The Cleveland Indians front office has admitted that the 2009 season was a mess.  After making a series of moves over the winter to put this team in contention, the ballclub got off to a slow start in April, and was virtually out of the race by the beginning of June.  What could GM Mark Shapiro have done in retrospect to avoid the situation the Tribe is in right now?

 

We know this is a total second guess.

 

Shapiro invested a lot of cash into a closer, signing Kerry Wood to an estimated $10 million per year contract.  After last year’s relief problems, this seems like a logical move.  However, Jensen Lewis converted 13 straight save opportunities late last season, so was this really a need?  I understand the logic, but Wood has struggled this season, and you have to ask the question of whether or not this money was wasted. 

 

The Indians were banking on Fausto Carmona returning to his 2007 form, when he won 19 games, to bolster their starting rotation.  They signed Carl Pavano as a free agent, but he should have been thought of as a 5^th starter, not plopped into the third spot where he started the season.

 

Sure, Shapiro theoretically improved the bullpen, but the rotation was left in tatters.

 

Would Shapiro have been better suited adding a veteran reliable starting pitcher, think Jon Garland, instead of going for the marquee closer?  It could have been done via free agency or a trade.

 

Besides, as former GM John Hart used to say, closers fall out of trees.  Look at Seattle this year.  There is no way they thought David Aardsma would be their closer at the beginning of the year.  Yet, he made the all-star team and is among the league leaders in saves this season. 

 

Having another veteran starter would have reduced the need for Carmona to pitch like an ace, and getting an innings eater would have eased the work put on the bullpen.  Remember, Carmona was struggling to get to the seventh inning, and Anthony Reyes was working just five or six innings per start.  When Aaron Laffey was called up a week into the season, he was at least able to get through six frames.

 

Would the pitching woes have been abated if the Indians had spent $10 million on starting pitching instead of a closer?  We will never know.  But, we do know this, having a good closer for a bad team is a big waste of money.  It makes you wonder if Wood will open the 2010 season wearing a Cleveland uniform.

 

NOTES:  Jose Veras is the latest reliever to get his walking papers as he was designated for assignment, and the other pitcher picked up in the Mark DeRosa trade, Jess Todd, was called up…Chris Gimenez is a nice player, a good utility guy, but he should be sent back to Columbus (or get rid of a pitcher, the team now has 13) in order to have Matt LaPorta playing everyday in LF…It seems like the skipper is back to his old habits with relief pitchers.  Tony Sipp has now pitched in three of the last four games.  There was no need to bring him in yesterday trailing 9-0…Nice to see Jensen Lewis back here giving up the long ball.

 

KM

 

Now that the trading deadline has passed, and GM Mark Shapiro doesn’t consider swapping out a quarter of his roster "sweeping changes", let’s take a look at the what happened in the week that was–

 

The trade of Cliff Lee was the biggest question mark because the Indians did not get any top prospects close to the majors in return.  Sure, we may see Carlos Carrasco, Jason Donald, and Lou Marson before the season is over, but the glitter on all three prospects has lost its glow, at least a little bit.  Jason Knapp was said to be the prize in the deal, but he is dealing with a fatigued shoulder, and is at least two years away.

 

The Victor Martinez deal, although it helps the hated Red Sox, at least brings a pitcher who should be in the rotation, Justin Masterson, by the end of the season.  Masterson’s debut with the Tribe was very good, as he fired three scoreless frame against Detroit on Saturday night.  The other two pitchers Shapiro received are in the Class A ball, but Nick Hagadone is a southpaw that throws in the high 90’s, and Bryan Price was Boston’s first draft pick a year ago. 

 

Of the other players dealt last week, Ryan Garko and Ben Francisco are nice players, and could help their teams down the stretch, but they are just average players at best.  The Indians dealt both before they had to start paying them decent money now that they were arbitration eligible.

 

One of the problems the Indians still have is that Matt LaPorta is still in the minor leagues, even after all these moves.  The front office needs to see LaPorta play everyday at the big league level, so they can truly evaluate him.  Remember, it’s not like he’s struggling at Columbus, he’s hitting almost .300 with a very good OPS. 

 

Andy Marte was recalled from Columbus after the Garko deal, and so far it appears Eric Wedge is playing the same old games with him.  Marte went 2 for 3 in his first game, and then sat the next day.  After an 0 for 6 in his next start, he once again was on the bench the folllowing night.  If he’s not going to play every day, it is impossible to judge whether or not he has improved as an everyday player.

 

Trevor Crowe looks much better at the plate than he did when he was sent out earlier this year.  He drove the ball in all three games this weekend, so maybe there is a future for him at the big league level.  He received the call after Francisco was dealt because of his ability to play centerfield, which is needed because there is no other back up for Grady Sizemore. 

 

I also think somehow they need to bring up 1B/OF Jordan Brown from Columbus as well.  After winning back to back league MVP awards at Kinston and Akron, Brown scuffled last year.  However, this year he is hitting .333 with 12 HR and 58 RBI’s for the Clippers.  He deserves a look see as well.

 

So does starter Hector Rondon, before his innings get to the point where the front office wants to shut him down.  Rondon has started out 3-1 with a 2.63 ERA at Buffalo after an outstanding half season at Akron.

 

There has been plenty of speculation that these moves ensure that Eric Wedge will be back as the field manager next season.  Here’s hoping that’s not the case.  This ballclub needs a new voice, and a new coaching staff.  It seems like the staff in the minor leagues has done a better job fixing what was wrong with guys like Marte, Fausto Carmona, Crowe, etc. than Wedge’s staff.  If the team is going to rebuild, a new skipper is in order as well.

 

Hopefully, GM Mark Shapiro is correct in thinking there is an outside chance the Tribe could be back in contention as early as next year.  There is no way anyone is looking forward to a so-called "five year plan".

 

MW

 

 

 

USA Today is reporting that the Indians have dealt Victor Martinez to the Boston Red Sox for pitchers Justin Masterson and Nick Hagadone.  Masterson is 3-3 with a 4.50 ERA with the Red Sox this season, and Hagadone is at Class A Greenville in the South Atlantic League. 

 

Perhaps, Matt LaPorta will finally get called up from Columbus to take Martinez’ roster spot.  I would also guess that Masterson stays with the Tribe, and hopefully goes into the rotation.

 

A full analysis later.

 

 

 

I had a nightmare last night that it was the 1970’s and Gabe Paul was the general manager of the Indians and they kept getting good players and trading them for prospects. 

 

Then, I woke up and realized it was no nightmare.  It was reality.  Except for the part about Gabe Paul.  Mark Shapiro has taken his role.

 

The two guys that write about baseball for this blog are part of an Indians’ season ticket group since the last year the old stadium was in use in 1993.  All the members of that group, of which there were eight people, decided we would not renew our seats for the 2010 season. 

 

It was apparent in mid May that the 2009 season was going nowhere, but who knew at that point, that the 2010 season would be shoved aside as well.  To trade Cliff Lee and not get one player on a major league roster in return is a travesty.

 

Tomorrow night, the Indians return to Progressive Field to take on Detroit without one player on the roster that they received in trade two, TWO, Cy Young Award winners.  The team even decided to recall Trevor Crowe to replace Ben Francisco on the roster, not Matt LaPorta.

 

Look at the comment put out by the team from GM Mark Shapiro after the deal:

 

"At the root of this deal was balancing the conviction of our ability to compete in 2010 with the opportunity to impact the team’s construction for years to come," said Cleveland Indians Executive Vice President & General Manager Mark Shapiro. "Without the sense of confidence in the team’s ultimate competitiveness, we acted aggressively to add players that will impact the organization in 2010 and beyond."

 

Me thinks this sounds a lot like gobbledygook, no?

 

The front office denies it, but this was a salary dump, and there is no doubt in my mind that Victor Martinez will not on this team before their next game.  It will remove $16 million from next year’s payroll, and Shapiro is claiming that he will know be able to add to next year’s roster because of this move.

 

However, trading Kerry Wood and Jhonny Peralta would have removed $14.6 million from the payroll, and the 2010 Tribe would still have had a chance to compete in the AL Central Division.  Lee and Martinez are all star players, Wood and Peralta are not. 

 

Before the season, the four players received from the Phillies were in their top ten prospect list as compiled by Baseball America.  However, outside of the youngster acquired, Jason Knapp, the other three players were all having less than good years at the AAA level. 

 

Carlos Carrasco has a good arm, but has an ERA of over 5.00 in the minor leagues this season.  Jason Donald has just returned to the lineup from a knee injury.  Lou Marson is a catcher with no pop in his bat, although he does know how to work the count.  Knapp is currently sidelined with shoulder fatigue. 

 

What is more curious is that Donald is a SS, but doesn’t have the arm or range to play the spot at the big league level, so he projects as a 2B or 3B.  He may be a platoon player at the former with Luis Valbuena. 

 

Marson plays the same position as the Indians’ best prospect, Carlos Santana.  If Martinez is indeed traded, does that mean we will be seeing more of Kelly Shoppach behind the dish with his offensive game of whiffing, whiffing, and more whiffing, with an occasional home run mixed in? 

 

And with the way the organization moves prospects at a snail’s pace, exactly when do you think any of these players will wear an Indians uniform?  Now Columbus has both Marson and Wyatt Toregas on the roster, when Santana should be playing there based on his numbers at AA Akron.  

 

There is no question reading between the lines, that this trade was financially motivated.  If the Dolan family can’t afford to own a major league team, then they should get out.  Why should long-suffering Tribe fans have to go through more pain?

 

The ownership should be ready for a backlash because this is a punch in the gut to the fans.  Does this deal mean that Eric Wedge will return for an eighth season as manager?  The fans don’t want to see that either. 

 

While Shapiro and the rest of the sheep in the Tribe front office pat themselves on the back because they made another deal like the 2002 trade that sent Bartolo Colon to Montreal, the fans are left holding the bag.  That ’03 team had some age (Vizquel, Thome, Fryman, Burks, Lawton, Gutierrez) and needed to be overhauled. 

 

This team is not like that.  The only everyday players (using that term loosely) over 30 years old are Travis Hafner and Victor Martinez.  This edition of the Tribe has some good young players like Grady Sizemore, Shin-Soo Choo, Asdrubal Cabrera, and again I think Valbuena will be a good one. 

 

Shapiro can put any kind of spin that he wants on this move, but the reality is that he was told to cut the payroll; meaning 1948 keeps getting farther and farther away in the rear view mirror. 

 

The city deserves more than that Mr. Dolan.

 

KM

 

Get the revolving door ready for the Cleveland Indians as this Friday’s trade deadline approaches.  The latest move involved 1B Ryan Garko going to the San Francisco Giants for Class A left handed pitcher, Scott Barnes, ranked prior to the season as the 9^th best prospect in the Giant farm system. 

 

It was probably as good a deal as the Indians could get for a corner position player without a lot of pop.

 

This move allows the ballclub to recall Andy Marte from Columbus.  Marte, who was having his best season at the AAA level, hitting .329 with 18 HR and 66 RBI, will be used at…1B, of course, even though he has been a third baseman during his career.  He actually is a pretty good defensive player at the hot corner.

 

There is no question Marte deserves another look, particularly because he’s still just 25 years old.

 

Meanwhile, Matt LaPorta still toils at AAA, even though he is putting up outstanding numbers.  He deserves to be promoted also.

 

The Indians seemed to go out of their way this weekend to tell everybody how wrong all of the Jhonny Peralta critics are.  They pointed out that this season is an aberration, that the Peralta we saw in 2008 is his true talent.  That would be good news if it were true.  This year’s version of Peralta appears to be the same guy we saw just three short years ago, in 2006.

 

He burst onto the scene in 2005 with a very good season, batting .292 (885 OPS) with 24 HR’s and 78 RBI at age 23.  That still is by far Peralta’s best year in the big leagues. 

 

He followed that season up by hitting .257 (708 OPS) with 13 HR and 68 RBI at age 24.  The following year, 2007, the Tribe advanced to the ALCS, and Peralta had a solid, not spectacular year, batting .270 (771 OPS) with 21 dingers and 72 RBI. 

 

Last year, Peralta had his best season since ’05, hitting 23 homers with 89 RBI and a .276 batting average (804 OPS).  This year seems like a repeat of his 2006 campaign, although a recent hot streak has him up to .271, 8 HR, and 50 RBI.  Does this seem like someone who should be part of the future?

 

How can management evaluate the team when they have no idea what kind of year they are going to get out of Peralta.  Criticize Casey Blake all you want, but you pretty much knew what you were going to get out of him, production wise.  Peralta is a player who has had success in the second halves of seasons to put together decent numbers, but the season generally starts in April, not July.

 

Dealing Peralta is not a bad option for the Indians, for a team concerned about payroll, it’s hard to justify paying almost $5 million next year and not be sure what you are getting.

 

Now, on to the rumors regarding possible trades involving Cliff Lee and Victor Martinez.  I can’t believe this will happen unless it is mandated by ownership, which is a different problem altogether.

 

Lest you forget, the Indians are in the AL Central Division.  Last year, the Detroit Tigers finished last in the division, 14-1/2 games behind the champion White Sox.  This year, they lead the division by two games. 

 

They made a couple of key additions, picking up starter Edwin Jackson in a deal with Tampa Bay, signing SS Adam Everett and C Gerald Laird to shore up the defense, and getting some better years out of guys like Justin Verlander, Curtis Granderson, and Brandon Inge.  Viola, they are in first place. 

 

My point is the same things can happen with the Cleveland Indians.  Even though the Tribe is currently 16 games below the .500 mark, they are only 12 games out of first.  They aren’t going to win this season, but the deficit is not insurmountable.  With the proper moves this off-season, they would have a chance to win the division in 2010.

 

Not without Cliff Lee and Victor Martinez, however.  Lee has proved this year that his Cy Young Award was no fluke, and that he is a legitimate ace.  Martinez is a professional hitter who is a three time all star.  If they are in the mix for next season, and the front office makes the right moves in the off-season, the Tribe could return to the contention.

 

Remember that since the end of the Indians dominance of the Central Division in 2001, only Kansas City has not made a playoff appearance.  The Indians and Tigers have made one each; the White Sox have been there twice, while the Twins have been in the playoffs four times.

 

Giving up these two mainstays would send a message that the Indians are not planning to be competitive in 2010.  And that’s not a way to sell tickets.

 

MW

 

 

 

With the Indians’ season in the toilet, and LeBron, Shaq, and the crew not getting things going until October, it’s time to talk about the city’s most popular sport, football.  The Browns start training camp this week under new head coach, Eric Mangini, and there is no doubt the players will realize there is a new guy in charge, if they haven’t already realized that.

 

Discipline is the key word coming out of this year’s camp.  If Mangini has anything to say about it, the mistake filled, penalty riddled, lackluster effort days of the past will be gone.  The coach and front office are on the same page and they want this football team to play hard and play smart. 

 

They probably won’t be in the playoffs, but they won’t leave you shaking your head after each contest.

 

Mangini and his staff are going back to basics, that is, running the ball and playing good defense.  They appear to have bolstered the offensive line with first round draft pick, Alex Mack, and the signing of Pork Chop Womack and George Foster to provide bulk and depth. 

 

This makes the reliance on Jamal Lewis as the lead back a curious decision.  I believe we will see Jerome Harrison carrying the ball more often, but Lewis’ legs have a lot of miles on them, and you wonder if he can be anywhere close to the back who gained 1300 yards in 2007.  Rookie James Davis could get more opportunities than you would think once the season starts.

 

The running game and being able to control the ball takes pressure off the defense.  The Browns brought in some reinforcements, mostly ex-Jets, on that side of the ball.  Shaun Rogers is back to anchor the defensive line, but this year he is surrounded by players who have experience in the 3-4 defense. 

 

They also added some veterans to the secondary, namely CB Rod Hood and S Abram Elam, who was picked up in the draft day deal with the Jets.  Elam is said to have the capabilities to be an impact player, and Hood allows Mangini and defensive coordinator Rob Ryan to not play a 2^nd year man and a third year player at cornerback. 

 

The linebacking position has been shaky since the team returned to the NFL in 1999, but should get an upgrade by replacing Andra Davis with Eric Barton.  The key to putting pressure on the passer will fall to getting Kamerion Wimbley to be more productive, and also getting second year OLB Alex Hall on the field more often.  Hall showed promise early last season before being ignored by the previous regime.

 

Most of the fans and media scrutiny will center on the quarterback spot where Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson will vie for the job.  No matter who wins the gig, that decision should be made after the second exhibition game so it can be put behind the team, and everyone knows whom the starter will be.  I still believe Quinn will be under center against the Vikings in week one.

 

If they can avoid the injury bug, the Browns will be improved.  Health is a huge key in the NFL season, and if Cleveland can stay away from a catastrophe, they will be better in 2009.  Not a playoff team, but a 6-10 or 7-9 record looks doable.  Until they can beat Pittsburgh and/or Baltimore, they will not be able to get over the hump.

 

JD

 

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 31^st 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

 

The Cleveland Cavaliers needed to improve their team after being eliminated in the Eastern Conference finals by the Orlando Magic.  A tough task, considering the wine and gold went 66-16 during the regular season, and swept through the first two series of the playoffs.  Although the off-season still has a little over two months remaining, it appears that GM Danny Ferry is well on the way to achieving his goal.

 

The Cavs needed to get longer and more athletic, and it appears they have with the trade for Shaquille O’Neal, and the signings of free agents Anthony Parker and possibly Jamario Moon.  Let me ask you this, would you trade Ben Wallace, Sasha Pavlovic, and Wally Szczerbiak for the trio of O’Neal, Parker, and Moon?  Of course you would.

 

Indeed, the Cavaliers are more athletic.  Imagine a lineup of Shaq in the middle, LeBron James at power forward, Moon at the three spot, and Parker and West in the backcourt.  There will not be a lot of open perimeter shots with that group on the floor.  And that’s what killed Cleveland in the Orlando series, the inability to cover the Magic’s three point shooters.

 

Moon, assuming the Heat do not match the order, is a better rebounder and defender that both Pavlovic and Szczerbiak, something you know Mike Brown likes a lot. 

 

However, with Parker and possibly Moon on the roster, it likely means that Delonte West will be getting more time at the point guard spot.  What does this mean for Daniel Gibson, whose production fell off last season, in terms of playing time?  It doesn’t seem Gibson has a meaningful spot on this team, especially with Parker and Moon being pretty good three point shooters.

 

It would not be surprising to see Ferry make another move with Gibson as the trading piece. 

 

The team also will probably have to replace Joe Smith, whose delusional agent is looking for a three-year contract.  Smith’s minutes could go to second year men J.J. Hickson and Darnell Jackson, who at times looked good in their rookie campaigns.  They are a younger alternative, which with O’Neal and Zydrunas Ilgauskas being in the rotation, is badly needed.

 

The only thing left for the front office is to offer the contract extension to James, which he will most probably turn down, and perhaps find another athletic big man, another veteran who can defend inside would be nice, and a third alternative at the point, besides Williams and West.

 

They didn’t do it with big splashes outside of getting Shaq, but certainly the Cleveland Cavaliers are a better team than the one eliminated by Orlando.  However, the Eastern Conference as a whole is much better than it was in 2008-09.  It will be a tougher road for the 2009-10 edition of the wine and gold.

 

JK

 

Two weeks ago, when Tribe GM Mark Shapiro decided to keep his manager and coaching staff in place for the rest of the season, he painted himself into a corner.  With Eric Wedge now on notice that his job was in jeopardy, it is very likely the stubborn skipper will now go with the tried and true for the balance of the season in an effort to save his job.  While the fans and many of the baseball intellegencia would like to see some younger blood in the lineup, it is doubtful that will occur.

 

This means a return to the leadoff spot for Grady Sizemore, Asdrubal Cabrera hitting second (Wedge was quoted as saying it was a great combination in 2007), and sticking with non-producers like Ben Francisco and Jhonny Peralta.  Someone has to put an end to this, and soon because the Indians grow unwatchable day by day.

 

Instead of looking at players who may or may not help the 2010 edition of the Cleveland Indians, we continue to see the same players who contributed to the team being 21 games below the .500 mark.  And this, of course, is the true mule-like part of Wedge.  Doesn’t he realize that he’s not winning with these guys?

 

Look at Sunday’s lineup.  We knew that Travis Hafner wasn’t going to play to rest his shoulder, so who would replace him in the lineup?  Perhaps Chris Gimenez would get a chance to get some at bats against Seattle southpaw Eric Bedard?  No.  The manager pulled out his tried and true option of playing whiff machine Kelly Shoppach behind the plate with speedster Ryan Garko patrolling the outfield, a move that helps neither the offense and defense. 

 

It just makes you want to shake your head.

 

Yesterday, it was reported by Paul Hoynes that Wedge has changed his tune slightly on Andy Marte, who is having a great year at Columbus.  The manager is now considering using the former top prospect, who still is just 25 years old, at…drum roll, please…FIRST BASE!  This coincides with his theory that everyone needs to play that position.  Plus, it keeps Peralta in the lineup and removes Garko, who is swinging the bat better than the current third baseman.

 

Marte is hitting .320 with 14 HR and 57 RBI and a 917 OPS thus far in the International League, by far the best he has ever done at that level.  It has been reported that Jon Nunnally, the Clippers’ hitting coach, shortened his swing, accounting for the improvement.  Despite his past failures, he deserves the opportunity to see if the change will work at the big league level.  His age indicates his career is far from over.  With Peralta struggling, he should get an everyday look at the hot corner.

 

Also, Matt LaPorta, the centerpiece of the C.C. Sabathia deal last year, is also hitting well at Columbus, batting .310 with 11 HR and 44 RBI and a 919 OPS.  LaPorta can play LF, which is currently manned by the underachieving Francisco, who by the way, has knocked in seven runs since June 1st.  Keep in mind, Shin-Soo Choo drove in that many in one game!  LaPorta’s presence in AAA is one of the great mysteries of people who watch the player development programs throughout baseball. 

 

These moves may be made before the Tribe heads to Toronto for a series starting tomorrow night.  However, if Marte and LaPorta get called up, will they play?  That’s the million dollar question for Eric Wedge, who is desparately trying to win as many games as he can by the end of the season.

 

MW 

 

 

 

The second half of the 2009 baseball season starts tonight, at least symbolically since the Indians have already played 89 games this season.  More importantly for the Tribe, the trading deadline is just 15 days away.  Will more players be going prior to this deadline, and if so, who should be dealt away?

 

There are some players who are fairly obvious candidates to go, they being the players who are free agents at the end of this season:  Jamey Carroll and Carl Pavano.  Carroll would have some value to a team looking for a utility infielder, as he is a solid defensive player and has a high on base percentage.  He also has some speed. 

 

Pavano has pitched better than anyone could have expected, especially after his disastrous first start in Texas, when he gave up nine runs in one inning of work.  The veteran right-hander would be a nice addition to a contender looking for a back of the rotation starter.  Also, remember that Pavano has post-season experience with the Marlins in 2003.

 

There have been many rumors about the availability of two players who can be free agents following the 2010 season, Cliff Lee and Victor Martinez.  The Indians will tell you neither will be traded, but if they don’t think Lee will sign after next season, they should consider dealing last year’s Cy Young Award winner. 

 

Why?  Because they will get more in a deal now than they will at next year’s trading deadline because the team that gets him will have his services for an entire year in addition to the last two months of this season.  However, you would have to get a major league pitcher in return, preferably someone younger and with potential.  The Tribe would also have to get at least two top tier prospects.  If they can’t get that in return, then they should pass on dealing him for now.

 

Martinez has expressed interest in staying and I would talk to him and his agent to see how serious he is about signing a long-term deal.  Martinez is the one guy I would portray as a professional hitter in the Tribe lineup.  His long-term future probably isn’t behind the plate, particularly with Carlos Santana on the way, but he could fit in at 1B or DH when Travis Hafner’s contract expires. 

 

No matter what, Martinez is a talent worth holding on to.

 

The other players I would consider moving would be Ryan Garko, Jhonny Peralta, and Kelly Shoppach though I don’t know what kind of market there is for these guys.  Garko has been the guy who has been jerked around by management over the years, but he is a 1B/DH type who doesn’t show outstanding power.  With Martinez around, and guys like Matt LaPorta, Beau Mills, and Nick Weglarz (who likely will wind up at first) all on the horizon, the future for Garko in Cleveland isn’t looking bright.

 

Peralta might be an even tougher sell, although he has a better track record.  I doubt there would be any buyers as a shortstop because his defensive shortcomings are well documented, and he hasn’t shown enough at the hot corner to have a team completely sold he can play there on an everyday basis.  This much is clear, Peralta most definitely needs a change of scenery to jump start his career.

 

The Tribe owes it to themselves to take another look at Andy Marte, who I may remind you is just 25 years old.  Marte is hitting better than he ever has at the Class AAA level, and he has always been a solid defensive third baseman.  The organization also has Wes Hodges (a defensive liability) and 2008 #1 pick, Lonnie Chisenhall in the pipeline.  Chisenhall is having a very good year at Kinston, and should be moved to Akron soon.  Scouts have commented about his smooth swing from the left side.  And he will turn 21 this October.

 

Shoppach had what appears to be a career year last season, and quite frankly doesn’t make contact frequently enough to be an effective offensive player on an everyday basis.  He’s a solid defensive catcher, and handles pitchers well enough, so with the paucity of good catchers at the big league level, he should draw some interest.  Plus, Shoppach makes an estimated $3 million next season, so moving his salary would also be something that would interest the ownership.

 

 A wild card to all of the trade speculation is Kerry Wood.  Wood has not had a lot of work, but he has been a disappointment so far this season.  Wood is under contract for at least one more season, and quite possibly two years depending on how many games he finishes.  He may be in demand by a contender at the deadline, and you would have to consider a deal if you can get some starting pitching in return, especially after the acquisition of Chris Perez as a possible closer down the line.

 

The front office has said there is no opportunity to see the team’s top prospects at the big league level unless trades are made for players currently on the roster, so one would have to believe GM Mark Shapiro is trying to get some things done.  If not, it looks like more of what we saw in the first half of this dreadful campaign.

 

KM