June 2009

  CLEVELAND: Mark DeRosa is gone, but manager Eric Wedge still has plenty of players with which he can mix and match in the Indians’ infield. ¶     However, now that DeRosa has been traded to the Cardinals and the Tribe has gotten three regulars back from the disabled list, Wedge is looking to stabilize [...]

    Maybe the question should not by why Jensen Lewis was demoted to clear a roster a spot for Jose Veras, but how he avoided being sent to the minors earlier? [ep    Lewis has struggled virtually the entire season, compiling a 2-3 record and 5.03 earned-run average in 28 appearances. He had problems with [...]

CLEVELAND: The hot topic? How about the hot seat? That would be wherever Eric Wedge sits. ¶    The Indians’ manager is under duress, thanks to his team’s woeful record, and when General Manager Mark Shapiro showed up to talk to the media Friday, Wedge’s job status was an obvious topic. [ep    Or as [...]

TRENTON THUNDER 7, AKRON AEROS 6 KEY STATS: The Aeros committed a season-high four errors, including two in the Thunder’s five-run fifth inning…Aeros closer Vinnie Pestano blown save came on the first run he’d allowed since June 1, as he’d gone eight consecutive appearances with 8 1/3 scoreless innings. KEY MOMENTS: With the Aeros trailing [...]

AKRON AEROS 5, TRENTON THUNDER 2 KEY STATS: Indians left-hander Aaron Laffey pitched four shutout innings, allowing one hit and a walk while striking out four batters in a major league rehab start. “It feels really good to be back out there and be able to go full speed and not have to worry about [...]

  Does practice make perfect?  Is it possible that the Indians’ bullpen has pitched so many innings in the month of June that the relief corps has corrected its problems? ¶     Even though the Tribe lost all three games to the Cubs over the weekend, with the exception of closer Kerry Wood, the bullpen [...]

CHICAGO: Mike Gosling wears No. 20 on the back of his jersey, but he ranks 23rd on the list of pitchers who have paraded to the mound wearing Indians uniforms in 2009. After the disastrous three-game sweep by the Brewers in Cleveland, a series in which the Tribe bullpen gave up 18 runs and 14 [...]