Ten games to go!
That’s all that’s left of this tortuous season for the Cleveland Indians. It’s likely it’s also all that’s left of Eric Wedge’s tenure as manager of the ballclub. The skipper’s job was tenuous for next year after the disappointing start to this season, but a 3-19 September probably seals the fate of Wedge, who has managed the Tribe for the past seven seasons.
Wedge and his coaching staff are among the people not likely to be back with the organization in 2010, as we probably have seen the last of Jamey Carroll, Andy Marte, and Kelly Shoppach as well. Carroll is a free agent, Marte will be released, and Shoppach will probably be non-tendered so as to avoid going to arbitration in the off-season.
It would not be surprising to see Kerry Wood be traded away in the winter, either. Wood will not finish enough games to trigger the third year option in his contract, which oddly enough will make him more marketable. The big Texan is now basically working on a one-year contract with the second year based on incentives. It should make him easier to deal.
Hopefully, if the Indians can swing a deal for Wood, the ownership will see fit to put that money into starting pitching. Right now, there is no need for a closer because the team is trailing pretty much every game 5-0 going into the sixth inning. The 2010 Tribe needs some pitchers who give them quality starts. They can’t put their eggs into the Jake Westbrook’s coming back and Fausto Carmona will get straightened out basket.
They have to improve the starting pitching greatly, and they have to get guys who can throw strikes.
The Indians’ pitching staff is second in the league in allowing walks and are second last in the AL in striking out hitters. That’s a bad combination. In essence, it says the pitchers don’t miss bats very often, and they compound that problem by falling behind in the count.
Just look at some of the walk to strikeout ratios for some of the Tribe starters: Jeremy Sowers (46 walks/47 strikeouts), Aaron Laffey (52/50), Fausto Carmona (67/68), Anthony Reyes (remember him? 23/22), and Carlos Carrasco (10/10). That, my friends, is simply unacceptable.
The bullpen collapse was an early factor in the pitching problems, but since the all-star break, the problem has shifted to the rotation. And in September, the Tribe is out of most games early because of the inability of the starters to give them quality outings.
You simply cannot count on any of the existing pitchers to step up at the beginning of next season. GM Mark Shapiro has to find some reliable starting pitchers, whether by trade or by free agent signings. They obviously are not going to get a guy like John Lackey, but there should be some hurlers available who can be counted on to keep a team in a game. Who knows, maybe Carl Pavano could be back with the ’10 Indians.
People should be cautioned about the September performances of rookies. Everyone is getting carried away with Michael Brantley, and some are even penciling him in as next year’s leadoff hitter. Be careful! Brantley does get on base, but at this point in his career, he has very little power. Not home run power, but the ability to get extra base hits, and have outfielder respect his talent to do that.
If that pop doesn’t develop, opposing teams will start to play shallow in the outfield, stopping Brantley’s fly ball and line drives from falling in. Also, pitchers will start pounding the strike zone against him with the knowledge that Brantley can’t hurt them. He needs to develop an ability to drive the ball, not over the fence, but into the gaps.
The Indians still need two wins to avoid 100 losses for the season. Here’s hoping they can at least avoid that embarrassment.
KM
Cleveland Sports Perspective 