Why the outrage?  Cavalier fans are all fired up about LeBron James being left off the All-NBA first team for the 2006-07 season.  There is no doubt in my mind that the King is one of the three best players in the game, but I would agree with his second team status for the regular season.  It has nothing to do with his so called "subpar" regular season.  James’ numbers are down because he was trying to get his teammates involved, and because Larry Hughes was healthier than he was last season.

 

The reason I think the decision was justified is the performance of the two players selected at forward ahead of LBJ:  Tim Duncan and Dirk Nowitzke.  Duncan is one of the three players I would put in the discussion as the league’s best player (Steve Nash is the other), and he is a nine time first team selection.  His play this year does nothing to put him off the first five.  Nowitzke will be named the league’s MVP next week because he was the best player on the NBA’s best regular season team. 

 

The voters based their decision on the performance of the players this season.  Based on that, LeBron ranks behind Duncan and Nowitzke at forward.  It’s as simple as that.

 

It’s Not All Good News.  Despite the Indians 20-12 start, there are some disappointing things about the Tribe that bear watching:

 

1.  This team still strikes out way too much.  The Wahoos have three players (Grady Sizemore, Travis Hafner, and Casey Blake) who average a strikeout per game.  Two others (Jhonny Peralta and Josh Barfield) are on pace to fan over 100 times this season.  It’s tough to sustain offense with that many whiffs.  The ballclub is third in the AL in on base percentage despite being 9th in batting average.  So, they are patient.  However, you can’t wait for the perfect pitch if there is a man on third with less than two out. 

 

2.  The left field platoon needs to improve.   David Dellucci and Jason Michaels have combined for a .237 batting average, 2 HR, and just 11 RBI’s through 32 games.  Certainly not what GM Mark Shapiro envisioned when he put the pair together in the off season.  Not only that, the duo has walked just nine times while striking out 28 times.  So far, you have to question whether or not the Tribe would be better off using Shin-Soo Choo and Franklin Gutierrez in this spot.  It’s still early, but it’s time for the veterans to step up.

 

3.  Third base is still a problem.  Here’s hoping when Andy Marte is healthy, Eric Wedge puts him right back at 3B and leaves him there.  The Indians need to find out if he can play.  It’s not like they have Mike Schmidt playing there now.  Casey Blake is not a gold glove candidate and is hitting just .233 with 3 HR and 13 RBI’s.  Marte knocked in 8 runs in his first 39 at bats. 

 

Doesn’t It Make You Ill?  I get a sickening feeling every time I hear Barry Bonds hit another home run.  I realize it is inevitable that he will break Henry Aaron’s career mark of 755 HR’s.  I know Bonds has never failed a drug test, but he also doesn’t deny the allegations that surround him very vociferously.  I have the same feeling in watching Sammy Sosa belting balls out of the park as well.  I just wish they would go away.

 

I think about what broadcaster Jon Miller, a respected announcer, thinks as he calls another Bonds round tripper. 

 

I think about something I heard Bobby Bonds say when he was the Tribe’s batting coach in the 80’s.  He said something to the effect of if he saw Barry with a drink in his hands, he would break his arm.  I wonder what his father thinks about all the stuff the son has allegedly put into his body to stave off the aging process.  The game will be better when Barry Bonds is no longer a part of it.

 

MW

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Cleveland sports fan makes me want to shake my head.  Phil Savage has talked about the "woe is us" mentality we have regarding our sports teams, and yet another example has come up in the last week or so.  It involves the trading of C.C. Sabathia, who will not be a free agent until after next season.   

 

Apparently, fans think the Tribe can afford to deal the big lefty since Fausto Carmona has pitched well in his last three starts.  Setting aside the fact that three starts is a very small sample size, the Indians are currently in first place!  Why in the world would they trade their best pitcher, one of the top five starting pitchers in the American League?  He’s not a free agent at the end of this season, he will wear a Cleveland uniform next year as well.

 

At some point, you have to try to win.  We may look back if Sabathia leaves as a free agent following next season, and wish we got something in return for him.  However, if you think this team can make the playoffs this year and next year, you have to keep C.C.  He is a #1 starter, and those guys are very important in the playoffs.  He is our Pedro Martinez, Roger Clemens, and Roy Oswalt.  A legitimate ace of the staff.  The only way you deal him is if the Tribe falls out of the race next year, and the front office is convinced they can’t retain the big lefty.

 

Fans compare the situation with Bartolo Colon in 2003.  First, Mark Shapiro didn’t think that team could get to the post season and he didn’t think he could ink Colon.  Secondly, it is highly unlikely any team will deal the Indians the same types of players Shapiro obtained from the Expos that year:  Grady Sizemore, Cliff Lee, and Brandon Phillips.  In fact, no major league club has made a trade like that since.  Shapiro’s grand theft has ruined it for everybody.

 

The current edition of the Tribe is poised to contend.  This year’s good start reinforces that sentiment.  Championship teams need depth, particularly in starting pitching.  The Indians have already had injuries to Cliff Lee and Jake Westbrook, and Jeremy Sowers has been hammered in two starts out of five.  They can’t trade a commodity like Sabathia, or Carmona for that matter.

 

Some of this talk comes from New York, where the papers are reporting the Indians might deal Sabathia if the Tribe falls out of the race.  However, as the DiaTribe has pointed out, this has more to do with the arrogence of Yankee followers thinking that all other major league teams are their farm team, than fact.  The 2007 Indians don’t need prospects.  They need players who can help them win this season.  C.C. Sabathia is one of those players.

 

KM

 

 

 

The Cleveland Cavaliers won Game 1 of their Eastern Conference semi-finals by knocking off the New Jersey Nets, 81-77 at the Q yesterday.  Two big defensive plays down the stretch clinched the victory, including an incredible block of a Jason Kidd layup by Sasha Pavlovic, a player not exactly in there for his prowess on the defensive end.  The other major factor was the wine and gold’s dominance on the boards, out rebounding the Nets, 51-37.  However, the series really starts Tuesday night.

 

I say this because yesterday’s game featured a rusty Cavaliers team versus a tired New Jersey team.  The Nets just finished their opening round series against Toronto on Friday night.  In fact, the Cavs need to take advantage tomorrow night because New Jersey will only get one more day of rest before Game 2.  In typical NBA scheduling, there are three days off between the second and third games of the series.  Obviously, this is due to the tremendous distance between the two arenas, a one hour flight normally. 

 

There are many who say a playoff series in basketball doesn’t start until the road team wins.  So, don’t be surprised if the Nets come back and win on Tuesday.  Don’t be concerned, either. 

 

The Nets have some players who can be explosive, no matter who tough Mike Brown’s squad plays defense.  Jason Kidd and Vince Carter can just go off regardless of who or what is guarding him.  However, over a seven game series, the Cavaliers have more depth than the Nets.  Even though Zydrunas Ilgauskas had only 8 points, he hauled down 14 rebounds.  Drew Gooden continued his excellent play in the post season with 14 points and 14 rebounds.

 

For New Jersey, outside of Richard Jefferson, the Nets shot horribly.  Carter and Kidd combined to miss 25 of their 34 shots.  The Cavs cannot count on that happening on a nightly basis.  New Jersey shot just 37% from the floor and hit only 5 of 20 three point shots.  The wine and gold wasn’t much better, hitting just 40% from the field.  Hopefully, the Cavs will heat up from the floor as well.  Besides Z, Larry Hughes and LeBron have room for improvement.

 

This was a very close game from beginning to end.  If the series stays that way, it means whoever makes the big plays down the stretch will pick up the win.  The Cavs made the big plays yesterday.  It also means the best player on the floor has the advantage.  Look for #23 to take over more and more as the series continues.

 

JK

 

 

 

 

The Cleveland Indians rebounded nicely from the devastating defeat at the hands of the Yankees just two weeks ago.  How nicely?  They have ripped off 11 victories in their last 13 games, that’s how nice.  They now sit with baseball’s best record at 17-8 and the much maligned bullpen is leading the way.  Obviously, the Tribe won’t continue this pace all year.  But GM Mark Shapiro has to be happy with not only the club’s record, but also with the way the organization’s depth has contributed.

 

Start with Fausto Carmona.  Carmona was supposed to begin the season in Buffalo, starting every fifth day until needed by the big club.  However, with Cliff Lee’s injury, the youngster made four starts, and was excellent in three of them.  Now, with Jake Westbrook likely headed to the disabled list, Carmona will get several more starts.  Compare this to the mess that is the Yankees’ starting rotation.  They do not have anyone who could step in and hold down the fort.  Not only does the Tribe have Carmona, they also have rookie Adam Miller in the wings pitching very well at Class AAA.  No one would be nervous if Miller had to make a start or two at the big league level.

 

The bullpen also has depth.  When Matt Miller had to be disabled in training camp, it gave an opportunity for Tom Mastny.  The right hander has responded with a 2-0 record and 2.92 ERA in 12-1/3 innings, striking out 12.  Mastny gives skipper Eric Wedge another option in the seventh and eighth innings, and it appears he may have passed veteran Roberto Hernandez in the pecking order.  Mastny also has closing experience, saving five games last year in his debut.  In addition to Mastny, the ballclub also has guys like Juan Lara and Edward Mujica pitching well at Buffalo.

 

When David Dellucci had a pulled leg muscle a couple of weeks ago, the team called up Shin-Soo Choo, who made several contributions to wins in his brief playing time.  Most notably, Choo threw out Kenny Lofton at the plate in a bases loaded, nobody out situation against Texas, stemming a Rangers’ rally.  Choo also helped cement a win against the Twins with a bases loaded single in extra innings.  With Dellucci back healthy, it’s better for the lefty hitter to get everyday at bats at Buffalo.  But, he will be ready again if needed.

 

In the next few days, Frankin Gutierrez or Ben Francisco will be recalled to get another right handed bat to platoon with Dellucci and Trot Nixon.  Both hitters are off to great starts at Buffalo, and the former got plenty of at bats last season in the big leagues.  They are needed because of Andy Marte’s hamstring injury, and Casey Blake’s slow start.  Again, organizational depth helps the Indians.

 

It’s rare that this type of depth has been useful this early in the season, but for the 2007 Indians’ it has been a big factor.  Having young players ready to step in not only helps with injuries, but could help by allowing Shapiro to make a trade if the ballclub is in contention come July and August.  Shapiro treats the Indians like they have a 30 man roster.  That’s how many players you need, at least, to win.

 

MW

 

 

 

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ first round victory over the Washington Wizards was entirely expected, so the excitement level around town is somewhat muted.  In typical fashion for this town, there is even a little disappointment that the wine and gold did not blow out the Wizards in all four games, especially since they were missing All Stars Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler.  The fact is, the Cavs played four games and won them all, you can’t do better than that.

 

Now the hand wringing has begun for the Conference semi-finals.  The Cavs will likely play New Jersey, who has been a match up problem for Mike Brown’s team in the past.  The wine and gold did beat the Nets decisively in the last week of the regular season, but Jersey does have Jason Kidd, arguably one of the best point guard in NBA history.  They also have the explosive Vince Carter and a solid small forward in Richard Jefferson.  However, they are somewhat weak in the middle.

 

This means the Cavaliers must continue to get good play from Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Drew Gooden.  Ilgauskas, the frequent whipping boy for some, played excellent basketball against the Wizards.  His critics will say Washington doesn’t have a true center, but they pointed the same thing out last playoff season when he didn’t dominate inside against the Wiz.  You can’t have it both ways.  He must continue to rebound and hit the open shot against the likes of Jason Collins and Mikki Moore, in order to make New Jersey pay for doubling on LeBron James.

 

Defensively, the playoffs are a different game.  In the regular season, you have a defensive philosophy that you try to use on a night to night basis.  In the playoffs, you start to take away what your opponent likes to do, since you could be playing them for seven games.  You likely will see a lot of Eric Snow guarding Kidd, since Snow is a bigger, more physical defender.  That will mean Larry Hughes or Sasha Pavlovic will take Carter.  I would instruct them to be physical with the former Tar Heel, because he doesn’t like a lot of contact. 

 

On offense, LeBron should get more low post time in order to make Jefferson play him down low where James would have a decided advantage.  The Nets like to get out and run, so it would be in the Cavs’ best interest to slow the game down and make it a series based on brawn and muscle.  Also, they should make sure Pavlovic runs all over the place without the ball to make Carter play defense.  Look for Anderson Varajao to be more of a factor in this series as well. 

 

Of course, Toronto still has a chance to be the Cavs’ opponent in the next series, but odds are the Nets will take Game 6 at home and will be here over the weekend to start the seven game set.  Despite some struggles in the regular season against New Jersey, the Cavaliers should win and get to the Conference finals against the winner of the Pistons-Bulls series.  Clevelanders aren’t truly happy unless they have something sports related to worry about.

 

JK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s been a long time since the Cleveland Browns made a splash in a positive way on draft day.  Apparently, GM Phil Savage and Coach Romeo Crennel are feeing some heat to win and win now!  If this team finishes 5-11 or 6-10 this season, they likely will have given up a top 10 pick in next year’s draft to move up and draft Brady Quinn.  And Crennel will likely be on the unemployment line. 

 

Drafting Joe Thomas with the third overall pick was the correct move.  After it was announced that Adrian Peterson reinjured himself in the Fiesta Bowl, the big tackle from Wisconsin became the logical pick.  With Thomas and Eric Steinbach anchoring the left side of the line, the Browns have a go to play in the running game.  Run left!  It also allows the team to move Kevin Shaffer to guard with Ryan Tucker returning to play right tackle.  Suddenly, you have an offensive line with two first round picks (Steinbach was the Bengals first round pick) after years of having none. 

 

I’m still not convinced that Brady Quinn is the NFL’s next great quarterback.  But he better be serviceable quickly if Savage doesn’t want to give Dallas a top five pick in the ’08 draft.  The Browns still need a veteran to back up the former ND star, so he doesn’t have to start the opening game if he’s not ready.  Charlie Frye is not that guy, and he will probably be traded before the season starts.  Even if Quinn shows he is prepared to start against the Steelers, he will need a veteran for guidance.  I don’t think Charlie Weis prepared him for everything the pros can throw at him.

 

Many teams felt that Quinn wasn’t that much better than the guys they could have drafted in the second round.  Apparently, Savage thought differently and dealt his first pick next year.  If you want to feel better about the choice, according to reports, the other team trying to move up to get Quinn was the Ravens, with Ozzie Newsome at the helm.  Of course, Baltimore wound up with Troy Smith later in the draft, and as I’ve said before, I’m not convinced Quinn is that much better than the former Buckeye signal caller.

 

Moving up again to get Eric Wright sacrifices depth on a team that badly needs it.  However, to get a top flite cornerback is worth it.  Having corners who can cover man to man allows defensive coordinator Todd Grantham to be creative.  If Leigh Bodden can stay healthy, the Browns should have those two guys.  It’s better to draft a starter than pick two back ups with the middle round picks. 

 

It shapes up as this:  It appears the Browns picked three players who should be in the starting lineup when they take on Pittsburgh September 9th.  You cannot argue with that.  And they didn’t use the third pick on a quarterback.  They still have some holes to fill on the defensive line, although they did draft two DE’s in the later rounds and signed NT Shaun Smith and DE Robaire Smith in free agency. 

 

Also, is anyone else concerned by Braylon Edwards comments about Calvin Johnson?  Edwards said the Browns didn’t need Johnson because they already have two receivers who need the ball in himself and Kellen Winslow.  The correct response would have been "I’m happy with anything that helps us win".  Edwards needs to stop talking, because it looks like this team is going to run first, especially if they have a rookie QB.  This isn’t going to be "Air Coryell" in Cleveland.

 

JD

 

 

 

 

The other day, ESPN’s Ric Bucher appeared on WKNR’s Tony Rizzo Show, and was critical of the Cavaliers’ LeBron James for not "bringing it" every night.  Bucher compared James to the Lakers’ Kobe Bryant, of whom he said was a tremendous competitor, even at the age of 22.  Watching James play each night, I think (as Rizzo did) that the network analyst is way off base.  As talented as Bryant is, I wouldn’t want him on my team, and I suspect there are several NBA General Managers that feel the same way.

 

If winning was so important to Bryant, why did he basically run Shaquille O’Neal off of the Lakers?  The reason is simple, Bryant wanted to be the focal point of the team, he wanted to be "The Man", something he couldn’t be if Shaq was around.  Now that Shaq is gone, Bryant did pretty much single handedly got LA into the playoffs.  However, they are nothing more than a .500 squad.  Yes, he’s the main guy now, but he’s the best player on a mediocre team.  Just like Kevin Garnett.

 

James is not exactly surrounded by a cast of All-Stars either.  Larry Hughes is a very good player, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas is still a serviceable NBA center, but his better days are behind him.  Yet, the wine and gold have won 50 games the past two seasons.  Critics will point out how much tougher the Western Conference, where Bryant plays, is than the East.  Still, 50 wins is 50 wins.  That number means you are a good team, not an average one like the Lakers.

 

Some of the games where Bucher believes LeBron is not putting forth a full effort are contests where he spends the first half of the games getting his teammates involved.  James is trying to make the other players better, something he was concerned about even as a high school player.  His belief is that this will make them play better later in the season.  Bryant doesn’t play with great players either, but his lack of trust in them does not cause them to step up to help the superstar.  Kobe could be more of a distributor, he chooses to force shots.  That might win some games early in the season, but it’s not good in the long run.

 

Occasionally, Bryant’s teammates will step up, like last night’s playoff win against Phoenix.  And he is talented enough when he is hot to win a game by himself as well.  However, has he done anything to make the other Lakers better?  Part of Anderson Varajao’s improvement on offense is due in part to James’ trust in him on the pick and roll.  LeBron also tries to get Ilgauskas and Drew Gooden involved offensively early in the game because he knows they will play harder on the other end of the floor if they are getting shots.  I can’t see Bryant making that sacrifice.

 

The best player in the league should be a guy every team would want if it had the chance to get him.  For example, could you see any team not wanting Tim Duncan?  More teams would want LeBron James wearing their uniform than Kobe Bryant.  The Laker star hasn’t shown he is willing to step back for his team’s greater good.

 

JK

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hopefully, what I’ve been reading and hearing is not true.  Browns’ GM Phil Savage and coach Romeo Crennel want to draft either tackle Joe Thomas from Wisconsin or Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson, but owner Randy Lerner wants to draft Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn.  The reports have the team taking the Fighting Irish signal caller.  How is this any different from when meddling Art Modell owned the team?

 

Lerner hired Savage to rebuild his football team.  Now, he should get out of the way and let him do it as he sees fit.  Lerner thinks the quarterback position is important, and I can’t disagree with that.  However, if his football people think there are other positions that need fixing or that Quinn isn’t the guy to lead the orange helmets back to prominence, then that’s the way the draft should go.  I don’t remember Lerner being a talent guru.

 

Art Modell thought the Browns needed a quarterback in 1970.  In order to get one, he traded All Pro wide receiver and future Hall of Famer Paul Warfield to get in position to draft Purdue’s Mike Phipps.  We all remember how that turned out.  Warfield was part of two Super Bowl teams in Miami, while Phipps started one playoff game in his career in Cleveland.  Ironically, that game was against the Dolphins and the former Boilermaker threw five interceptions.

 

If Savage and Crennel are going to lose their jobs because the team is not successful, they should be allowed to draft who they want.  Most teams who have owners that get involved with personnel decisions are not winning.  For example, look at the Washington Redskins and Daniel Snyder.  

 

Besides, in the latest issue of The Sporting News, their "War Room" rates Quinn as the 63rd best player in the draft, meriting only a 2nd round pick.  Picking him with the 3rd overall pick would be a bit of a reach.  I’m sure Lerner is enamored with the ND products good looks and winning smile, figuring he would be great in promoting the team.  Let me remind the owner that one thing brings in fans in Cleveland:  WINNING.  Ask former Cavs’ owner Gordon Gund about all of the ways he tried to attract fans:  New uniforms, new mascots, bringing in Shaun Kemp, etc.

 

One of the reasons the Browns haven’t won since 1964 was Modell’s interference.  He made some bad decisions when he felt the team was one player away, such as Andre Rison and Jerry Ball.  Those moves did not work out.  Lerner should learn from the past.  He doesn’t want to be in the same class as the guy who moved the Browns.

 

JD

 

 

 

Yesterday was a pretty good day if you were a sports fan in Cleveland, Ohio.  The heavily favored Cavs won the first game of their first round series with the Washington Wizards, 97-82, and the Tribe snatched a victory from the jaws of defeat by getting four runs in the ninth to beat Tampa Bay, 6-4. 

 

Cavaliers.  As expected by a team that qualified for the playoffs and is missing two starters, the Wizards kept the game close for the first three quarters before the wine and gold took control down the stretch.  Washington rode its best player, Antawn Jamison, but when he got tired in the second half, the Wizards could no longer stay close.  Since the Wiz are short handed, the series should get easier as it goes on.  Eddie Jordan had his team fired up and believing it could win without Gilbert Arenas and Caron Butler, but since their best shot didn’t succeed yesterday, Game 2 might be a Cavs’ blowout.

 

However, that depend on the ankle of LeBron James.  The King went down in the third quarter after landing on the foot of Eton Thomas following a short runner.  He remained in the game, but will likely be very sore today.  If the Cavs can get a easy win on Wednesday night, it would allow LeBron to get some more rest.  Since the first round of the playoffs goes on seemingly forever, it does allow James more healing time.  And if the Cavs can make short work of the Wizards, say five games, he would get more time off if the Nets and Raptors would cooperate by going the full seven.

 

Notice that Mike Brown went to Ira Newble before Donyell Marshall yesterday.  Newble’s defensive abilities should garner himself more minutes in the post season.  Don’t look for a sighting of rookies Daniel Gibson or Shannon Brown unless there is a blowout.

 

Indians.  It wasn’t pretty, but the Tribe did bounce back from the debacle in the Bronx to take two of three from the Devil Rays.  Ryan Garko bailed the good guys out with a three run homer in the top of the ninth to turn a 4-3 loss into a 6-4 win.  The team continues to have problems on offense, where only Travis Hafner, Grady Sizemore, and Victor Martinez have been consistent.  The bottom of the order is contributing nothing, and the most exciting thing to watch in the last week or so is figuring out how Eric Wedge will get Casey Blake into a game he did not start.

 

Seriously, the old problems with the Tribe, the ones that have existed since Wedge became manager:  Defensive lapses and poor baserunning.  The Devil Rays tried to run on the Tribe catchers and Martinez and Shoppach actually had a decent success rate.  Of course, they also had a throwing error in each game, Friday’s resulting in Tampa tying the game.  Josh Barfield made a bad throw trying to convert a double play in the series opener, costing C.C. Sabathia an out and a run.  Barfield and Trot Nixon botched a short fly ball on Saturday leading to two more D-Ray runs. 

 

Travis Hafner made two outs on the bases Friday night.  These guys aren’t kids anymore.  Most of them have several years of big league experience, yet they are playing like Class A prospects.  These areas have to be tightened up or these mistakes will cost the Tribe as they go down the stretch. 

 

Two more in the Twin Cities for the Indians before coming home for an eight game home stand.  At least no one in the Central was got off to huge starts like the White Sox in 2005 or the Tigers in 2006.  The bottom of the order has to start contributing so the offense can function better.  Let’s see if that starts tonight.

 

MW

 

 

 

The title of this blog has nothing to do with the fans reaction to yesterday’s meltdown by Joe Borowski, who gave up six runs after two were out to lose a game to the Yankees, 8-6.  Yes, it’s a disappointing defeat.  Mostly it’s too bad for Fausto Carmona, who had not won since his first big league start last April.  He shut down the Bronx Bombers for six innings and seemed in line to stop a two game losing streak and get that elusive 2nd win.  Alas, it was not to be.  If the Tribe rebounds against Tampa Bay this weekend, this loss will be forgotten soon.

 

I am talking about the panic showed by Manager Eric Wedge with his lineup.  Going into Yankee Stadium, the Indians had won six of their first nine games.  They lost Tuesday night, in a game they did not play well, particularly Andy Marte who made two errors.  The skipper gave the youngster the days off the rest of the series.  Why?  Yes, Marte is struggling at the plate, but so is half the team.  Wednesday night, he didn’t play to get David Dellucci in the game against a left hander.  Dellucci is a platoon player because he has had pretty much no success against southpaws. 

 

Yesterday, Marte didn’t play so Casey Blake could be in the game.  Marte is batting .194 with a home run and seven RBI’s.  Not particularly good numbers.  But they are better than Blake’s .185 average with 1 HR and 2 RBI’s.  Plus, does anyone remember the last season Blake played third base on a full time basis?  Not exactly Brooks Robinson reincarnated, as he made close to 20 errors at the position.  Marte is a young player who needs to play, and needs to know he is going to be in there.  With the team winning games, there is no reason to sit him down for three of the last four games.  Unless that reason is to get Blake in the lineup.

 

There is pressure for the Indians to win this season.  The front office has not picked up the option on the manager’s contract for 2008.  That doesn’t mean Wedge should deviate from what the Indians need to accomplish as an organization.  You cannot start taking guys out of the lineup for poor play, especially a young player, after ten or twelve games.  Let him play.  He’s also fourth on the team in RBI’s, so it’s not like he has been totally overmatched. 

 

The skipper also has to realize, or be told if he can’t see it, that Blake is a journeyman player.  He’s a good second option and should be used sparingly.  He can play RF against lefties.  He can get some starts at 1B occasionally.  But, he’s not an everyday player on a championship contender.  That’s not even mentionning why he is hitting in the middle of the lineup.

 

One other thing.  Dellucci came to the Tribe with a reputation for not being a good defensive outfielder.  He’s lived up to that billing.  Any flyball that is not routine is an adventure.  Wedge sees this and does put Jason Michaels in LF for defense in close games.  Another thing that troubles me is the amount of whiffs.  The Indians are behind only the Royals and Devil Rays in the number of times they strike out per game.  It’s hard to be consistent on offense with so many players striking out in key situations.

 

Mark Shapiro acquired Josh Barfield and Marte because they are young impact players.  They need to be in the lineup every day so they can get comfortable.  Marte is not going to be the next Mike Schmidt, but if he hits .240 with 25 HR’s, that’s nothing to be upset about.  Even with a 6-6 record, it’s much too early for panic.

 

KM