Why, Wedge, Whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy?
Seriously, I cannot for the life of me, understand what Eric Wedge is doing with David Dellucci. I have discussed this topic ad nauseum, but I seriously cannot understand the love affair with Big Dave.
Mark Shapiro signed a 33-year old Dellucci to a ridiculous three-year, $11.5 million contract back in 2007. At the time, it completely defied logic.
Other than Texas, where Dellucci had enjoyed a mini-renaissance playing in that joke of a ballpark, what had this career journeyman done to require a THREE YEAR DEAL from Shappy? It’s been said that we are stuck watching this scrub flail away thanks to one-year consultant Buck Showalter, his former Rangers manager who loved his grit. Texas offered a two year deal, but the Indians trumped it and gave him three.
Talk about a wasted $11.5 million and two-plus seasons of complete underachieving. Although, I can’t even say DD is underachieving, because he is what he is – an average ballplayer at the tail end of his career. With this said, why in the heck does Eric Wedge continue to trot this guy out day in and day out at the expense of top prospect Matt Laporta?
On May 3rd – Laporta, Luis Valbuena, and Josh Barfield were called up from Columbus. Last night’s 0-3 “performance” moved DD to two for this last 25 since that same day, yet Wedge continues to play him. He is mostly DH’ing while Travis Hafner is on the DL. Take a look at how that stacks up:
David Dellucci – six starts, 25 at bats, two hits, ZERO RBI
Matt Laporta – four starts, 13 at bats, has sat in four of the last five games.
Josh Barfield – ZERO starts, three at bats, has a hit in all three at bats.
Luis Valbuena – three starts, 10 at bats, has four walks in 14 plate. appearances
Add in current doghouse resident Ryan Garko’s numbers – three starts, 14 at bats, three pinch hitting appearances – and you have a gigantic head scratcher. How can Wedge be serious with playing Dellucci this much at the expense of the future of the ball club?
We were all told Matt Laporta was “up here to play.” If that is so, then how is the Grindmaster General sitting him not one, not two, but FOUR consecutive games – all started by a 35-year old who offers little to nothing in his place and is only still on this roster because of his salary?
It once again speaks to Wedge’s over-reliance on veteran players. It’s a tired bit and something that his boss, GM Mark Shapiro needs to trump. The Indians brass and coaching staff cannot look at anyone with a straight face and tell them that playing David Dellucci on a regular basis gives them the best chance to win.
They can’t.
Another factor at play is Laporta’s service time. It was said reported that had the Indians waited until June 5th to bring up their top power prospect, they would control his rights for an extra year. But they were in a panic and the former Florida Gator was raking in AAA, so they brought him up a month early.
I’ve got no problem with that, in fact, I called for it on April 27th. But the fact remains that if he is up here, he HAS TO PLAY REGULARLY. Has to. He’s the future middle of the order power guy. Did you see the Rays sitting Evan Longoria when they brought him up after a month last season? Nope. Did the Brewers sit Ryan Braun two years ago when he was moved to the bigs? Negative. These two are the exact same scenarios that the Indians have with Laporta.
As for Dellucci, haven’t we seen enough if this guy to make a determination that 1) he is not a good hitter, which is what he is here to do; 2) he offers no versatility; 3) he is in no way, shape, or form, a part of this team’s future. Did I mention since Dellucci’s activation, the Indians are 3-8? Obviously, there are a lot of other factors at play there, but just wanted that stated.
Over the next two days, the White Sox will throw lefties at the Tribe, so Laporta will be in the lineup and Dellucci most likely won’t be. With Pronk starting a rehab stint in Columbus Friday, DD’s days have to be numbered, don’t they?
Who knows with Wedge and Shapiro these days.
May 12th, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Completely agreed.
May 12th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
it makes ZERO sense to have laporta up here sitting. he needs to play every day.
May 12th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
Fire Wedge. We need someone to come in and change things up, starting with getting delucci out of the lineup.
May 12th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
MMMMMMMMM. That’s great bass. I am going to get out my Bass-O-Matic ‘76.
May 12th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
100% agree to all of this TD. Wedge should be fired if for no other reason than this.
May 12th, 2009 at 1:28 pm
TD, did the double-d steal your girlfriend a while back or something? run over your dog? cheat your mom at a game of go fish?
i agree the guy sucks and has no place on this roster, but he’s by far not the biggest problem on this team. we EXPECTED dellucci to suck. but sizemore? peralta? the entire pitching staff? these are the issues we should be getting worked up over
May 12th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
TD, I was at the game last night and every time the Indians had something cooking, Dellucci came up and personally ended the rally, it seemed. I wrote thusly this morning on SoN:
http://sonsofnev.wordpress.com/2009/05/12/observations-from-the-pro-51109/
Dellucci drives me bananas and now that the Cavs are out, I have a week where I’ll only be watching the Indians and watching DD fail spectacularly at every turn.
LAPORTA NOW!
May 12th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
*Cavs are done with the second round. Not out. God forbid.
May 12th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Here’s a post from a Yankee fan on a message board that I subscribe to. He has a couple Indians on his fantasy team, and I think he sums it up pretty well:
“Dear Eric Wedge (an open letter),
Go kindly [EXPLETIVE REDACTED] YOURSELF!
Now I could give two [expletive redacted]s about where the Indians fall this season, but for the purposes of my imaginary baseball team, I care very much about your managerial decisions.
So you call up Matt LaPorta, who you traded the farm for, and you never [expletive redacted]ing use him. Either play him every day or send him back to AAA, [expletive redacted]face! He hits a home run in his second game and hasn’t been heard from since.
And Grady Sizemore should be hitting third, [expletive redacted]! He’s arguably the best OF in the whole AL and he’s wasting a million RBI opportunities hitting leadoff. Put him in front of V-Mart and make people pitch to him.
Wedge, I hope you get fired and they hire Matt LaPorta’s mom as manager so she lets him hit cleanup every day.
Signed,
Me”
Even Yankees fans get it.
May 12th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
I couldnt agree more TD. It is completely beyond me how or why he is still even on the team. However, I try to be happy that at least the outfield doesnt consist of Delluchi and Jason Michales which was a complete nightmare.
I will be interested to see how the team handles the return of a few DL players. Hafner should be back in a week and I cant imagine Carroll being out much longer either. A few guys are going down and thats for sure.
A week ago, I would have for sure thought Peralta would be going down but in his past 5 games he’s raised his average from .198 to .240. I think hes safe for now baring a complete meltdown in the next few days. I would assume Valbuena will get the short straw and will go back down strictly because he wont be needed as much once Carroll is ready. Not that Valbuena played bad but I just dont think he’s in the teams plans yet and they have to be running out of options on Barfield. Carroll and Barfield will likely be the backup infielders while Valbuena goes back down to AAA to work on somethings.
As for when Hafner comes back its really going to be a mystery. I would assume a pitcher is going to get sent down but that all just depends how the bullpen is playing. I mean… I dont think Sowers can be relied on and Laffey was pitching great in the starting rotation. Sending down Sowers for Hafner makes sense especially if Sowers pitches another dud in his next start.
Also, dont forget about Perez and Scott Lewis. I would imagine both these guys will be back on the roster in a month. If thats the case Matt Herges will be gone and after that I’m not sure.
Does anyone have any clue what the team plans to do with Joe Smith when he’s healthy?
May 12th, 2009 at 1:40 pm
@Mendy – so many issues, they all require their own posts. That said – i have hammered Grady all year…check back in my archives..
its nothing personal against DD – it just gets my goat how much time this organization has wasted on him.
May 12th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Related to #10, and at the end, #9: There are so many question marks surrounding this team…we could add, “Why is Kobayashi still around?” and “What’s all this weirdness with Luis Vizcaino?” Another way of putting “there are so many question marks surrounding this team” is “This team is dysfunctional.” It really is. When a team is as dysfunctional as the current Indians team is, shakeups tend to happen. It’s clear that a shakeup is needed with this team, and I’m with all who say that Wedge needs to be sent packing. I was saying that in 2007, too…Manager of the Year award be damned. That Indians team thrived in spite of Wedgehead’s poor managing. Maybe his motivational speeches do something for the players, but most of what I/we see this guy doing is highly questionable. I’ll take LaPorta’s mom in there over Wedge anyday!
May 12th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
Wow, Yankees get us more than Wedge. Me so sad.
@ # 11 – your archives? Aren’t you the new guy? STFU Rookie!!!!!
May 12th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
Here’s the only thing I can think of which can possibly explain the Delucci situation: it’s a symptom of a manager who fears for his job. When they start feel job pressure, some of these guys will reflexively default to a veteran guy they chose, even when the guy can’t play, rather than take a chance on a young player. (Think Romeo Crennel refusing to bench Derek Anderson for even one series until 3 games or so after the Cincinati meltdown). It may seem irrational based on performance, but they don’t want to go stake their job security on an untested player. I’m not saying it makes objective sense, it’s actually destructive. But I cannot believe Shapiro has okayed Delucci into the lineup after costing himself a LaPorta contract year, given how contract conscious Shapiro is. Can’t imagine Shapiri has all of a sudden turned into an imbecile.
May 12th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
Head’s up, you’re a bit off about the service-time aspect. And the truth will probably make you madder–in reality, it’s not about control. It’s actually about avoiding super-two arb. We’ll still control him for the remainder of the full 6 (through 2013, barring a long-term deal during his renewal/arb years, which do do love to do (see Sizemore, Martinez, Hafner (whoops) et al.)). But if we kill a year of ML service (keep him below 86 games–might be 85 this year, I’ve heard), then we get another year of a renewal-level salary. So instead of paying him around 400k, we’d have to pay him an arbitration figure, generally around 3M or so for the super-twos.
This actually makes a lot of sense. The 3M would then go into arb and could be 5M, then 6M… anyway, after a sort of reverse-compression, we’d be paying him a lot less money. And when you’re mid-market like the Tribe, it’s not being stingy–it’s being prudent. So if we’re out of it this season (probably), it is much, much better for our organization–so that we can win next year, and the year after, by buying FAs–to use an option year and let the kid keep raking in Columbus.
So let’s not all start burning effigies when Hafner activates and LaPorta goes down. (This will be very difficult when Wedge gives Dellucci a start the following game and Dellucci goes 0-5. But it’s worth it.)
That all said, I think EW isn’t smart to give DD a start over LaPorta, as long as LaPorta is up. Service is service, as far as I know. THAT said, I’d bet the FO okay’ed the decision to hold him out against lefties. As I might’ve said on some other thread, you want to ease kids in, especially if they’re not hitting right-off (see the post-homerun AB surge and the subsequent pullback as soon as LaPorta went cold (pretty much immediately)).
So… I think we’re making smart moves here. We don’t lose anything with Dellucci’s lack of versatility–he’s clearly just a fill-in guy, and we’ve got Barfield for PR situations–and so on and so forth.
Castro mentioned a couple days ago that there’s a real sense that Wedge’s job is on the line. I’d tend to agree, but I think it’s not necessarily for the better. He’s a do-no-harm manager, always has been. SABR-types like managers like that, for good reason. Other than Grady leading off last year while he was on a power tear, everything he’s done–even the Dellucci stuff–comports with the numbers. And even with the ‘08 leadoff thing, I think he had sound baseball-psyche reasoning to back it up (as sound as that stuff can be, anyway).
And please, god, let’s not fire him in the middle of a season.
May 12th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
ha! bass-o-matic! thanks for making me pee my pants at work…hahahahaha….
May 12th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
Also, forgot to mention that I agree with Harv. Part of this is definitely Wedge clinging to the trusted vet, who EW presumably thinks will respond to a win-one-for-the-gipper speech. (Contra, if Wedgie is trying to save his job, he probably is doing every.single.thing he can to win a game, and he’s got to know something about baseball–so maybe, really, he thinks Dellucci matches up better against some of these righties.)
We’ve also got Larry Dolan, who wouldn’t mind if the guy who he paid millions (who had some hot streaks last year too, I guess) played from time to time. Though you’ve got to think that he’s got a lot of hopes riding on LaPorta, too, so who knows.
May 12th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
Simple. Wedge sucks as a big league manager.
May 12th, 2009 at 7:45 pm
Doesn’t matter when the Tribe brought up LaPorta this year provided he wasn’t on the roster day 1, he’s not a free agent til after the 2015 season. If he was brought up April 15th or June 5th, made NO difference.
Only thing that comes into play is the possibility of him being a Super-Two arbitration player in 2012. Considering the Indians haven’t gone to arbitration since before most people on this board were probably alive, they have no real reason to worry about that. If LaPorta proves his worth the Indians will sign him long term ala Carmona, Peralta, and Grady. He likely won’t ever go to arbitration.
As far as Dellucci, I fully agree. This is absolutely ridiculous. Shapiro needs to step in and just cut him to do us all a favor (keeping my fingers crossed that when Hafner is back in about 10 days that this is the case)…
May 13th, 2009 at 10:03 am
I’ve written several times that I don’t understand why David Dellucci seems to be the scapegoat for all the tribes problems…last nights game (5/12)he didn’t play…Sizemore,Garko ,etc, still came up way short…I’m guessing that firing/cutting Dellucci won’t change that….I’m a life long Cubs fan…I’ve been thru ups and lots of downs with the club…”waiting ’til next year”, means nothing to me…life is too short…but now that I’m following the Tribe,it’s brought a whole new meaning to “fans”…they boo Dellucci every time he comes to the plate…clearly making he and his family “feel special’.(Unless my Direct Tv coverage of the Indians games is procasting thru rose colored glasses,I just don’t see Dellucci as the main problem of this team…even the golden team of LaPorta/Crowe have come up short…) And last night, I was shocked each time Jim Thome came to the plate…at the rush of boos…Jim Thome has got to be one of the nicest guys in the game today…I know he and his wife had done much charity work, etc, while in Cleveland,as he continues to do in Chicago…he played well while in Cleveland ,yet this was the response at his return….I don’t understand the downright “meanspirit “of many of the Tribe fans,and the press members…these are human beings…and it’s just a game….no doubt I’ll be slamed once again for my opinion…I can only hope that both Dellucci and DeRosa are traded…and are welcomed by a team fan base that appreciates them…I, truly wish the Tribe well this year…I’d love to see them beat the White sox….(we Cubs fans live for that),and eventually take the division…but until the fans stop placing blame on one or two players,and simply start “just enjoying the game of baseball,and cheering for the home team thru thick and thin,I think it’s gonna be a long year for Tribe fans….
May 13th, 2009 at 10:08 am
That’s a lot of periods.
It’s gonna be a long year whether or not we blame one of two players. I’ll stick to blaming your coveted former Cubbies.
May 13th, 2009 at 10:11 am
…before I get corrected for my writing,in error “procasting”,instead of “broadcasting”…big typo/and over site on my part…I caught it as I pushed submit….honest mistake,as a Cubs fan….I’m use to procasting …..
May 13th, 2009 at 10:24 am
To Denny…your comment was appreciated…I was thrilled to see Kerry Wood find a new home…as far as DeRosa….the Cubs are suffering this year with out him….you go right ahead and “blame my ‘coveted” former Cubbies” for the down fall of the Tribe this year,but if memory serves me, the Tribe wasn’t the any better last year…Don’t bother to counter attack with the” Cubs are constant losers” slam…I’m the first to admit that although they went in to the playoffs with the best record in baseball last year ,they more than choaked during the playoffs…..extra periods just for you………
May 13th, 2009 at 11:07 am
Would you like some WHINE to go with your fish???
May 13th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
I have a couple of ideas for Bob DiBiasio and the Indians marketing team…
1) have a promotion where Indians fans can send in their own line-ups and have one picked from a hat before the game
2) have a scoreboard poll asking who the Indians should bring in from the bullpen in any given inning. The fans can text their votes.
May 13th, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Gymbo442
Best ideas I’ve seen this year.
May 29th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
If it makes you feel better, the Indians placed Dellucci on waivers last night and he is no longer with the team.