Is Aaron Laffey the long-term answer in the bullpen? Who knows? He was the answer for one night.
What's clear is the Indians realize they are in a precarious position and need to do something, anything, and quickly. They're trying. Unless you consider moving one of the more effective to the bullpen a minor move.
But they also sound like people who know their options are limited, and that if the players they have counted on do not come through they could all be in trouble.
The Indians do as good a job as anyone at analyzing things, and they're well known for it. But right now they sound like they can't believe their analysis has led to players performing the way they are. There's a bit of a helpless tone to their voice, which could be a product of not having a lot of options.
It's been a long time since a season hung in the balance this early, but that's where it is. And the fact that the Indians have sent Rafael Perez to AAA and moved Laffey from the rotation to the bullpen is pretty indicative of how serious the situation is.
They're trying.
shapiro must be wedge's secret lover because most g.m.'s probably would have cut him loose by now. they aren't trying to save the season. they're trying to save their necks.
I'm just wondering what was going on in Goodyear? Why was everything hunky-dory then and it just fell apart as the season started? Was 2009 Spring Training the same waste of time that the Browns Training Camp of 2008 was?
If Wedge were let go, it would be another guy in the organization or someone who was in the organization. You have to put someone in that role who is willing and able to work in the situation that he'd be in. I love all the names that people keep tossing out to replace Wedge, but how many of those guys would sign up to be in this position?
I applaud the reworking of the roster, but there are going to be a lot of moves that could go either way. What are you going to do with Hafner once he's available again? Are you willing to take a chance on that hole in the line-up? How much longer do you let Peralta flounder at the plate?
The Cleveland Indians: one big game of Jenga!
elizabeth, i think you're right about the tribe filling in the wedge gap with some other chump like joel skinner. shapiro needs to go too.
i wouldn't mind seeing travis fryman get the position. the team isn't in a situation to groom another hargrove. it's just that wedge has run his course. one of the "best young managers" in baseball has morphed into 4th best in the division.
Come on, terje. Yes, you can blame Wedge for a lot of things, but this season's record isn't one of them. My getting my underpants in a bunch about the guy never thinking outside of the box, including, but not limited to, never allowing Sabathia to hit on game day or as a pinch-hitter on his off-days, well, that obviously can't be attributed to Wedge this season, either.
And I have no idea how to play Jenga. I just know what Jenga is from those stupid commercials they used to play on TV years ago. If I recall, there were a bunch of young 20 and 30-something aged people at a party, some of whom apparently will never have sex in their entire lives, sitting around with some wooden blocks that look similar to the odd shape of Hafner's HGHed Neanderthal skull, and then the blocks fall down and some moron goes "JENGA! JENGA! JENGA!" I don't get the point of the game. Who wants to play some game where you have to constantly bend down and pick up crappy messes off of the floor. That's supposed to be fun?
"It's been a long time since a season hung in the balance this early…"
Huh? Clearly you've forgotten LAST season, when the Tribe was done before the month of May arrived.
I know, we've all tried to forget three solid months with no offense whatsoever. Thank heavens, I say facetiously, we addressed *those* needs in the off-season!
alan, one bad start is a fluke. six of them is "trending" poorly.
Hmm… trying to come up with a better comparison for Alan t. Would a house of cards do the trick?
My roommate and I joke about our all-former Indians coaching/managing staff. We had Fryman in as bench coach. I just remember a few years ago the Tigers went that rout when they brought in Trammell & Gibson, etc. And I always felt for Trammell because the very next year, Leland stepped in and took them to the Series.
I'm not really sure a bombastic personality works here in Cleveland. Name the last big-time, big-personality-type coach/manager worked at the helm of one of the teams. Has "that guy" ever succeeded here?
I'm not even sure what "big-time, big-personality-type coach/manager" even means, Elizabeth. Besides, if the guy is given tripe to work with, he's screwed.
OK, if you really want the name of last guy in Cleveland who even comes close to that description, it would be Paul Silas. But the results from 2005 to 2008 would have been exactly the same, because LeBron's body and his range of skills hadn't completely grown, and Ferry's bumbling during that period would have put Silas in that position. But now LeBron is LeBron and the maid has finally cleaned up her own mess. So I'm betting if you had brought in Silas in 2008 instead of 2003, Silas would have succeeded in a major way, and everybody would be looking at his habitual palm-wiping of his sweaty forehead as some kind of religious gesture.
Besides, it's Cleveland. Please. Who in their right mind without deep emotional ties to Northeast Ohio wants to be anywhere near it? The Indians benefit by having players work their hours during the spring and summer, when it's a tad less butt-ugly, but still. I mean, it's CLEVELAND. That's one of the reaons you have to pay all the purported best free agents an additional premium, for them to even consider coming near it. And then when Kerry Wood lets another baseball launch into the stratosphere, a guy like Dolan must wonder to himself, "What in the hell have I done to deserve this?"
Therefore, the players coming up through the Indians farm system is what is key. And then you have to play chess to figure out what works and what doesn't. But Wedge doesn't have that kind of luxury, because the games count.
I don't know. On one hand I really respect what Shapiro has done with financial constraints, but on the other hand, being forced to play Moneyball has won Billy Beane a lot of respect, but no pennants.
It is what it is. Hitler was as charismatic as they come, but even if he had a mustache like Rollie Fingers and the managerial skills of Casey Stengel, even old 'Dolph would have been set up to inevitably fail.
Actually Biff I believe the Indians were in first place until around the middle of May last year before the offense went into hibernation. For crying out loud people they are 6 games back in May and you want to throw away the season. If they gain one game per month they are in there. The starting pitching is solids, the offense has started to score runs. If the bullpen comes around they will be good. Relax and take a deep breath.
hey bubba, you might want to reconsider your position on the starting pitching. it's cliff lee with an era a shade under 4.00 and the rest of the starters in suckville.
I don't usually don't like those sports lists, as they mostly just enrage people,
(How could you have left Sylvanus E. Drinkwater off the list of 100 Top Golfers of Summit County?! Cancel my subscription!), but the question must be asked:
Is this the Worst Bullpen in the Indians' Modern Era? Here are the challengers:
1983: Dan Spillner loses it
1985: Bryan Clark was a find
1987: Six-Pack Sammy Stewart to the Rescue!
1988: Except for Doug Jones, a nightmare. Nicknamed the "Bullpen from Hell" by a young(er) Paul Hoynes
2002: What do you suppose Jerrod Riggan does for work, now?
2004: Yo soy Jose Jimenez!
2006: Guillermo Mota to the rescue! (But without a six-pack)
There it is. Think it over, people, and remember, there's no place to go, but up.
Well … the difference is that this one does hang in the balance. Last year by this time it was pretty much over.