Wahoo! What A Win!

It wasn't pretty but we will take it!

It was fun though, wasn't it?

The Tribe hitters were stymied for most of the game but stayed patient, waiting for their chance to go ahead...then again...then again!

It was a roller coaster ride of a game but it certainly kept your attention.

Didn't you just get the feeling last night that the Tribe was going to somehow win that game?

If you did, you had to be as patient as the hitters, looking, measuring, waiting to erupt.

There were big hits, big plays, and some pretty good and pretty bad pitching.

Let's see what these guys can do with a one game winning streak.

Tonight it is Anthony Reyes' turn.

He needs to get us into the 7th inning with a strong performance.

This is another must win game for Wedge and his bunch as they leave the comfort of the cover of the Jays' park and head to the Green Monster for 2 big games.

Gotta win this one tonight though first!

I'm thinking...Tribe 8, Jays 3!

Did you hear it?

I am 99.9% sure that after Shin Soo Choo grounded out to end the Cleveland half of the 7th inning, STO sportscaster Rick Manning apparently thought he was off the air once more and I heard him drop an "F" bomb again. I am certainly not offended by it and I share his disdain for a weak swing to end and inning and kill a badly needed rally!

Fun-ny!

Gotta take a moment to congratulate the King on getting his first crown of the season!

Way to go King James on winning the NBA League MVP!

I was driving and heard the award presentation on 1100 AM. Too bad it was on the Triv show. What a buffoon that guy Trivisonno is!

Here is to Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers who are sure to bring Cleveland their first major championship since '64!

Do Wedge And Shapiro Deserve A Chance At 2009?

Well, do they?

There has been plenty of criticism of the Indians' start to the 2009 season, namely General Manager Mark Shapiro and Manager Eric Wedge. This page has long been a critic of Wedge. Today, in the Akron Beacon Journal, Indians' beat writer Sheldon Ocker writes "A Blooming After April?" in this morning's edition.

http://www.ohio.com/sports/44232867.html

Ocker begins the article by calling for the dismissal of Wedge for his repeated poor starts to 5 out of the 7 seasons he has been at the helm but then gets soft and defends him before calling for his head once more. Come on Shelly, what are you saying?

There was an e-mail published in the Cleveland Plain Dealer today that quoted a reader in saying that perhaps manager Eric Wedge should begin each season in Arizona in extended spring training! I love it!

But wait a sec!

Let's not throw the rope over the tree just yet.

Yeah, I really said that!

Look at what took place this week;

Wedge got pissed and threatened to make changes if guys didn't start playing better.

He brought up David Dellucci, Matt LaPorta, and Luis Valbuena from AAA Columbus. So far, Dellucci has paid dividends as he had 2 great games in Detroit and probably help serve the Wedge Wake-up Call that got Jhonny Peralta back on track.

But our problem is not the hitting and the fielding as much as it is the starting and relief pitching. (Actually, they all stink right now!) It truly is the starters not going long enough and the relievers of late turning leads into losses.

However, only David Huff at AAA Columbus is showing any signs of life as the pitching goes.

We are 9-16 with 15% of the season in. One year ago, both Wedge and Shapiro were telling us to relax as nothing was going to be done until 35-40 games into the season.

Well, Hooray! This year, something is being done!

The position players are much easier to move back and forth from the Bigs to AAA. I truly think that Wedge, Shapiro, and Pitching Coach Carl Willis believe in the starters as well as the relievers on the team. I gotta believe that they are reviewing video and looking for the mechanical breakdowns that seem to torment this team over the last 4-5 years.

How does Cliff Lee go from flop in 2007 to Cy Young in 2008 and back into trouble in 2009?

Mechanics!

Cliff Lee, CC Sabathia, Fausto Carmona, Aaron Laffey, Jensen Lewis, et al; each one has or has had mechanical issues that appeared to be career threatening.

If Wedge, Shapiro, and Willis truly believe in these guys, then they must get them straight quickly, like before we face East Division leading Toronto tomorrow night.

And what about Toronto? Where will these guys be in September? Not in first, not in the playoffs!

The next four games are critical, critical, critical!

We play 2 vs. Toronto and 2 vs. Boston.

They are critical to Wedge, Shapiro, and Willis as their jobs with the organization depend on getting this team to compete with these two teams.

They are critical to putting this team back on track for the season as 3 losses in these 4 games will tailspin the season.

They are critical to the mental toughness of the players on this team and how they view their chances in 2009.

There is no doubt that we must win both games from Toronto and at least one from Boston.

I all of a sudden have faith in Eric Wedge.

I want to have faith in Eric Wedge.

This is my team and the Cleveland Indians winning isn't the only thing to me, it is everything!

Go Tribe!

Go Wedge!

"Eye-gor" Speaks Out!

Indians General Manager Mark Shapiro, pronounced with a long "i", has affectionately been referred to on these pages as Igor, also with a long "i" from the movie "Young Frankenstein".

Anyway, here is a pearl of wisdom from the top of the Indians' management. This latest brain fart to be released from the wrong end of the torso was posted in the Sunday morning edition of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

"Our last eight games we're trending better. If we keep trending in that direction, we'll be OK. If we slip back again, then we've dug a hole for ourselves. So far, we've dug a rut, not a hole."
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Mark Shapiro,
general manager, on the Indians' rocky start.

Holy Sinkholes, Bat-lessMan, me thinks my home is a little too uncomfortably close to Progressive Field where you can see China from the Chasm the Indians have dug themselves into this season. I may need to add erosion of biblical proportions to my homeowners insurance.

When the Cleveland Division of Streets heard this quote, they laid off two-thirds of their road repair crews thinking that if people will put up with Shapiro's "rut", they will be less bothered by the 4'x4'x4' craters drivers navigate around town presently.

On the brighter side, manager Eric Wedge made some progress last night as he uncrossed and then recrossed his legs in the dugout after the 7-1 loss last night. In fact, he raised his voice just a bit with reporters when he stated the following;

''I think where we are, off to a poor start, we have to address everything,'' Wedge said. ''I don't want to dig too big a hole for ourselves. What bothers me more than anything is that we're not making good outs. With the exception of a couple of guys, we've had a very poor approach at the plate. There's no excuse — a lack of discipline, lack of confidence — they better figure it out pretty quick. I'm not going to sit around and watch this. They're not kids anymore.''

Holy crap! Was that our Wedgie talking? Too bad these guys have to figure it out themselves though. What do the coaches do?

We shall see what today will bring. I am going to cut the grass now, but when I get tired and need a nap, I will tune in and sleep through another exciting game of Indians' baseball. However, I will be looking for any signs of stress in the ground from that big sinkhole at 9th St. and Carnegie Ave.

What A Way To Run A Railroad!

Who's on first?...Better yet...Who's in charge?????


After Grady Sizemore ensured a victory on Thursday vs. Kansas City, He stated that this was the first series that the team had won this season. Further he stated that if we want to win this year, we must win these series.
Don't you think the manager should say that?...Or at least think that?!
Well, if you follow this team and you cringe everytime manager Eric Wedge gets in front of a microphone, all you are going to hear is the tired, old Wedgeisms we have become numb to over the years;
"We just gotta keep after it."
We need to keep grinding it out and it'll get there."
"It's too early to panic."
Bullshit!
This guy has no concept of when the season begins or when it ends. He thinks he has all the time in the world to develop this team. He has so much patience, the next event giveaway at Progressive Field is going to be script "I" pillows so fans can catch up on their sleep. The only thing "grinding" around here is teeth!

Here is a little gem from Eric "Tylenol PM" Wedge. When asked if he will stay with Masa Kobayashi or send him down, Wedge said that he will have patience with Masa and give him the time to get back on track from his tough spring.
''What he has to do is keep the ball down and throw it where he wants to. When he does that, he gets people out.''

Ya Think?!

Every major league manager and their pitching coaches will find those words to live by. what an Epiphany! It is that simple! So forget about mechanics or watching tapes to help the dumb bastard, let's just put him out their to "grind it out!"

Right now, the Tribe is losing 5-0 to the Twins in the top of the 9th on Saturday night. Wedge just brought in Masa. Let's see what happens...

Ground out, 1 out...So far, so good.

Solo Home Run!

Solo Home Run!

Ground out, 2 outs.

Strike out! Hooray! We go now to the bottom of the 9th with the score now 7-0 Twins.

Wanna know how it comes out? Yeah, so do I but I feel a nap coming on...Yawn!

Get rid of that stupid ------ ------ Wedge!

It's That Time Again...

Yes, it is early but is it too early to start calling for the scalp of Cleveland Indians Manager Eric Wedge?
Why not?!
The team is 1-5, off to their worst start since 1985. They had a terrible Spring in which they blamed the weather, the atmosphere, the baseball gods or demons for their desert failures.
I grow so very tired of waiting for "it to come together." How many time do we "grind it out" with the same poor results.
Last year, when the team failed miserably in April, we were told that no changes were going to happen until 40 - 50 games into the season. Guess what? Nothing did change, they kept on losing and we wound up 81 - 81 for 2008.
Yes, the Indians were the best team in baseball in the second half of the season last year but who cares when it doesn't matter?!
How long do we let Cliff Lee and Fausto Carmona go out and get shelled until their mechanics are adjusted? These guys had a miserable Spring but you know what, it must have been the thin desert air. Bullshit! It is more than likely just an air biscuit from pitching coach Carl Willis. The thin desert air was there for both teams.
Note to Eric Wedge; If you always do what you have always done, you will get the same results.
Try going for a win for a change!
So yeah, now everyone can say I am full of shit and I could care less.
This team is full of shit if they are going to keep a bargain basement manager and expect to compete...2007 was more of a fluke...a fluke that came up short, imagine that!

One More Day!

Just one more day and it begins again!

Finally! Although this winter passed a bit easier than the one before, that was probably because our hearts weren't ripped out like they were the previous October when we had the Red Sox down 3 games to 1 in the ALCS and let them up off the grass of Fenway.

So here we are, about to embark on another season of Indians' baseball. This is my 59th (and a half) and I must say the lure of Opening Day is very much alive as ever.

This year is the same but different.

We still have Eric Wedge but we don't have CC or Casey.

The field is still called Progressive but Spring Training was in Arizona.

Masa is still around (for the moment) but now we got Kerry.

Tom Hamilton and Rick Manning are back but a great guy named "Herb" will be missed.

The Cleveland Indians organization has found another classy way to remember a great contributor. The patch below will be worn by all Indians' players throughout the season to remember player/announcer Herb Score who left us last Fall.
So there is much speculation as to the make-up and performance expectations of this 2009 Cleveland Indians team. Plain Dealer writer Terry Pluto gave what I thought to be a kind of pessimistic view of this team all Spring training long from Goodyear, Arizona. However, in today's edition he picks the team to "squeak by" the Twins and win the division! Terry certainly has the advantage to seeing the Spring performance of the individual players on an up close view while I have to read about it. But we all make our predictions for the season with the same roll of the dice as the average fan. There are the pessimists, the realists, and the believers. Opening Day is for believers and I will not have it any other way.

In fact, in my family, Easter Sunday is a day where the entire family; brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, nieces, nephews, etc, all write their predictions for the season on a piece of paper and they are kept by a trusted family member until Thanksgiving. On that piece of paper go all 6 division winners and the 2 wild cards, the American League Central finish from 1st to 5th, and the leagues' as well as the Indians' MVP. It is incredible to review when the season has been concluded. Most are way off but a few are right on. Try it!

Anyway, Terry Pluto is honest in his assessment but harsh. http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/blog/index.ssf/2009/04/terry_plutos_talkin_about_a_to.html

I too, believe that the Indians will win the division despite manager Eric Wedge. I think that the team should have won more games in the Spring. However, playing Texas, Toronto, and K.C. from the get go could lead to an impressive 8-1 start! Then, on to the new Yankee Stadium to face old friend CC Sabathia...We will kill him! 2 outta 4 from the Yankees will put us at a very good start of 10 and 3 for the first 13 games.

Unlike Terry Pluto, I think that Travis Hafner will have a torrid, not horrid start to the '09 season. There are too many reason for the big guy to come out strong, some of them being hungry sluggers just 2.5 hours away in Columbus.

Carl Pavano is the real deal. He has found a new home and a new guru in Carl Willis. He impressed in the last 2 weeks of training.

If only Kelly Shoppach would cut down on his strikeouts, he would be the man of the year.

Scott Lewis has done absolutely nothing to hurt the Indians in any regular season game. This guy will continue to dominate the opposition. Look for some shutouts and even a no hitter from this young cowhide wizard.

Lee and Carmona will dominate...period!

Sizemore and Peralta have had monster springs! No doubt that will continue.

We still have two very big events from last season that will continue to fuel the fires of passion in this team. The first is Cliff Lee's Cy Young dominance...what a season he had! The second is "The Brawl" from September 19th, 2008. That little get together did more for team building and earning respect in the league than can be truly measured. Plus the entertainment value was priceless! Fausto, serve your final game of suspension tomorrow with a big smile and biceps flexed! Too bad Shef is outta reach in the National League.

Unlike Pluto, I am not as concerned with the Twins nearly as I am with the Royals! Next to the Indians in the Central, they are the most improved. I saw the same design unfolding in Tampa 3 years ago that I see in K.C. right now.

So there it is, a slant on the season more from the heart that the brain. But then again, Opening Day is more emotional than it is logical.

Enjoy the best day of the year when every team is in first place and every team starts with a chance!

Play Ball!

We Are Still 1-3!

Yes, Carl Pavano, one of the "stars" from past manager Joe Torre's book "The Yankee Years" had a very solid 2 inning outing yesterday, but we still lost the game.
I so want to like Indians' manager Eric Wedge but I can't help but find him one of the most stubborn individuals in the organization. I would bet he and new Browns' head coach Eric Mangini would just hit it off great together. Can't you just see them singing "99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall" together and not missing a single bottle?
Yeah, everyone and their great, great grandmother knows that the spring training games are a testing ground and don't mean a thing whether you win or lose 'em...or do they?
Yes, this is an extra long spring training due to the "other" baseball tournament that merely serves as a distraction to what needs to be done. But why so many triple and double A players getting so much playing time? What about "B" games for those guys?
There is too much at stake early on. I want to know who is healthy and who is not. I want to know if Barfield is real this year as he is off to a great start (I hope, I hope, I hope). I want to know that they can't be serious about Garko playing anywhere but 1st base. I want to see De Rosa at 3rd, Cabrera at 2nd, Peralta at short, and this team starting to come together even though it is early.
Most of all, I want to see winning habits taking shape and stop the experimentations in the "A" games that will never, never, never come to fruition.
Play ball, manage ball, win ball!