More Tribe Questions…

The rosters have expanded and the baseball season has entered its final month, at least it is for the Cleveland Indians, who exited the pennant race in June.  With the ninth month just a few days old, we have already seen one more piece of the C.C. Sabathia trade in Michael Brantley, and the first piece of the Cliff Lee transaction in Carlos Carrasco.

However, there are still things to question about how the Tribe is handling September.  The focus should be on getting ready for next season, but it appears there are other agendas.  Here are more questions…

·          Why isn’t Andy Marte getting any time at 3B, his natural position?  Again, I’m not saying I’m sold on Marte as a starter for next season.  He parlayed some everyday playing time into a hot streak that included four home runs on the road trip that was concluded yesterday.  Please don’t tell me that Jhonny Peralta is that entrenched in the Tribe’s 2010 plans.

·          Why is Peralta entrenched at 3B for next season?  Yes, we have been critical of Peralta the past few months, but it seems like the front office is in love with him.  Why?  He’s an okay player, certainly nothing special.  He isn’t a big power guy. He doesn’t hit for a high average.  He doesn’t walk a lot.  He has no speed.  He’s not a very good defender.  Shouldn’t the team want something better from third base?

·          Why bench Matt LaPorta, Marte, or Brantley?  Playing Marte at the hot corner would allow Eric Wedge to play LaPorta at 1B with Brantley in LF.  Also, stop moving LaPorta all over the place; play him in left or at first.  Brantley should play left or center.  There is no need to move players around because of the configuration of the ballpark. 

·          Why do we continue to see Kelly Shoppach behind the plate?  Wyatt Torregas isn’t a great prospect, but right now I’d rather see him than Shoppach’s constant whiffing.  The perfect scenario would be to see Lou Marson and Carlos Santana starting at catcher, but the Tribe has said the latter will not get called up.  Why not take a look at what Marson offers?

·          Why does everyone want Grady Sizemore to shut it down early?  From what I have heard, it’s a rather minor procedure on his elbow with a short rehab time.  He is swinging the bat better, having raised his average 20 points over the last couple of months.  If he wants to play, and he isn’t doing more damage to the joint, what’s the harm in putting him in the lineup?

·          Has Eric Wedge already been told his fate?  He alluded to his future prior to yesterday’s game.  It is clear to me that GM Mark Shapiro needs to go outside the organization to find his next field manager.  Since the Angels seem to be a well-run franchise, and Mike Scioscia is arguably the best skipper in the game, I would suggest looking at Ron Roenicke.  The last guy hired out of that organization has done well, Tampa’s Joe Maddon.

Hopefully, the Indians show a better effort than they did in Detroit.  Yes, the Tigers are the division leaders, but the Tribe played bad baseball in the series.  If Eric Wedge has any hope of keeping his job, he better get his team back in gear during this homestand.  Making five errors in a game here could get the few folks attending the games, a little bit angry.

MW