While We’re Waiting… Does Shapiro Have Wedge’s Back?
May 11, 2009Braylon Edwards Staying Put?
May 11, 2009
Seriously, how much worse can it get? A home sweep by the Detroit Tigers? A toothless offense which held a 20 inning scoreless streak? Its seems as though every Monday I am writing the same post. It goes a little something like this: Another lost weekend where the Indians failed to come up with the big hit, watched as their pitching was average at best, and played with zero sense of urgency. This weekend was no different.
Friday night we watched another classic pitchers duel between Cliff Lee and Detroit’s Justin Verlander. Cliff was terrific, pitching with into the eighth with nothing but zeroes. However, a poor throw on a steal attempt by Kelly Shoppach and a fumble and double clutch on a routine ground ball by Luis Valbuena cost the Indians dearly. The faced a sure defeat in the face, tailing 1-0 into the bottom of the ninth inning and Verlander working on a two hitter.
The Indians have lost in seemingly every way possible to this point; or at least, that is what we thought. With one on and one out in the ninth, Grady Sizemore took one deep to center. Could it be the walk-off home run and jolt of life this moribund team so desperately needed? Well here is what happened:
The only thing worse than the kick in the gut the Indians received from Curtis Granderson’s game saving catch, was STO fill in Play by Play man Al Pawlowski’s call of the play. “It’s GONE!!! Uh, not it isn’t. Granderson caught it.” The stat of the year has to be this: In Cliff Lee’s last 38 innings pitched, the Indians offense has scored one run. That’s right. One run. He is 0-4 in his last four starts with an ERA of 1.94!!!!
Saturday our Tribe came out looking defeated from the get-go. The offense continued to be completely stagnant, and were shut out for the second consecutive night, this time by that noted ace Edwin Jackson. They K’d seven more times in Jackson’s seven innings of scoreless ball. Fausto Carmona pitched into the seventh and allowed just two earned runs. While he continued to struggle with his command – he again walked more men (six) than he struck out (four) – he deserved a better fate.
After the game, the Indians held a players only, 42-minute, closed-door meeting, while the media was left waiting outside the clubhouse. “If we wanted you guys to know [what was said], we would have invited you in,” said the closer who never gets a save opportunity, Kerry Wood. Manager Eric Wedge had to face the media outside of his office for the first time in memory opined “We can’t keep playing the game with this type of inconsistency.”
So what did the Indians do after that meeting? They laid another egg, in Sunday’s 5-3 loss. Starter Anthony Reyes gave up four runs in the second inning and that was more than enough for an Indians offense that is about as fresh as a Foghat concert (bonus points for anyone who can tell me what movie that line is from). You may see three runs on the scoreboard, but two were scored in the ninth inning when the game was essentially out of reach by Wahoo standards.
I watched the postgame press conference with Wedge. He looks like a tired, beaten man. He told the same band of reporters he has been talking to all year “I care about all these players, and I really care about the fans. I know how disappointing and discouraging this is. It’s my responsibility, and I take full responsibility for it. But the players have got to go out and play.”
Readers of my work know I am a Wedge supporter. I love that he is the same every day, win or lose. But I think that after seven years of his grinding, one game at a time style, a change may be needed. Someone has to be the fall guy for this team’s absolute inability to put things together completely day in and day out. At 11-21, the Indians have the worst record in baseball. Under Wedge, this team has stumbled of of the gate five out of seven years. They are digging themselves a hole once again that they can’t get out of.
Is it Wedge’s fault that the bullpen has been a revolving door of guys who can’t get the job done? Is it Wedge’s fault that the offense can’t come up with a big hit in a big spot to save their lives? Is it Wedge’s fault that Grady Sizemore continues to strike out at an alarming rate? No, of course not. But the guy continues to go to the well with his veterans to a fault. We’ve seen this act many times before.
The fact that we were all told that Matt Laporta was “up here to play, not sit” and yet Wedge starts David freaking Dellucci in all three games over the weekend is disturbing.
DD may have started 6-9 in his first two games, true. Since then, the overpaid and underwhelming 35 year old is 2-19. Haven’t we seen enough of this guy? How can he still be a member of this team, let alone a starter every single game? His insistence in keeping the .227 hitting Sizemore in the leadoff spot speaks to his stubbornness. Why not try and move Grady down to the middle of the order to get him going? Especially considering he is without Travis Hafner. You aren’t going to win many games when you clean-up hitter is Shin-Soo Choo and DeRosa is following him. Here’s another one for you – any particular reason Josh Barfield can’t sniff even one start with DeRosa hitting .228 and Jhonny Peralta hitting .229?
It’s time for a shake-up. Someone needs to be held accountable for this team’s slow start. I’m sorry to say, that person should be the manager. To his credit, Tribe catcher and leader of this sleeping ball club Victor Martinez, says Wedge isn’t to blame: “He’s not the one playing. I don’t see any reason why he should pay for this.” Victor also said his team lacks “energy and fire. The fire to play this game.” That is big of Vic the Stick to stand up for his manager, but they seem to be pressing as a group. That is on Wedge and his staff.
Now I know what you are thinking, if they fire Wedge, there are no real managerial candidates on his staff. Carl Willis is nothing more than a pitching coach. Jeff Datz and Joel Skinner? No and No. Luis Rivera? Who knows. There is one obvious choice who is sitting out there and would take the job in a heartbeat – Mike Hargrove.
Grover, who leaves to manage his college summer league team in Kansas this week, said in Sunday’s Plain Dealer “After that, I’ll come home and see if anyone gives me a call to manage again. I’d like to give it one more shot.” You don’t think he has the Cleveland job on his mind? The guy still lives in Richfield and is still a very popular figure with Tribe fans.
I will write more about this later in the week, but Grover is not the guy for me. You want to know who should take over the team? It’s a guy who has seen every Indians game over the past 20 years. It’s a guy who knows the strengths and weaknesses of every player on the team and doesn’t need breaking in. It’s a guy who isn’t afraid to criticize and knows the game inside and out. It’s a guy who already lives and breaths Indians baseball.
That man is Rick Manning.
Don’t laugh. Just remember where you heard that first when (or should I say if) it happens.
23 Comments
Rick Manning gives me the “Hershey squirts.”
The Tribe has officially “Pulled a Munson” this season.
“Someone has to be the fall guy for this team’s absolute inability to put things together completely day in and day out.”
Obviously, since Wedge will be going nowhere, Carl Willis will be the next to get chopped. Derek Shelton will be next, then probably the grounds crew after that. Our penance for watching the Cavs mop up the east will be to watch the Tribe wallow in futility.
We’re lucky enough to have one good team, God will never let us have two at the same time.
manning won’t become manager… it would mean dolan would have to spend extra cash on tanning beds throughout the stadium and we all know how larry loves to throw around the extra money’s
If they’re not going to play LaPorta, send him back to Columbus. It makes NO sense to have he and Luis Valbuena on the bench just rusting away.
Also, in terms of bullpen issues… Zach Jackson allowed one run in a five-inning start in Triple-A, beating Dice-K in his rehab assignment.
THANK YOU. I’ve been calling for Manning to be the manager of this team for years on JJHuddle and other message boards. He’s the IDEAL candidate.
Especially since LaPorta’s clock is running now. Let’s NOT play him while at the same time building up his service time so we have to pay him earlier.
Sometimes I think you just need change for the sake of change. This, IMHO, is one of those times. It says something to me when Victor Martinez is out there ADMITTING the team isn’t playing with heart or fire. To me, that is a direct reflection on the managing of Eric Wedge. Arguably his biggest asset is to remain calm during a time of calamity, but I would argue that during a time of real distress, that asset is a huge liability. I just don’t think this team particularly likes or cares about playing for Wedge.
And TD you’re completely right – it’s inexcusable that Wedge continues to favor veterans over young guys if the young guys were brought up here specifically for the purpose of giving this team a spark.
As for his replacement, Grover would be fine by me as would Manning. Whoever it is, it has to be someone outside of that clubhouse now who can come in and accurately take stock of what is going on.
wow rick manning spicy meatballs!
^^^
Couldn’t agree more. Something’s gotta give and here’s to hoping that the thing that gives out is the support for Wedge. The Indians are last in the majors, that means the “Natinals” have a better record right now. I mean it’s not completely Wedge’s fault, but to say his decision making skills are questionable, would be a completment.
Kingpin
Bring Davey Johnson in for a year and see if he’s dried out. If so, he’s the best tactical candidate out there by leaps and bounds.
I’m not a big Wedge supporter or detractor. I agree that sometimes a team just stops responding to the same voice after a certain number of seasons. But one thing is certain in baseball: a crappy bullpen blowing leads results in hitters pressing – and the double whammy of bad defense and bad offense. It’s darn near impossible to obtain another team’s effective late-inning relief guys in the first half of a season, so …If a new manager isn’t going to sprinkle magic dust on these relievers, this season will just become a long interview process for the next manager. I can’t even blame the Dolans here. Lots of questionable personnel moves on this team, but Shapiro’s bullpen is the root cause for the inability to compete in even a horrible division.
wow, a brazen ending. I love the Manning-as-manager idea, but selfishly don’t like that it would pull him out of the booth!
I’d hire Buck Showalter.
Because then you could fire him, and the next year your team would go to the World Series.
This season is similar to the scene in Kingpin where Roy takes it upon himself to milk the cows, but then finds out that they were actually bulls. Wedge is the one drinking the bucket, but the difference is that he keeps on drinking it like nothing is wrong.
I’m not sure if you could have a complete shake-up of the staff. If anyone needs to go it’s Wedge, but because him and Shapiro are secret lovers Willis and Shelton will probably be the ones fired first.
I like the Manning idea and I don’t think it’s too far fetched. I mean it did work out pretty well with Larry Dierker in Houston.
WWJHD?
(What Would John Hart Do?)
Wedge seems like a good guy and baseball man but tis not working.I met him in AZ n since then have hoped he would succeed. Mannigs an intersting thought but a guy whose more immediate ready is john ferrel bostons pitching coach. Bring in manning this year on interim if it doesn’t work go hard after ferrel in the off season.
Manning will NEVER be a manager. Not for the Tribe, not for a minor league team. He’s lucky the Tribe has him as an announcer.
The Indians actually let him be a coach one year and he was promptly sent back to the booth. I’d rather sit though 10 more years of Wedge than watch one game managed by Manning.
Thankfully, I won’t have to worry about it. Louvollo would be the next in line if they fire Wedge (which I don’t see happening right now). Tribe will stay in house as they have for pretty much everything in the Dolan/Shapiro era.
Personally I want Skinner (or bring back Hargrove who has gotten back into managing).
Manning also isn’t afraid to sleep with players’ wives…..again, not happening. I’ll be manager of the Tribe before Manning.
haha are you saying manning could get a player’s wife? i realize he’s got some sweet hair, but come on…
wedge has got to go. call up louie isaac, i think he’s available!
No, I’m saying Manning slept with Dennis Eckersley’s wife. tribe decided to keep the bum Manning on the team and traded the future hall of famer Eck instead……great move.
Manning is a clubhouse cancer. Unless Shapiro, Antonetti, and Dolan are all gone, there is ZERO chance of Manning ever being manager here.