work here; otherwise, a team with severe bullpen issues got rid of one of their better arms.
I understand that lopping Betancourt’s $5.5 million option for 2010 is probably a smart move. He’s a reliable reliever, but not worth that type of cash. However, with the other rumors swirling around baseball, it comes across as a salary dump, particularly because you are getting back a 23 year old A ball hurler. (NOTE: Baseball Prospectus.com’s Christina Kahrl loves the trade for the Tribe.)
The most galling thing about the Indians front office and manager is their smugness, their attitude that whatever they are doing is the right thing, and outsiders are all idiots. Shapiro and Wedge have overseen one post-season appearance in seven seasons, so maybe, just maybe they should be open to suggestions.
In terms of sports, the opposite of fandom isn’t hate for the team, it’s apathy. The fans of the Cleveland Indians are headed toward that direction. When season ticket sales drop this winter, they should be surprised when they lose some customers.
KM
Cleveland Sports Perspective 