The Cleveland Indians are in a period of learning.  Manny Acta and the front office are trying to find out who can play at the big league level and who can’t. 

 

Here is a clue for the Tribe brass…Justin Masterson is not a starting pitcher. 

 

This is not based on last night’s performance against the woeful Baltimore Orioles, who have been playing better under new manager Buck Showalter.  No, this is based on Masterson’s body of work this season.

 

In the 21 starts the big right-hander has made against teams other than the Boston Red Sox this season, he is 2-11 with an ERA of 6.05.  Hitters are batting .292 against him for the season.  Left-handed hitters are batting .313 against Masterson with an OPS of 863. 

 

That means every left-handed hitter that faces Masterson turns into Shin-Soo Choo. 

 

This is not to say Masterson is a lost cause.  He has a tremendous ground ball to fly ball ratio and he throws in the mid 90’s.  He’s just not a starting pitcher.  He’s more suited to being a set up man or down the road, maybe even a closer.

 

After last night’s game, Acta protected his starter by saying the defense failed him.  Luis Valbuena booted a ball at third base to key a four run fourth for the Birds, and in the fifth, Acta felt 2B Jason Donald should have turned a double play which would have got Masterson out of the inning.

 

However, there is no defense for the hurler giving up several hits after the miscues.  Sometimes, the pitcher has to pick up the guys behind him.  Also, the skipper didn’t mention the incredible play SS Asdrubal Cabrera made on a ball hit off Masterson’s leg in the fourth.  The Indians had no business getting an out on that play. 

 

Acta said he sees in Masterson a pitcher with swing and miss capabilities.  That’s true.  The big righty leads the staff in strikeouts, and he and perhaps Fausto Carmona are the team’s only starters who have what you would call power arms.  However, unlike Carmona, Masterson gives up more hits than innings pitched (158 in 133.1 IP), and if you walk four guys per nine innings, that’s a problem. 

 

Mitch Talbot will likely return to the rotation this weekend against Seattle, and probably will replace David Huff in the rotation.  Perhaps he should take Masterson’s spot so Acta can give Huff a few more looks.  Or send Huff back to Columbus and put Masterson in the bullpen so Carlos Carrasco can get some starts at the big league level.

 

It’s not as though Masterson has earned his continued presence in the rotation.  In fact, since coming over to Cleveland at the trade deadline last year, he is 5-18 with an ERA over five.

 

This is not meant to bury the pitcher acquired from Boston for Victor Martinez.  However, it is time to give him a new role on the team.  He’s made a year’s worth of starts (33) since coming to the Tribe, and you can count the times he’s pitched real well on both hands. 

 

He simply doesn’t have the consistency to be a quality starter right now.  And his success in Boston came mostly out of the bullpen. 

 

Justin Masterson has the power arm this organization needs, but right now that arm would best serve the team in a relief role.

 

MW

 

It has now been one month since “The Decision”, and Cavs’ owner Dan Gilbert has been quiet since his initial salvo regarding his former star player and the future of the franchise. 

 

New Cavs’ GM Chris Grant has made a trade for G Ramon Sessions and C Ryan Hollins, giving up Delonte West’s buyout clause in return, and he has also signed free agent F Joey Graham as a free agent.  Graham is a defensive minded frontcourt player, while Sessions should help in new coach Byron Scott’s up-tempo offense. 

 

You have to wonder what season ticket holders are thinking about now since they had to pay their money way back in February. 

 

Although Scott hasn’t issued any comments on his roster, it seems the only starter etched in stone is J.J. Hickson, who made big strides in his second year, and reportedly has been working on getting some range on his jump shot in the off-season. 

 

Mo Williams will likely start at one of the guard spots, but it is not clear if he will be the starting point guard, or come off the bench like Dallas’ Jason Terry, while Sessions runs the team. 

 

And who starts at the off guard spot?  Will it be Anthony Parker or perhaps second year man Danny Green? 

 

Will Scott bring both veteran big men Antawn Jamison and Anderson Varajao off the bench, or will one start with Hickson? 

 

And, of course, who replaces LeBron James in the starting lineup at small forward? 

 

That’s a lot of questions for a team that is supposed to win an NBA title before the Miami Heat.

 

This is not to criticize Gilbert for sending the letter, because it was how the majority of Cavalier fans felt at the time.  Add in the fact that the owner spent a considerable amount of time and money in an attempt to make and keep James and his friends happy, and you can understand the vitriol that came from Gilbert.

 

Really, he was in a no-win situation.  He is being criticized by many in the national media for not standing up to James and telling him his behavior and that of his “entourage” was unacceptable. 

 

However, had he done that and James still would have left, those same people would have hammered Gilbert for not doing enough to keep the star player with the franchise.  He was open for criticism no matter how he handled James.

 

It seems like this was all in place no matter what happened this season, or no matter what the Cavalier franchise did for James and his people.  The three players in question got together and set this up years in advance, which is a huge problem for the league, right David Stern? 

 

It’s a problem for Stern because however powerful of a commissioner he may be, he’s no longer in charge.  The players are now running the NBA, setting up their own teams; competitive balance is out the window.

 

Now it’s up to Grant and Scott to start the process of remaking this team.  Don’t forget, the wine and gold have a huge trade exemption they received in the transaction made to get #23 more cash to spit on the franchise.  They have to use a least a part of it this year, or else they lose it. 

 

With less than two months remaining until the start of training camp, it is interesting to see what course the Cleveland Cavaliers will take this season.

 

JK

 

Since the Indians traded Jake Westbrook last weekend, several sports talk hosts have complained about the Tribe dealing their opening day starter for the third year in a row.  Although the front office should be open for criticism based on the team’s record the last three seasons, this one is unfair.

 

First, Westbrook started the first game in the absence of any better option.  Remember, he missed most of the last two seasons with elbow surgery.  And as the season went on, it’s become evident that Fausto Carmona is the current staff ace. 

 

The critics point out that if the Indians could have kept both C.C. Sabathia, Cliff Lee, and Westbrook, they would be contenders this season, and for years to come.  That’s pretty unrealistic thinking.

 

Westbrook inked a deal paying him over $10 million per year in 2007.  While the merits of that decision has been talked about here (we felt he was overpaid at the time-look it up in the archives), it is doubtful the Tribe could have kept all three hurlers because of the market.

 

This is not to cry small market as the Dolan family likes to do, however, there is a limit to the payroll any owner can sustain in this market, and I would guess it would be tough for the Tribe to carry $120 million in salaries.  That’s probably what would have to happen to keep the two Cy Young Award winners and still have a competitive teams.

 

The Indians could have done things differently back in the day, but once again, the lack of ability to evaluate talent got in the way.  Following the 2006 season, the Indians knew they had three players eligible for free agency following the ’08 season:  Sabathia, Westbrook, and Travis Hafner.  It should have been easy to say the best player and #1 target of those three was Sabathia. 

 

Westbrook is a solid starter and Hafner, although he had a monster year in 2006, is a DH, which eliminates interest from 16 major league teams. 

 

That means the Tribe should have targeted the big lefthander for a long term deal.  Remember, this is before he started his tremendous 2007 campaign.  In fact, he was 12-11 with a 3.22 ERA in 28 starts in ’06.  Certainly, he would have commanded a big deal, but no where near the $20 million per year he is getting now. 

 

Once, Sabathia won 19 games and the Cy Young in 2007, he was out of the team’s price range.

 

For all of the credit the Minnesota Twins get for running their franchise in a smaller market, they have bit the bullet on some players and let them go.  They dealt Johan Santana because they didn’t feel his price range was in their ballpark, and they let Torii Hunter walk away as well. 

 

However, they kept the two best players in Justin Morneau and hometown boy Joe Mauer. 

 

Would the Tribe future look different if Sabathia was still here for a couple more years and Lee and Victor Martinez were still here, while Westbrook and Hafner were gone?  Of course, it would.  However, that’s what happens when you make the correct personnel decisions. 

 

Instead, the ownership wanted show they could spend money so they signed the two guys they could sign, not the one they should have signed.

 

Still, in this market, there is a limit to what the franchise can spend.  To be able to win, they need the skill and talent judgment to keep the players that are stars, and not to overpay the ones who aren’t.

 

KM

 

 

 

 

 

Every once in a while there are a bunch of things on my mind, and they’ll be addressed in today’s blog.  Once again, it’s a Cleveland Sports Perspective potpourri.

 

·          David Huff lost his tenth game Tuesday night in Boston, joining Justin Masterson in that category this season.  In games when those two pitchers get the decision, the Indians are 5-20.  In all other games, the Tribe is 40-42, a pretty respectable record. 

 

Obviously, it’s not only the starter’s fault when a team loses, but the Indians have a 50-50 shot of winning when someone else is involved in the decision.

 

·          Speaking of Masterson, isn’t it time the Tribe tries him as a set up man out of the bullpen?  He throws hard and is very tough on right-handed hitters.  Besides, it would open up another spot in the starting rotation.

 

·          Why do people get so fired up about a player’s performance in practice?  Already, there is some hand wringing over how Browns’ QB Jake Delhomme in training camp.  Who cares?  The guy has shown he’s a competent NFL signal caller. 

 

Derek Anderson was an all-training camp performer.  Look how well that worked out.

 

·          Why did WKNR ruin their afternoon drive time show?  Michael Reghi is a pro and knows his stuff, regardless of the sport.  Now he’s teamed up with a wanna be impressionist who only wants to talk about Ohio State football and basketball. 

 

·          Stop all the talk of demonstrations when the Miami Heat makes their first appearance in Cleveland this season on December 2^nd.  There is no way fans can agree about any action, so it’s a complete waste of time.  Miami is going to bring their “A” game that night in order to make sure they win in LeBron James’ return. 

 

·          Who is going to play center for the Cavaliers this season?  They could start Anderson Varajao, but he would have a problem guarding the Dwight Howard and Andrew Bynums of the league.  Plus, it is thought that Byron Scott would like to bring him off the bench.

 

·          The Indians’ Shin-Soo Choo is one of baseball’s most underrated players.  He’s a lifetime .295 hitter with a career 874 OPS.  He has cut down on his strikeouts from a year ago, and has one of the game’s best throwing arms in RF. 

 

He also has a higher slugging percentage this season than Alex Rodriguez.  Also, add in his good base running instincts and you have one of baseball’s best players.  Choo, Asdrubal Cabrera, and Carlos Santana should be the cornerstones of the Indians for the next few years.

 

·          Could it be that the Browns downgrading of first round pick Joe Haden was a negotiating ploy?  All of the negativity about his speed before he even took the field could have been a way of getting him signed and into camp. 

 

·          Keep reading that the Cavs have some interest in Shannon Brown, and if he returns, it would rectify a mistake made by former coach Mike Brown, who didn’t seem interested in developing him as a rookie.  There could have been work ethic reasons involved, but Brown certainly has the athleticism that would work in Scott’s running game. 

 

·          Who would win in a strikeout contest:  Russell Branyan or Chris Gimenez?

 

·          Has anyone heard from Dan Gilbert lately? 

 

MW

 

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It turns out that the Cleveland Indians unloaded all of their veteran players at the trading deadline, outside of Travis Hafner, whose contract, bad shoulder, and lack of a defensive spot make his large contract untradable. 

 

The team is taking heat for some people in the local media, but in this case, that criticism is unfounded.  The Tribe front office did the correct thing, because they need to look at young players. 

 

Outside of Jake Westbrook, who is still an average starting pitcher, what did the Indians give up in the past week?  No one wanted Jhonny Peralta and his .250 batting average and seemingly indifferent attitude in Cleveland any more.

 

Austin Kearns did a good job while he was here, but after an excellent April, he has put together very pedestrian numbers over the last three months.  Kerry Wood was injured a lot of the time he was here, and couldn’t find the plate consistently when he was available. 

 

Westbrook was overpaid when he signed his latest deal before blowing out his elbow in early 2008, and although he took his turn every time this season, you know exactly what he is, a #3 or #4 starter on a contender, which is what he will be in St. Louis. 

 

Please, don’t equate his departure with those of C.C. Sabathia and Cliff Lee.  Westbrook is a class act, but as a pitcher, he’s not anywhere near those two guys. 

 

Still, there are more moves to be made by the front office to get ready for 2011.

 

They have to find a third baseman to bridge the gap until Lonnie Chisenhall is ready.  That’s why Jared Goedert should be called up right away, because if he can do the job, that’s another spot for next year that is filled.  The early returns on Jayson Nix playing there do not look good, as Nix is another all of nothing hitter, and has struggled defensively at the hot corner.

 

Another guy on the current roster we’ve seen enough of is Chris Gimenez, although he has done a good job with Josh Tomlin in his two starts.  Gimenez simply can’t hit at the big league level, having fanned 10 times in 17 at bats this year, after batting just .144 in over 100 at bats last season.

 

Yes, he’s versatile, and we know the team doesn’t want to call up Lou Marson to sit behind Carlos Santana, but why not bring back Wyatt Toregas to take another look at him. 

 

On the pitching side, the Indians need to get another look at both David Huff and Carlos Carrasco.  Huff won 10 games a year ago, but struggled early this year.  Carrasco got hammered in a September call up a year ago, but has pitched over 300 innings at the AAA level.  He needs to show what he can do in the majors, but he has been sidelined recently with some soreness in his right forearm.

 

They need to know what people should be in their plans heading into 2011, because the young talent is coming soon.  Notice that Columbus is 20 games over .500 in the International League, and there are really no minor league veterans contributing on a nightly basis.

 

There may be some players around 25, who would be with the big club in other organizations, but there is no former big leaguers looking for another shot. 

 

While we can argue about bringing those guys up sooner, you should be optimistic about the Tribe being competitive in their division, a weak one, as early as next season.  They didn’t give up anything of consequence at the trading deadline, but another year of making these types of moves will not be tolerated.

 

KM

 

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Although we have been critical of the Indians’ management since last year’s trading deadline, we still have to tip our cap, at least for now, to GM Mark Shapiro.  After saying there wasn’t much of a market for veterans Jhonny Peralta and Austin Kearns, Shapiro found takers for both of them, with a little help to the Tigers’ injury woes.

 

Peralta was sent off for young left-hander Gionvanni Soto, who is 19, and has a 6-6 record with an ERA under 3.00 at the low Class A level, while Kearns was sent to the Yankees for another prospect, one that Shapiro said could play in the majors.

 

Really though, the reason for the deals was to give some young players an opportunity.  Jayson Nix will get the first shot at third base in place of Peralta, and although we question not giving the shot to Jared Goedert, who has 24 HR and 69 RBI in 92 minor league games this season, at least the process is in place to look at others who can play the hot corner.

 

Eventually, Michael Brantley will be brought back to replace Kearns on the roster, playing CF while Trevor Crowe and others play LF.  Hopefully, this time Brantley will not bring the loop in his swing, which causes him to hit everything in the air, a deadly thing for someone which his speed.  He needs to hit the ball on a line or on the ground consistently. 

 

And reportedly, the Indians are involved in conversations with St. Louis for Jake Westbrook.  That deal would open up a starting spot for Carlos Carrasco or possibly Jeanmar Gomez, if Carrasco’s forearm injury lingers. 

 

That’s what this team needs to do, and their model should be the San Diego Padres.  The Padres have been the National League’s best team since the All Star break in 2009, and have done it largely with youth.

 

The Cleveland front office needs to make a commitment to going with young players.  Already, they are starting to put together some building blocks, such as Shin-Soo Choo in RF, Asdrubal Cabrera at SS, Carlos Santana behind the plate, Matt La Porta at 1B, and Jason Donald at 2B.  Is it a coincidence that the team started playing better after these guys started playing every day?

 

In the off season, new GM Chris Antonetti needs to resist the temptation to bring in marginal veterans to compete with the young guys.  They need to bring in a veteran for leadership, but it has to be one that can play everyday.  Signing the Jamey Wrights and Mark Grudzielaneks of the world doesn’t give the team anything, it just retards the development of the young guys. 

 

Some of the surprise contributions on this year’s team are players like Frank Herrmann, Santana, and Donald, all of whom weren’t given a realistic chance to make the ballclub in Arizona.  The Indians can give you any amount of baloney about Santana not being ready defensively and handling pitchers, but it is clear he should have been the starter on Opening Day in Chicago. 

 

The Indians wonder why they continue to get off to slow starts every year, but we have said this before, it’s because they don’t pick the right players to make the big league team, favoring experience over youth, even though the experience is usually poor results. 

 

Let’s find out as much about these guys as we can while this season is lost  That should be the plan for the rest of 2010.

 

MW

 

Every year around this time, Browns’ fans are very optimistic.  Usually without reason.  Last season, the team won their last four games to finish with a 5-11 record.  This year, the franchise has a new president and general manager is Mike Holmgren and Tom Heckert.  So, the question is, is there reason for optimism in 2010?

 

When we talk about having a better feeling about this football team, we certainly aren’t talking about a playoff appearance.  That would be too much to ask.  However, is there going to be improvement this season, such as a 7-9 record?  The answer is yes, and because of the following reasons.

 

Better Quarterback Play.  No one is suggesting that the Browns have Peyton Manning or Tom Brady calling signals, but it would be difficult for Jake Delhomme and Seneca Wallace to play worse than the guys manning the position in 2009.  Cleveland basically won the last four games playing an old single wing style, getting virtually nothing out of the passing game. 

 

They will not be a passing offense this season, either, but figure to have a more efficient passing attack with Delhomme, who needs to stay away from the interceptions that plagued him last season.  Wallace is a capable backup too, with some starting experience.  While not in the league’s elite at this most important position, there is no question the Browns are better.

 

Run, Run, Run.  This year’s Browns will try to stay in games by controlling the ball and the clock, the tried and true method of keeping it close by running the football.  This style of play won them the last four games in ’09.  This year, the team added bruising runner rookie Montario Hardesty to Jerome Harrison, who had over 800 years rushing last season despite not playing much in the first half of the season. 

 

Holmgren and Heckert also strengthened the offensive line with the signing of free agent tackle Tony Pashos and the drafting of rookie Shawn Lauvao.  The Browns had a good left side of the line with Joe Thomas, Eric Steinbach, and rookie Alex Mack last season, but defenses attacked on the right side.  These acquisitions, plus the continued improvement of Mack, should give the team improved line play.

 

Linebacker Changes.  In order for this ball control style to work, the defense has to be at least serviceable.  To that end, the new front office group brought in LB Scott Fujita from the Saints, and Chris Gocong from the Eagles.  These two, together with last year’s additions in David Bowens and Eric Barton give the Browns an experienced crew behind the defensive line.  And don’t forget late season pick up Matt Roth and holdover D’Qwell Jackson. 

 

Coach Eric Mangini will have plenty of options and the ability to line these guys up in different spots, which he showed he liked to do last season.  Defensive coordinator Rob Ryan likes to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks, and he has the tools to do so from the linebacking spot.  The pressure is needed to protect a very young secondary.

 

Winners.  Virtually everyone Holmgren and Heckert brought in this year has a winning background.  Fujita placed for last year’s Super Bowl champs.  Pashos played for the Ravens, while Gocong and new cornerback Sheldon Brown made numerous playoff appearances for the Eagles.  The new quarterbacks have both been on Super Bowl teams.

 

They knew they have to change the losing atmosphere around this football team, and bringing in guys who expect to win has got to help. 

 

The Cleveland Browns still have some holes to fill.  The wide receiver corps needs to be upgraded, and so does the defensive line.  The secondary doesn’t have a lot of experience outside of Brown.  Still, this team should be improved.  There is reason to be encouraged going into training camp if you are a Browns’ fan.

 

JD

 

 

 

Imagine you are a member of the Cleveland Cavaliers.  Your star teammate dissed you and the rest of the guys wearing the wine and gold by saying he had a better chance to win with another team. 

 

The media is telling everyone who will listen that the team, as it stands now, isn’t good enough to make the playoffs, and will likely finish under .500 this season.  They are comparing you to the guys who play in rec leagues throughout the country, saying that LeBron James and four bums won 127 regular season games the past two seasons.

 

You know you’re better than that.  You know that you and the rest of the guys contributed a great deal to the success of the team the past couple of years.  You know you can do more, and you played a lesser role than you are capable, deferring to the guy who used to wear #23 for the Cavs.

 

You are Antawn Jamison.  You are now 34 years old, but you’ve averaged 19.8 points and 8 rebounds per game in your NBA career, and haven’t scored less than 18.7 points per night since your one and only season in Dallas, when you came off the bench to get 14.8 points a game. 

 

However, you scored just 15.8 per night after being acquired by Cleveland last season.  Yes, you shot a higher percentage (48.5% compared to your career 45.6%), but the Cavs never really incorporated you into the offense last season.

 

You are Mo Williams.  You are 28 years old and in the prime of your career.  You aren’t a true point guard, but you tried to play that role with the Cavaliers.  You scored 17.3 per night your last two years in Milwaukee, but scored 15.8 a night last season.  Also, your shooting percentage dropped from 48% in 2007-08 with the Bucks to 44% last season. 

 

With the Bucks, you went to the basket more often while the past two seasons; you have been more of a spot up three-point shooter.  Your assists dropped by one a game as well. 

 

You are Anthony Parker and you celebrated your 35^th birthday in June.  You averaged 7.3 points per night last season, your lowest average in four seasons.  The points weren’t the only statistic down for you, so were your assists, rebounds, and free throw attempts. 

 

You probably would be a solid player off the bench, considering your age, but last season you spent much of your time on the floor standing in the corner waiting for passes from a penetrating teammate.  You know you can do other things to contribute.

 

You are 22 year old J.J. Hickson, and you are continuing to work on your shooting, so you can be more than a guy who gets dunks as a result of James’ passes.  You should be a senior at NC State this season, so you have plenty of room for growth.  You scored 8.5 points and grabbed five rebounds per game even though you averaged just 20 minutes per night.

 

You are Anderson Varajao, a veteran of six years in the NBA, and one of the league’s best defenders at power forward.  You scored 8.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game last season in just under 30 minutes per night. 

 

You are Jamario Moon, now 30 years old, and a solid defender in the league.  You are another player whose offense took a hit playing with the Cavs.  After scoring 8.5 points in your rookie year and 7.2 the year after, you scored just 4.9 with Cleveland.  Your rebounds and assists were down as well, as the coach didn’t seem to trust you, as your minutes were down about eight minutes from previous years.

 

These guys have pride and they have been on winning teams.  They won’t accept defeat easily, and they know how to make plays. 

 

The other thing is for all of the talk about superstars making their teammates better, there is a lot of evidence to the contrary.  Some of these guys put their personal stats on hold the past year or so.  They will need to re-assert themselves for the Cavaliers this season.

 

JK

 

The NBA is facing a huge problem.

 

It has been reported that Chris Paul is requesting a trade to Orlando, Los Angeles, or New York, so he can join forces with another star player in his pursuit of a championship.  Paul is doing the same thing his good friend LeBron James did in signing with the Miami Heat.

 

This is bad for the league unless they start doing what is done for small children when they participate in sports, that is, give everybody a trophy.  Maybe commissioner David Stern can hand out participation “rings” to all players at the end of the season. 

 

That way, everybody will get what he wants.

 

First of all, since when did winning a championship become a divine right?  It’s a difficult thing to do, and it should be earned, not given to anyone.  The current batch of NBA stars seem to think they should just show up and get a ring, and not work for it.

 

Does anyone wonder how Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, Elgin Baylor, Patrick Ewing and John Stockton feel about this?  These guys left blood and sweat on the floor for many years to try and win a title.

 

These current NBA stars think after they’ve put in six or seven years in the league, they should be playing for a championship.  They don’t take the responsibility of making that happen.  They seem to want it to be handed to them.  They are entitled. 

 

Stern should re-think his strategy of promoting the league’s great players and talking about how many titles they win, because right now, these guys are out of control.

 

The other problem is it makes teams in the Midwest superfluous.  Teams like the Cavaliers, Pistons, Bucks, and even the San Antonio Spurs once Tim Duncan retires, will be relegated to being the Washington Generals to the Lakers, Celtics, Heats’ Globetrotters. 

 

Those franchises will not matter anymore except to be schedule fillers for the big boys.  And that doesn’t bode well for the NBA.

 

The same argument is true for baseball.  No one wants to see the Yankees and Red Sox play 162 games per year.  If those two teams played every day, the games wouldn’t sell out any more.  Baseball needs to have 30 teams, and the elite teams have to know that.

 

Basketball is soon going to have the same thing.  The only games that will matter will be when the Lakers play the Heat, or the Magic plays Boston.  The only games in Cleveland that will draw will be when one of the “super” teams visits The Q. 

 

A game between the Bucks and the Cavs simply won’t matter. 

 

The national media (read:  ESPN) says these super teams are good for the game.  Of course, they feel that way, it would be great if Paul went to New York to team with Amare Stoudemire to make the Knicks relevant again. 

 

However, is it really good for the league to have three or four great teams and 26 arenas that could be ghost towns?  The television ratings will suffer as well because outside of the cities involved, no one will watch a steady diet of the Lakers, Heat, Knicks, Magic, and Celtics.  Seeing them all the time makes it lose its uniqueness.

 

Perhaps that’s irrelevant for the new bosses in the NBA…World Wide Wes and LRMR.

 

JK

 

The Cleveland Indians might just be playing their best baseball of the season.  It’s funny how good an effective bullpen makes a team look.  Anyway, the infusion of young players, who have some athleticism, has helped the team both offensively and defensively.

 

Still, there are more moves that can be made with an eye towards the 2011 season, finding out about more of the young players in the organization.

 

Some moves will have to be made this weekend when Asdrubal Cabrera and Shin-Soo Choo are activated from the disabled list, and if Cabrera’s case put back on the 40-man roster.

 

The first is to release, or designate for assignment Jhonny Peralta.  Granted, this is a bold move because Peralta has been a regular since 2005.  However, it is doubtful that the Tribe will be able to find a deal for him at the July 31^st deadline, and if he’s on the roster, Manny Acta will feel obligated to play him.

 

Dumping Peralta and possibly Andy Marte would open up the hot corner for Jared Goedert, who at 25 has had a monster season between Columbus and Akron.  The organization has to find out whether or not he can be a contributor at the major league level.

 

Jayson Nix could get time at third if Goedert doesn’t hit.  This is because with Cabrera back in the lineup, suddenly there is a logjam at 2B.

 

Jason Donald has been playing shortstop in Cabrera’s absence could move to second.  Nix has been playing there while Donald has been at short.  In Columbus, Josh Rodriguez has had a very good year, and so has Cord Phelps, who started the year in Akron and is hitting around .380 in AAA.

 

Also, Goedert has played the spot before at Akron while Lonnie Chisenhall blocked him at third.  By the way, Chisenhall’s presence is another reason to let Peralta go.  He will be the Indians’ third baseman sometime in 2011. 

 

The team also has Jason Kipnis playing the keystone spot at Akron, and he’s one of the organization’s top ten prospects. 

 

Suddenly, the Tribe has second basemen by the bundle.

 

Look, Cleveland is not going to pick up Peralta’s 2011 option at the end of the season anyway, so this would give him an opportunity to catch on somewhere else.  The Indians will say they don’t want to pay Peralta if he’s not on the team, but they need to start finding out who can play 3B next season, and they would be paying him if he were on the team.

 

Another move that should be made is putting Justin Masterson in the bullpen and finding out if Carlos Carrasco can be a major league starter.  Of course, this would be the same course of action if the team can deal Jake Westbrook, and it’s no coincidence that Carrasco pitches in Columbus a day before Westbrook pitches with the big club. 

 

Kerry Wood’s blister on his finger means he likely won’t be moved until the end of August in a waiver deal.  And his absence accomplishes the same thing as a deal, Chris Perez will get an opportunity to be the closer.  Does anyone realize they both have saved eight games this season?

 

One roster move this weekend will be made by going back to a 12 man pitching staff, which means it is likely that Jensen Lewis will go back to Columbus.  Lewis pitched well Saturday night against Detroit, but on Monday he gave up a bomb to Jim Thome and walked a pair.  That’s who he is.  Jess Todd deserves an extended look.

 

However, keep an eye on Bryce Stowell, Vinnie Pestano, and the just promoted Zach Putnam with the Clippers.  They could be a part of the 2011 Tribe bullpen. 

 

That is, unless the Indians sign some mediocre veterans to take their spot in spring training.

 

KM