If the third pre-season game is indeed a dress rehearsal of sorts, then the main event could be better than advertised for the Cleveland Browns.  However, it's only a dress rehearsal if both teams treat it that way.  Depending on how you look at these things, the fact that Titans' coach Jeff Fisher got tired of watching QB Kerry Collins shred the Browns secondary was a good thing or a bad thing.

 

It's was a good thing if you put a lot of stock in exhibition victories, because certainly the path to a win was made easier by Collins being replaced by Vince Young early in the second quarter on Saturday night.  It's a bad thing because the brown and orange defense had problems against a veteran quarterback like Collins, who put the ball where he wanted most of the evening. 

 

After a good first series, the Cleveland defense had problems against the Titans' offense until Young came in the game.  Keep in mind, the Browns' best defender was still not in uniform, as Shaun Rogers did not play.  But still, it was not a performance that will have defensive coordinator Rob Ryan beeming with pride.

 

Young turned the ball over twice in critical situations, once while going in for a touchdown to end the first half, and his poor choice early in the third quarter led to an 11 yard interception return by OLB Alex Hall which gave the Browns control of the game. 

 

Kamerion Wimbley continued to show improvement, and Ahtyba Rubin showed some positive things as well in relief of Rogers.  Corey Williams and Robaire Smith had several good moments too, especially Smith, whose pressure on Young led to Hall's TD, and he blocked a field goal as well.

 

On offense, the running game still sputtered, except for when rookie James Davis carried the ball.  The first year back from Clemson continues to impress, while veteran Jamal Lewis looks like he lacks that extra gear so far. 

 

Now, for the quarterback derby. Brady Quinn looked good on his first two drives, putting the ball where it needed to be, and converting one drive into a field goal.  Derek Anderson completed some short passes as well as throwing the deep ball.  However, he still had receivers turning around, and avoided an interception when his throw was too hot for the Tennessee defender, who had it pop off his pads into the hands of Mike Furrey. 

 

Quinn came back in after a turnover in the third quarter and converted a touchdown pass to Braylon Edwards, who played a solid game.  Both signal callers threw a lot of screen passes which proved highly successful.

 

Hopefully, Eric Mangini will put this nonsense behind his team by naming a starter early this week, and it should be Quinn, who has been slightly better in the first three pre-season contests.  The team deserves to know who the offensive leader will be.  This is a short week with the last exhibition game against the Bears being played on Thursday night, and that game will not see a lot of playing time for the starters.

 

It also appears that first round draft pick Alex Mack will start, since he began the game with the first unit on Saturday.  Hopefully, that will give a little more power to the running game. 

 

Delaying the decision until after Thursday does nothing, because both Quinn and Anderson will probably cede the rest of the snaps against the Bears to Brett Ratliff, who didn't play against the Titans and Richard Bartel.  People need to talk about something else besides the quarterback situation.  Other teams have named starters, only the super secretive Browns are keeping the mystery going.

 

JD

 

The other day, we talked about the Indians’ projected lineup for 2010.  That was the easy part.  Today, we are looking at the make up of the ’10 pitching staff, and there really aren’t any anchors to this part of the team going into the off-season.

 

If healthy, the first couple of guys that come to mind are left-hander Aaron Laffey, and recently acquired righty Justin Masterson.  Laffey didn’t start the year with the varsity, but was called up in April and has started and relieved this season.  Overall, he has been very effective with a 7-3 record and 3.42 ERA with one save.  It is difficult to imagine the southpaw not having a spot on next year’s pitching staff.

 

Masterson will be on the 2010 Tribe in some capacity, either in the rotation or in the bullpen, as he did both with the Red Sox.  Masterson has good stuff, although he does get hit by left handed hitters, but I would prefer him starting because it is more important to have guys who can get 18-20 outs than three.  He’s a slinger, but he’s allowed less hits than innings and has struck out 81 hitters in 88-2/3 frames, while walking just 36. 

 

And unless he’s traded during the winter, Kerry Wood will be the Indians’ closer next season.  Wood has had some rough spots, particularly with control of his breaking pitch, but has saved 16 games in 21 opportunities.  With his contract being a little pricey, he will be with Cleveland in 2010.

 

The rest of the staff is filled with question marks.

 

Several young relievers have pitched very well for the Indians this season, but without a real track record, it’s tough to gauge how they will perform in the future.  Lefty Tony Sipp and right-hander Chris Perez have replaced the old Raffy Right and Raffy Left duo.  Sipp needs to improve his control (17 walks in 26 IP), but has the ability to miss bats (29 K’s and only 17 hits allowed). 

 

Chris Perez has been sensational since his first two outings with the Tribe, allowing just 12 hits in 18-2/3 innings and has struck out 22 hitters while walking just five.

 

Joe Smith has pitched well, mostly against right-handed hitters and deserves a spot in the ’10 bullpen.  He generally throws strikes and keeps the ball in the park.

 

That leaves three spots in the rotation and three more places in the bullpen.

 

As for the rotation, the team is hoping Jake Westbrook will finally get over the elbow soreness that plagued his comeback from Tommy John surgery and take a regular turn as a starter.  It has been reported there is no structural damage in the joint, so he should be back.  Fausto Carmona is showing signs that he can be at least a guy who can provide decent starts since his return from the minors.  Those two take two spots on the pitching staff.

 

That leaves the competition for the last spot in the rotation to David Huff (8-7), Jeremy Sowers (5-9), Carlos Carrasco, and Hector Rondon.  I like Huff despite the high ERA (6.50), because he shows the ability to keep his team into games better.  However, Carrasco has been lights out since coming over from the Phillies organization, and Rondon is pitching at AAA at 21 years of age. 

 

Here’s hoping the front office picks the guy who pitches the best in spring training rather than having an agenda based on something other than performance.

 

As for the bullpen, I would assume that Rafael Perez gets one of the spots based on past performance.  He was one of the best left-handed relievers in baseball in 2007 and 2008, and he deserves the chance to show this year is an aberration.

 

The last two spots would seem to have Jess Todd and Jensen Lewis’ names on them, but GM Mark Shapiro could look to bring in more power arms in trades or free agency.  Todd has been spotty in limited appearances.  He has fallen into Eric Wedge’s plan of only certain guys can pitch with a lead, and he currently isn’t one of them.

 

Lewis is a Wedge favorite, so if the skipper isn’t back, he could have a tough time making the roster.  I would give Lewis a look as a starter though.  His biggest drawback is the gopher ball, which would be minimized as a starter.  He has allowed less hits than innings pitched and has struck out over twice as many as he has walked.

 

There is also the possibility of some youngsters currently in the minors being in contention for spots as well.  Southpaw Rich Rundles or newcomer R.J. Swindle could be used as situational guys, while Steven Wright, who is 10-0 at Akron, Josh Judy, or Connor Graham, who came from the Rockies for Rafael Betancourt deal, could contend for a spot in the relief corps.

 

If the team has some money available for free agency, I would recommend signing another bullpen arm and a starter who can eat some innings to provide some stability in the pitching staff.  Obviously, these wouldn’t be high-ticket guys, but perhaps some guys who get past the first wave of free agency and are still looking for contract in January. 

 

If the Tribe is going to make a run in ’10, the quality of their pitching will be the reason why.

 

KM

 

The Cleveland Indians are doing what they usually do, that is they are finishing the season strong.  Unfortunately, much like 2008, the chance to make the post-season ended sometime at the end of May.  It was certainly over once the Tribe visited Wrigley Field, where they blew three straight games to the Cubs. 

 

So now it’s time to start looking toward 2010.  For starters, the Indians need to get off to a better start to the season, something they have really only done once (2007) in the last seven years.  Strangely, those seven seasons tie in to the tenure of Eric Wedge as the Cleveland skipper.  They also need to do better in interleague play, which has become a problem the past two seasons. 

 

In terms of players, who is a keeper and who should be replaced?  Surely, the Indians have some talent on the roster, particularly among the everyday players.  It’s one of the reasons the decision to deal Cliff Lee and Victor Martinez is galling, particularly the southpaw who is currently terrorizing the National League.  It would certainly be nice to have a legitimate ace on the staff.

 

Despite the trade of Martinez, the Indians still rank fifth in the American League in runs scored.  With all of the young players, the offense can be inconsistent, but that may change with a new hitting coach. 

 

Certainly, Grady Sizemore is a fixture in the lineup.  Sizemore’s elbow has bothered him this season, but he still has a 780 OPS despite this, and recently is starting to hit like the Sizemore of 2007 and 2008.  It would be great if he cut down on his strikeouts, but he’s a fixture in the 2010 batting order.

 

The outfield is two-thirds in place because of the emergence of Shin-Soo Choo.  Choo followed up his excellent second half of ’08 with a solid season.  He is among the league leaders in on base percentage and has 48 extra base hits to date.  He’s another who could stand to cut down on whiffing, but to his credit, he has been quoted as saying he needs to do that.

 

Asdrubal Cabrera is the last of the “for sures” in the ’10 Tribe lineup.  He was moved to shortstop to upgrade the defense at that position, but he has raised the offense at the spot as well with an 813 OPS.  He may have a higher batting average (.314) than he will carry in the future, but he should improve his power numbers, as he gets older.  Remember, he’s just 23 years old. 

 

That leaves six spots in the lineup. 

 

Travis Hafner figures to be the DH, especially with his big contract.  He has been pretty productive overall this season with an 858 OPS, including a .500 slugging percentage, and 28 extra base hits in 248 at bats.  He may never be "Pronk" again, but he could be a 26 HR, 80 RBI guy, which isn't the end of the world.

 

Matt LaPorta figures to be in the lineup somewhere, either at LF or 1B, but he is young and GM Mark Shapiro needs to have a veteran on the roster to serve as the back up plan should the key player in the C.C. Sabathia trade struggle early.  Luis Valbuena continues to impress, and should be at least half of a platoon set up at 2B.  He is hitting better the more time he gets in the majors, which is a good sign.  He's also an extra base hit machine with 29 in 249 at bats, meaning he has more than Hafner in one more at bat.

 

That leaves catcher, third base, and either LF/1B depending on where LaPorta winds up.

 

I have a hard time believing Kelly Shoppach will be on the team next season because he has been terrible and he is eligible for arbitration.  The catching duo for 2010 will likely be Lou Marson and Wyatt Toregas, unless Carlos Santana wows everyone in training camp.  However, based on the way the Tribe does business, Santana will start the season at Columbus.

 

The hot corner is a difference of opinion for me and the Indians.  I would be looking to replace Jhonny Peralta who continues to show he is nothing more than an average player, one who will make almost $5 million next season.  That's too much for a team crying about a high payroll.  I would move Peralta for more pitching, and find a stop gap free agent to play third next season.  You can probably get a serviceable player for about $2 miilion, one that can give you the productivity of Peralta.  Keep in mind, the third baseman of the future is a year or two away in Lonnie Chisenhall.

 

If Andy Marte continues to hit, he could play 3B as well, and then you would need a veteran to man left field or first base.  Or the team could give Jordan Brown (hitting .330 at Columbus) a shot at first.  GM Mark Shapiro will have to add a mid-level free agent to provide insurance.

 

We will look at the pitching staff later this week.  

 

MW 

 

 

After the Browns dropped their pre-season opener to Green Bay, they could hardly look worse in their next game against the Detroit Lions, who were 0-16 last season.  They looked like an actual professional football team in defeating the Lions 27-10 at Cleveland Browns Stadium, but you have to remember who the opponent is before getting too excited about the victory.

 

Derek Anderson played well, going 8 for 13 for 130 yards in his time at quarterback, but the more I think about Anderson's performance, the more I still think Brady Quinn should be the team's starter.

 

His supporters will say he put 20 points on the board, but really it was 10.  Josh Cribbs showed he is one of the premier return men in the NFL by taking back a punt 84 yards for a touchdown, and an interception of Lions' rookie QB Matthew Stafford gave the offense the ball on the Detroit 20.  Cleveland converted that into a field goal.  That's 10 points really supplied by the defense and special teams.

 

Anderson was responsible for putting the other ten points on the scoreboard, but in analyzing his throws, the same old problems were back in his arsenal.  He made a terrible pass to Braylon Edwards on the first drive, throwing the ball over the wrong shoulder and Edwards couldn't keep his feet in bounds.  Edwards was wide open so it wasn't a matter of throwing the ball in a spot so a defender couldn't get to it. 

 

The former Oregon State QB also threw behind Edwards on a pass over the middle later in the game, turning a long gainer into a moderate one.  

 

Anderson did throw strikes to Mohammed Massaquoi and Cribbs for good gains, so it wasn't all a matter of not putting the ball where it needed to be.  He did make some good throws.  However, the fact Anderson played so well is a reason he shouldn't start.  He's either very good or very bad. 

 

The Browns need some consistency at the position, and they need to find out if Brady Quinn can supply it.  Hopefully, Eric Mangini will make a decision sooner than later on who the starter should be.  It would benefit the entire team to know who the starting quarterback and leader is right away.

 

Rookie running back James Davis looked like a guy who will be able to contribute to the offense this year, catching several passes out of the backfield and running hard from scrimmage, highlighted by an 81 yard touchdown run in the second half.  Massaquoi and fellow rookie Brian Robiskie also seemed to progress from the Green Bay game and veteran Mike Furrey looks like a major find as the slot receiver.

 

Defensively, Eric Wright jumped a route in the first quarter and his interception should have given the Browns the ball on the Lion 5-yard line.  However, his ridiculous celebration backed the team up to the 20.  Kamerion Wimbley was all over the field, recording six tackles, and rookie LB David Veikune continues to look impressive as well.

 

It was definitely better than the Green Bay game, but we will get a better gauge on this football team this Saturday when they take on the Tennessee Titans.  If Mangini continues his alternating quarterback pattern, Quinn will get the start.  Perhaps that's what the coach wanted all along, because the Titans have a robust defense and will use their first team most of the game, and he wants to see how Quinn performs.  If the former Irish QB plays well in that game, he may well be named the starter next weekend.

 

JD

 

 

 

 

This is a slow time for Cleveland sports.  The Indians’ season is winding down, and for all intent and purpose has been over since the end of May.  The Browns laid an egg in their first pre-season game, and everyone seems to be depressed about the season.  Everyone is excited about the Cavaliers, but training camp doesn’t even start for them for another five weeks.

 

However, there are still things that are bothering me.  Here is a list…

 

·          The Browns are starting to complain about Eric Mangini’s training camp being too tough.  I say too bad.  I understand they grew accustomed to the “country club” atmosphere under the previous regime, but they finished 4-12.  If you want comfort and warm and fuzzy feelings, play better football.

 

·          Braylon Edwards explaining that his drops are part of the game.  Wide receivers are paid to catch the football, it’s part of the job requirement.  No one thinks he should catch every ball thrown to him in a year, but one drop per game is too many.  The other frustrating thing about Edwards is his ability to make sensational plays, but then drop a ball right in his hands. 

 

·          Mangini should decide on a quarterback sooner than later.  In fact, I think he should make a decision after this weekend’s game against the Lions.  The quicker the receivers, offensive line, and the coordinator know who the man is, the better off this football team will be.

 

·          The Indians continuing their act as the spin kings, giving out the AL Central standings after the all star break showing the Tribe as having the best record in the division from that time.  Unfortunately, this isn’t the minor league where there is a first half and second half.  Also, the season starts in April, not in the middle of July.

 

·          I know Andy Marte hasn’t hit like he showed in Columbus, but until he plays every day for two weeks, I will keep wondering if he can be a productive player at the major league level.  I realize he struggled in Cleveland the past two years, but he had his best AAA season to date, and deserves a chance to see if it translates.  Playing every other day doesn’t give him a full shot.

 

·          His first appearance with the Tribe was a debacle, but Chris Perez looks like he can become an important part of the Indians’ bullpen next year.  He throws hard and has a wicked breaking ball.  He has been very good since that first outing.

 

·          Much like Trevor Crowe early in the season, right now Chris Gimenez looks overmatched at the plate.  He should be sent back to Columbus to get a tutorial with hitting instructor Jon Nunnally.  By the way, shouldn’t Nunnally get a shot on the big league staff next year?

 

MW

 

same as the old Browns (my apologies to Pete Townshend).

 

Yes, it was one pre-season game, but if I were one of the Cleveland Browns, I would be ready for a whole lot of running on Monday, following the team's 17-0 blanking at the hands of the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night.  The game certainly didn't give fans much reason to believe anything is different than the '08 version of the brown and orange.

 

Brady Quinn drew the starting assignment at quarterback, and the best thing you can say about him is he wasn't Derek Anderson.  Actually, Quinn did use his first drive to put the team in field goal range, but after Phil Dawson made the attempt, Hank Fraley was called for holding, and the subsequent try went wide.  Thus, a scoreless drive for the former Notre Dame signal caller. 

 

Derek Anderson drew the next two series, and faced significant pressure from the Packers.  However, he was fortunate he didn't give up a pick six when he locked on a receiver, and then threw an interception on the next series when he was hit while throwing.  He surely didn't give Eric Mangini any reason to pick him over Quinn as the starter. 

 

The third QB, Brett Ratliff, played the entire second half, and didn't distinguish himself, throwing two more to Packer defenders, making it four pick offs for the evening.

 

Jamal Lewis didn't look any better than last season, and Braylon Edwards dropped a touchdown pass from Quinn right before halftime when he jumped for a ball that he didn't need to leave his feet for.  Quinn tried to force the ball into coverage on the next play and he suffered an interception as well, leaving no Browns' QB unscathed. 

 

The only bright spots on offense were veteran Mike Furrey, who converted two third down passes from Quinn into first downs, and Josh Cribbs who ran a reverse for a good gain, and caught a slant from Quinn for 22 yards before halftime.

 

The defense was victimized when Abram Elam got caught peeking into the backfield on a touchdown pass to Donald Driver, and in the second half was out-muscled by Green Bay as Akron native Tyrell Sutton gained almost 100 yards rushing.  The lack of physicality had to be galling to Mangini and defensive coordinator Rob Ryan. 

 

It is fair to point out that all pro NT Shaun Rogers did not play for Cleveland, as Ahtyba Rubin got most of the playing time in the middle of the defensive line. 

 

The one defensive standout was rookie Coye Francies, who had an interception, and a bone jarring tackle of Sutton on a short run in the fourth quarter.  Eric Wright defended a couple of passes, and DE Robaire Smith pressured Green Bay backup QB Matt Flynn and batted a pass back into Flynn's hands.  Flynn turned the play into a gain, which shows how the evening went for Cleveland.

 

With the Browns coming home for the Lions next weekend, there is plenty of room for improvement for Mangini's troops.  This game could have been played at the end of the 2008 season with pretty much the same result. 

 

For Derek Anderson, the pressure is squarely on him.  Another performance like last night will mean that the coach will have no choice but to start Brady Quinn against Minnesota on September 13th.  Hey, at least Quinn guided the team to a first down during his work on Saturday. 

 

The first exhibition game had to be the worst case scenario for Mangini.  Getting ready for a lot of running in Berea on Monday after the film is looked at.

 

JD

 

The Cleveland Indians are an organization under fire.  The team has been a disappointment the past two years, and their fans are angry.  They have played well since the all-star break for the second straight year, but that is fooling no one.  The fans want answers, but all we are getting are excuses.  That might be biggest reason for the angst.

 

The organization is in full cover your butt mode.  They can give you all kinds of reasons as to why the 2008 and 2009 seasons went down the toilet, and they can tell you how the system is unfair.  However, they haven’t told you that they are going to change the way they do business. 

 

Since there are a lot of bad feelings out there among the fans, the front office, including the owners, should be laying low and waiting for the public’s attitude to become less edgy.  In other words, stop the spinning and the talk about revenue streams.  The Dolans should be kept quiet.

 

No one wants to hear about the $16 million they are losing this year.  In fact, I would be asking them how much money they made in previous years.  They certainly didn’t have a press conference to announce profits since they’ve owned the ballclub.  If they are going to cry about the losses, then tell us how much has been made over the years.

 

Nor should the front office tell us about the team playing better over the past three weeks.  Once again, the Tribe is winning when it doesn’t matter.  The Indians are still fifteen games under .500 when being at that mark would make them contenders.  There aren’t many people getting excited about winning series against the Central Division leaders.  In fact, it’s depressing because it just shows that those teams aren’t very good.

 

Also, stop patting yourselves on the back about the high ceiling of the prospects obtained in the recent deals.  You traded a Cy Young Award winner and an all-star!  You should have at least received some good prospects.

 

Following a 93-win season in 2005, three of the last four seasons have been disappointing.  Most of the players have changed.  The only regulars remaining from that ’05 team are Grady Sizemore, Jhonny Peralta, and Travis Hafner.  The manager is still there.  So, when the front office tells you they have tried everything to see why the Indians haven’t played to expectations, they haven’t.  Sometimes, firing the manager works (see:  Rockies, Colorado).

 

The folks at WTAM (the Indians’ flagship station) will tell you what a great baseball man Eric Wedge is, and their afternoon drive time host will say Wedge will get a job instantly if Cleveland lets him go, but the reality is the guy has been here for seven years and has a .500 record.  He’s been to the post-season once.  That host even said Paul Dolan called him after a comment that Mark Shapiro lied to him.  Think the Dolans want to control what’s said about their team?

 

Why isn’t Matt LaPorta on this team?  Don’t the Indians need to find out if he can help them before next April?  The company line is that the team needs to find out about Andy Marte.  If this is so, why isn’t Marte in the lineup everyday? 

 

Those are the questions the fans want answered. 

 

I hope I am wrong about the Indians.  I want them to be good.  I still watch the games.  I want them to be contenders in 2010.  However, I’m tired of hearing excuses and spin.  Make the team better.  We want results, not clichés and rhetoric.

 

KM

 

 

Cavaliers’ GM Danny Ferry isn’t afraid to take a gamble, a refreshing difference from the other people who run teams in this city.  He went out and acquired Shaquille O’Neal after the disappointing loss to Orlando in the conference finals. 

 

He gambled on Mo Williams last season when many thought he was just another shoot first point guard, but he was the correct piece on a team that has LeBron James setting up much of the offense.

 

Now, it appears that Ferry has done it again, signing free agent forward Leon Powe to a two year contract even though Powe will not be able to play until after the All Star break. 

 

It seems like one criteria that the Cavaliers use in judging talent is how they play against the wine and gold, which when you think about it is pretty smart.  The Cavs are one of the league’s best teams and if you can play well against them, you can be a contributor for them.

 

The Cavs used this philosophy in getting Williams, who gave them fits while playing in Milwaukee for the Bucks, and it looks as though they are going it again with Powe, who had some of his best games for the Celtics against Cleveland.

 

The Cavaliers never had an answer for Powe’s inside game.  He seemed able to score no matter how many bodies wearing Cleveland jerseys were in the paint with him.  Obviously, this skill impressed Ferry and Mike Brown, and they were anxious to get the former Cal product into the wine and gold.

 

Powe will spend the first half of the season rehabbing his knee, which suffered a torn ACL during the last season’s playoffs.  If his rehab goes well, Powe will bring a fresh, big body to a team and league that has already played half its games.  It would be like making a deal at the trade deadline.

 

Meanwhile, Ferry keeps stockpiling big men, which is always a good thing.  The more depth up front a team has, the better.  I’m sure the team hopes second year men J.J. Hickson and Darnell Jackson will continue to improve, but they can’t be sure of that, particularly with Hickson’s back problems.  So it would not be a surprise to see the Cavs re-signing veteran Joe Smith.

 

With both O’Neal and Zydrunas Ilgauskas in their thirties, the Cavs need depth so they can limit their minutes and perhaps give either one an occasional day off.  The GM is doing just that.  It appears he is eliminating any obstacle in bringing a championship to Cleveland.  Maybe other Cleveland teams should take note.

 

JK

 

With training camp in full gear, and the "pre-season" opener this week, it's time to start looking at the Cleveland Browns.  Coach Eric Mangini has brought the toughness he promised when hired, and the release of defensive lineman Shaun Smith was just one more reminder of who's the boss.  I'm sure the new staff heard Smith was trouble and unloaded him at the first sign of a problem. 

 

Here are some other questions to keep an eye on in the exhibition games:

 

 

After the Indians took two out of three against the Detroit Tigers last weekend, a caller on Michael Reghi’s great show on WKNR asked the host which team he would rather have, the Tribe or the Tigers.  Reghi, of course, said the Motor City Kitties, but it got me thinking. 

 

Most definitely, Detroit’s pitching staff is much better than Cleveland’s, especially with Justin Verlander and Edwin Jackson at the top of the rotation.  However, the everyday line up isn’t that much different, even with the trade of Victor Martinez. 

 

It reinforced why the trades made last week were most definitely a curious decision at best.

 

1B:  No contest for Detroit.  Miguel Cabrera is vastly superior to Andy Marte, Chris Gimenez, Matt LaPorta, or whoever else the Indians want to place at the position. 

 

2B:  The Tribe is platooning Luis Valbuena and Jamey Carroll and the Tigers have Placido Polanco.  The latter’s batting average is down to .263 and he never had a lot of pop, but he still gets the edge here.  However, in a year or two, there is no question to me that Valbuena will be the better player.

 

SS:  Cleveland gets the edge here with Asdrubal Cabrera over Adam Everett.  Cabrera has an OPS of 808 compared to Everett’s 621.  Everett is an excellent glove man, but his slight edge there doesn’t make up for the fact he is terrible offensively. 

 

3B:  This is where it gets a little tricky.  Certainly, this year Brandon Inge is having a better year than Jhonny Peralta.  However, Inge is having a career year and overall I would rather have Peralta playing the hot corner.  In fact, with Peralta’s recent hot streak, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Tribe third baseman winds up having better numbers than Inge at the end of the year.

 

LF:  No contest.  Marcus Thames is better than any concoction the Indians have played in leftfield this season.

 

CF:   This is another tricky one.  Before the season, most people would have considered Grady Sizemore a little better than Curtis Granderson.  This year, of course, Sizemore has been hurt and has performed well below his normal statistics.  Meanwhile, Granderson is having a year like Sizemore had last season, which would have put him in contention for an MVP award had Cleveland been a contender.

 

RF:  No contest in Cleveland’s favor.  Shin-Soo Choo is much better than the combination of Magglio Ordonez and Clete Thomas for the Tigers.

 

C:  With the Martinez deal, neither team is looking for a lot of offense from the position.  Kelly Shoppach actually has a higher OPS (717) than Gerald Laird of the Tigers (646).  Rate this position as even.

 

DH:  Both teams have had injury issues here.  The Tigers used Ordonez here for a while,and is now using Carlos Guillen,  while Travis Hafner has been the Tribe’s primary DH, although he has missed considerable time.  When Hafner has been in the lineup, he has been productive for the most part, thus giving the Indians a slight edge. 

 

The verdict is the Tigers have clear edges at 1B and LF, while the Indians enjoy the same at SS and RF.  The other positions could go either way. 

 

This shows the everyday talent for the Detroit Tigers isn’t much better than the Indians, and they are leading the division.  The difference is pitching, and that’s why dealing Cliff Lee, one of the best pitchers in the American League is galling.  Add to Lee, and the Tribe could be sitting on top of the division in 2010.  Now, there is a snowball’s chance in…

 

Yesterday, Indians’ president Paul Dolan announced that the ballclub is going to lose $16 million this season, a comment that interests no one except the team’s financial people.  Fans don’t care.  They want to see a winning baseball team in this city. 

 

If you can’t sustain a loss of revenue like this, then you probably shouldn’t own a major league baseball team.  I’m sure the Indians aren’t the only team losing money, but their owners aren’t talking about it.  The baseball fans of Cleveland are looking upon the owners are crying about it. 

 

Other things from his statements that should be refuted are his claim that team Eric Wedge inherited in 2003 was like an expansion team.  Expansion teams generally don’t have players like C.C. Sabathia, and players such as Grady Sizemore, Cliff Lee, Victor Martinez, and Brandon Phillips is their system.  The cupboard was not as bare as Dolan would like us to believe. 

 

The other comment that bugged me is that fans would really be upset if they didn’t make the trades last week.  I still maintain this team could have contended next year, and as we all know by now, if you get into the playoffs, you have a chance to win.  I think the fans would like to have had a shot next year, they were denied that opportunity.

 

Dolan should learn that the only statistic fans are interested in is the win-loss record, not the bottom line.

 

These guys should run for public office the way they spin.

 

MW

 

The Cleveland Indians front office has admitted that the 2009 season was a mess.  After making a series of moves over the winter to put this team in contention, the ballclub got off to a slow start in April, and was virtually out of the race by the beginning of June.  What could GM Mark Shapiro have done in retrospect to avoid the situation the Tribe is in right now?

 

We know this is a total second guess.

 

Shapiro invested a lot of cash into a closer, signing Kerry Wood to an estimated $10 million per year contract.  After last year’s relief problems, this seems like a logical move.  However, Jensen Lewis converted 13 straight save opportunities late last season, so was this really a need?  I understand the logic, but Wood has struggled this season, and you have to ask the question of whether or not this money was wasted. 

 

The Indians were banking on Fausto Carmona returning to his 2007 form, when he won 19 games, to bolster their starting rotation.  They signed Carl Pavano as a free agent, but he should have been thought of as a 5^th starter, not plopped into the third spot where he started the season.

 

Sure, Shapiro theoretically improved the bullpen, but the rotation was left in tatters.

 

Would Shapiro have been better suited adding a veteran reliable starting pitcher, think Jon Garland, instead of going for the marquee closer?  It could have been done via free agency or a trade.

 

Besides, as former GM John Hart used to say, closers fall out of trees.  Look at Seattle this year.  There is no way they thought David Aardsma would be their closer at the beginning of the year.  Yet, he made the all-star team and is among the league leaders in saves this season. 

 

Having another veteran starter would have reduced the need for Carmona to pitch like an ace, and getting an innings eater would have eased the work put on the bullpen.  Remember, Carmona was struggling to get to the seventh inning, and Anthony Reyes was working just five or six innings per start.  When Aaron Laffey was called up a week into the season, he was at least able to get through six frames.

 

Would the pitching woes have been abated if the Indians had spent $10 million on starting pitching instead of a closer?  We will never know.  But, we do know this, having a good closer for a bad team is a big waste of money.  It makes you wonder if Wood will open the 2010 season wearing a Cleveland uniform.

 

NOTES:  Jose Veras is the latest reliever to get his walking papers as he was designated for assignment, and the other pitcher picked up in the Mark DeRosa trade, Jess Todd, was called up…Chris Gimenez is a nice player, a good utility guy, but he should be sent back to Columbus (or get rid of a pitcher, the team now has 13) in order to have Matt LaPorta playing everyday in LF…It seems like the skipper is back to his old habits with relief pitchers.  Tony Sipp has now pitched in three of the last four games.  There was no need to bring him in yesterday trailing 9-0…Nice to see Jensen Lewis back here giving up the long ball.

 

KM

 

Now that the trading deadline has passed, and GM Mark Shapiro doesn't consider swapping out a quarter of his roster "sweeping changes", let's take a look at the what happened in the week that was--

 

The trade of Cliff Lee was the biggest question mark because the Indians did not get any top prospects close to the majors in return.  Sure, we may see Carlos Carrasco, Jason Donald, and Lou Marson before the season is over, but the glitter on all three prospects has lost its glow, at least a little bit.  Jason Knapp was said to be the prize in the deal, but he is dealing with a fatigued shoulder, and is at least two years away.

 

The Victor Martinez deal, although it helps the hated Red Sox, at least brings a pitcher who should be in the rotation, Justin Masterson, by the end of the season.  Masterson's debut with the Tribe was very good, as he fired three scoreless frame against Detroit on Saturday night.  The other two pitchers Shapiro received are in the Class A ball, but Nick Hagadone is a southpaw that throws in the high 90's, and Bryan Price was Boston's first draft pick a year ago. 

 

Of the other players dealt last week, Ryan Garko and Ben Francisco are nice players, and could help their teams down the stretch, but they are just average players at best.  The Indians dealt both before they had to start paying them decent money now that they were arbitration eligible.

 

One of the problems the Indians still have is that Matt LaPorta is still in the minor leagues, even after all these moves.  The front office needs to see LaPorta play everyday at the big league level, so they can truly evaluate him.  Remember, it's not like he's struggling at Columbus, he's hitting almost .300 with a very good OPS. 

 

Andy Marte was recalled from Columbus after the Garko deal, and so far it appears Eric Wedge is playing the same old games with him.  Marte went 2 for 3 in his first game, and then sat the next day.  After an 0 for 6 in his next start, he once again was on the bench the folllowing night.  If he's not going to play every day, it is impossible to judge whether or not he has improved as an everyday player.

 

Trevor Crowe looks much better at the plate than he did when he was sent out earlier this year.  He drove the ball in all three games this weekend, so maybe there is a future for him at the big league level.  He received the call after Francisco was dealt because of his ability to play centerfield, which is needed because there is no other back up for Grady Sizemore. 

 

I also think somehow they need to bring up 1B/OF Jordan Brown from Columbus as well.  After winning back to back league MVP awards at Kinston and Akron, Brown scuffled last year.  However, this year he is hitting .333 with 12 HR and 58 RBI's for the Clippers.  He deserves a look see as well.

 

So does starter Hector Rondon, before his innings get to the point where the front office wants to shut him down.  Rondon has started out 3-1 with a 2.63 ERA at Buffalo after an outstanding half season at Akron.

 

There has been plenty of speculation that these moves ensure that Eric Wedge will be back as the field manager next season.  Here's hoping that's not the case.  This ballclub needs a new voice, and a new coaching staff.  It seems like the staff in the minor leagues has done a better job fixing what was wrong with guys like Marte, Fausto Carmona, Crowe, etc. than Wedge's staff.  If the team is going to rebuild, a new skipper is in order as well.

 

Hopefully, GM Mark Shapiro is correct in thinking there is an outside chance the Tribe could be back in contention as early as next year.  There is no way anyone is looking forward to a so-called "five year plan".

 

MW