CLEVELAND: Managers are made not born, but who makes them?

In just 10 days, Eric Wedge will complete his seventh season as manager of the Indians. Even though he has a contract for 2010, Wedge might not be back. More than likely, we will learn Wedge’s fate one or two days after the schedule has been played out on Oct. 4.

Regardless of whether Wedge returns next year, he will have made an impact in Cleveland. Only four managers have guided the Tribe longer than Wedge, who is fifth in wins (557) and is one of only four Cleveland skippers to win a postseason series.

Two distinctive Wedge traits: He always is prepared, and he is consistent in the way he treats his players, whether things are going well on the field or not. Wedge’s standards seem so ingrained in his personality, one would think he grew up his goal was to be a manager.

“”I paid attention to being a catcher when I was a kid,” Wedge said Wednesday. “”I did like Sparky Anderson, because I was a fan of the Big Red Machine. Those were pretty good teams in Cincinnati.”

Wedge grew up in Indiana and longed to be in the big leagues as a player. He made it with the Red Sox, but injuries prevented him from having a lengthy career. But he stayed in the game, managing in the Indians’ farm system for five years before being elevated to the job in Cleveland.

Wedge can’t point to a particular mentor along the way.

“”I don’t think there there was one person,” he said. “”I’ve taken things from a lot of managers. I’ve done and learned things from seeing other people do them and from talking to people.

“”I will say that (Atlanta manager) Bobby Cox is a guy I have the utmost respect for. But I only know him from conversations when we’ve played each other.”

Wedge firmly believes that when a team is winning, the manager should do less. And he has always maintained — like most skippers — that the most effective leadership comes not from the manager but from the players.

“”When a team is going good, that’s when you have to try and stay out of the way,” he said. “”And more times than not, you need to have guys in the clubhouse to take care of things. Like in ‘07, it was Trot Nixon or Casey Blake or C.C. (Sabathia). Guys like that.”

LAPORTA UPDATE — Matt LaPorta (inflamed left hip) took batting practice Wednesday but was held out of the lineup.

“”It’s still there,” manager Eric Wedge said of the soreness. “”He’s not going to do much besides take BP. He’s still day to day.”

The proximate cause of the injury was making a dash for the plate on Trevor Crowe’s second-inning single Tuesday night. But Wedge thinks something else might have played a part.

“”I guarantee you it’s moving from the outfield to the infield,” he said. “”You use different muscles in each position. But you can’t do anything different. There’s no transition for doing that.”

SMITH GETTING CLOSE? — Joe Smith (sprained knee) threw off a mound Tuesday and will do so again today.

“”I feel good, and I want to get back out there,” he said. “”I’d like to get in a couple of games to make sure everything is OK going into the off season.”

Wedge has expressed optimism that Smith would be back in the bullpen before the season ends. Smith is scheduled to throw either a bullpen or a simulated game Saturday. After that, it’s possible he could return to the active roster.

ICE COLD — Jhonny Peralta began Wednesday night’s game burdened with an 0-for-25 streak.

“”Even when he’s hit the ball hard, he hasn’t had a lot of luck,” Wedge said. “”Jhonny’s had an interesting year, making the transition from short to third.”

But Wedge doesn’t think switching positions in midstream has affected his hitting.

NATIONAL EXPOSURE — In addition to being aired by STO, tonight’s game between the Indians and Tigers will be televised to a national audience on the MLB Network. Victor Rojas and Mitch Williams will call the game.
]]> http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/tribe_matters/2009/09/23/wedge-owes-it-all-to-many/feed/ 0 http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/tribe_matters/2009/09/22/growing-pains-making-winning-tougher/ http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/tribe_matters/2009/09/22/growing-pains-making-winning-tougher/#comments Wed, 23 Sep 2009 00:36:14 +0000 Sheldon Ocker http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/tribe_matters/?p=2471

CLEVELAND: Lots of attention has been paid to the Indians’ novices lately,mostly because there are so many of them in the lineup or on the mound.

Manager Eric Wedge has cited the team’s inexpierience as a cause of several breakdowns during the Tribe’s recent skid — 17 losses in 20 games — heading into Tuesday night’s game against the Tigers.

Asked what he is hoping to see in the last 13 games of the season, Wedge said, “”I want us to play clean baseball and make better decisions on the field. We’ve made so many youthful mistakes.”

Wedge went on to address the pitching and defense.

“”I hope to see us get better on the mound with our pitchers being more aggressive. At the plate, I want us to make better outs and have better at-bats. I’ve saidc all this before, but this is where we’ve been lacking.

Unfortunately for the Indians, a winning environment has been more difficult to attain because so many young players are playing so many innings.

“”Most definitely,” Wedge said. “”If you just have a couple of newcomers and more veterans, the young guys will have more experience around them and won’t become so exposed. But with our situation, these guys are getting a crash course. But we still will be able to see where everybody is and have something work off of.”

Obviously, some of the rookies have thrived. Matt LaPorta, for example, has shown vast improvement in his second big-league stint that began Aug.19, compared to his first three weeks in the big leagues in May.

Michael Brantley has shown that he is still a rookie as a base stealer, but he has adapted quickly to major-league pitching. Both players surely will have to make adjustments next year, because rival scouts will have gotten a line on them, but so far they look like the real deal.

Asked who has made the most improvement, Wedge said, “”I’m not going to single anyone out, but I’ll tell you a pitcher who has moved up in a natural path.

“”Tony Sipp has had his ups and downs, but he has worked his way to the back of the bullpen for us. He still has a lot to learn, but he’s doing a good job.”

Sipp made his big-league debut April 22, having completed the long road back from elbow surgery in 2007. He was sent back to Columbus in mid-May and recalled June 1 but not for the last time. He was optioned to Triple-A again but returned to Cleveland for good on June 23. Since then he has posted a 3.29 earned-run average in 32 appearances (271/3 innings).

UNHAPPY SURPRISE — The American League Central Division is being panned as the worst in the majors, with the first-place Tigers only nine games over .500 going into Tuesday night’s game at Progressive Field.

Manager Eric Wedge was asked if he thought the division had underachieved?

“”I think everybody would feel that way,” he said. “”I think we all feel like we can be better, that we should have been better.

“”I don’t think anyone would have anticipated where the division is right now.”

LONG, LONG SEASON — Each member of the Tribe’s rotation will have no more than two starts before the season ends. That’s probably a good thing, because fatigue might be setting in.

“”I feel like we have two or three guys who are in uncharted territory,” said Wedge, but refused to name names.”"The physical part is one thing, but the mental gring is also real.”

SWITCHEROO — Michael Brantley moved from center to left, and Trevor Crowe, who usually is in left, moved to center Tuesday night.

“”I want those guys to get experience playing both positions,” Wedge said. “”We might keep it this way for a couple of games then switch it back.”

When Grady Sizemore returns next year, after recuperating from two operations, he will go back to his regular slot in center, and both Brantley and Crowe (if both make the team) primarily will be left fielders.

SOCIAL NOTE — Columbus manager Torey Lovullo, who was summoned to Cleveland after the Triple-A season, has left the Tribe to get married in California, his home state. Taking his place will be Akron skipper Mike Sarbaugh.
]]> http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/tribe_matters/2009/09/22/growing-pains-making-winning-tougher/feed/ 0 http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/tribe_matters/2009/09/16/laporta-tries-first-things-first/ http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/tribe_matters/2009/09/16/laporta-tries-first-things-first/#comments Wed, 16 Sep 2009 21:33:27 +0000 Sheldon Ocker http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/tribe_matters/?p=2447

Matt LaPorta doesn’t have an official description yet, as in Indians starting right or left fielder or regular first baseman.

Nothing wrong with that. LaPorta is a rookie with fewer than 40 big-league games on his resume. In most of those, he has played the outfield. But in two of three games against the Minnesota Twins this week, he has moved to first base.

‘‘He made a good pick (Monday night) at a big time in the game,’’ Indians manager Eric Wedge said. ‘‘I’d like to get him out there more. He’s done a lot of work at first with (coach) Luis Rivera.’’

Until two weeks ago, Wedge was saying that La Porta would tackle first base at a later date, maybe next spring. That playing two outfield positions was enough for now.

But for some reason, the timetable changed. Maybe because there is no obvious successor to Ryan Garko, who was traded to the San Francisco Giants in July.

‘‘Potentially that could be Matt’s position,’’ Wedge said. ‘‘It depends on the supporting cast. We have a lot of outfielders. First base is a place we still have to decide who’s going to be there.’’

Fans probably think of LaPorta as someone who has been an outfielder first. Not so.

‘‘At college (U of Florida) in ‘07, I was the everyday first baseman,’’ LaPorta said. ‘‘I never played the outfield before I was drafted.’’

Yet in the minor leagues he has mostly played left and right, though he was aware that might change.

‘‘When I was in Milwaukee, they said I might play first, so I got a first baseman’s glove,’’ LaPorta said. ‘‘But I never played there. They said the same thing when I came here. But I didn’t play first until a couple of months ago.’’

LaPorta will gladly play either the outfield or first, whatever allows him to stay in the big leagues. But first base has its advantages.

‘‘I’m enjoying it now,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s about being comfortable there. First is more of a skill position, being in the infield. So it’s a little hard to get back to where I was a couple of years ago (in college). Plus up here, the game is as lot faster.’’

LaPorta enjoys first base for another reason: He has someone to talk to, even if they’re opposing runners.

‘‘I like that part of the game,’’ he said. ‘‘I just chat with guys, ask, ‘How you doing?’ You don’t have to know someone to ask how things are going.’’

LaPorta said he has no ulterior motive in talking to baserunners, like distracting them.

‘‘I don’t play the game like that,’’ he said.

THE FAUSTO DILEMMA

Fausto Carmona will finish out the season in the Indians’ rotation, but then what? Should he go to winter ball and pitch more innings or take a break from baseball entirely.

‘‘It’s (winter ball) is something we’re talking about,’’ Wedge said. ‘‘I don’t think we’re going to do anything in-between. It’s going to be one way or the other. It’s just been an odd year for Fausto.’’

And a miserable one in which he is burdened with a 3-11 record and 6.58 ERA.

‘‘We’re going to keep running him out there,’’ Wedge said. ‘‘We just hope he finds it, finds that zone where he can be consistent. He knows what he needs to do. It’s just about command ` pounding the bottom of the zone.’’

It’s also about Carmona’s fragile psyche and staying focused when things go wrong on the field.

‘‘I think he’s better than before,’’ Wedge said. ‘‘But that’s an issue for him.’’

ASDRUBAL ACHING

Asdrubal Cabrera fouled a ball of his knee in the ninth inning, tried to fight off the pain then went down on the turf and left the game.

He has a contusion but probably will have an X-ray before today’s game in Oakland. He is listed as day-to-day, but it would be an upset if he played tonight.

SURGERIES R’ US

Grady Sizemore underwent successful surgery Wednesday in Philadelphia to reinforce the lower left side of his abdominal wall in a 20-minute procedure that included making a small incision.

Sizemore will be begin the rehabilitation process in Cleveland and resume his normal offseason workout regimen at his Arizona home in November.

Right-hander Jason Knapp also underwent a successful procedure to remove loose bodies from his right shoulder in New York on Wednesday. He is expected to be fully recovered by spring training.

PLAYOFF UPDATE

Mahoning Valley kept its hopes for a New York-Penn League title alive with a 3-2 win over Staten Island to even the best-of-three final series at one game apiece. Marty Popham gave up two runs and four hits in five innings, and Chun-Hsiu Chen homered and singled, driving in a run. Argenis Martinez had two hits and one RBI.

CHICAGO: With all the pitching and injury problems that have plagued the Indians, Luis Valbuena has been allowed to begin his development as a major-leaguer under the radar, without the public or media paying much attention.

Even during the weekend series against the Cubs, when Valbuena hit three home runs in two games, his achievements were overshadowed by myriad disasters that cost the Tribe wins on Friday and Saturday.

Nevertheless, it has become evident that Valbuena is learning to be a big-league hitter, and never mind his .234 batting average. In the past five games, Valbuena is batting .435 (10-for-23) with seven RBI.

Even as he struggled at the plate after being called up from Columbus May 2, Valbuena displayed patience at the plate, working the count, willing to take a walk.

“When he first came up his numbers didn’t indicate that anything really good was happening,” hitting coach Derek Shelton said Sunday. “”But we as a staff were seeing that he was having good at-bats. With young kids, what we want to look at is good at-bats. You can’t always control the results.”

Valbuena is not expected to become someone who routinely hits home runs, even though manager Eric Wedge said, “”When he squares the ball up, it really jumps off his bat.”

It’s a promising sign that of Valbuena’s 25 hits, 14 have gone for extra bases, including 10 doubles.

“I think he’ll hit balls in the gaps,” Shelton said. “”He’s not necessarily going to be a home run hitter.”

What sustained Valbuena during his first few weeks of non-productivity?

“His work ethic is very good,” Shelton said. “”He and Asdrubal (Cabrera) are really close and they talk. I think it helped that Asdrubal went through some of the same things Valbuena went through.”

Valbuena tried not to think about the possibility of being sent back to Triple-A as he tried to turn himself into a major-league hitter.

“I was a little worried, not knowing exactly what to expect,” he said, through his translator, first base coach Luis Rivera. “”I told myself I had to go out and play and not worry about the results I was getting. I tried not to put any extra pressure on myself.”

After seven weeks, Valbuena has begun to adjust to life in the big leagues.

“I feel a lot better now,” he said. “”I have more confidence, and I’m getting a feel for what I’m trying to do.”

DELAYED REACTION — Ryan Garko sprained his left wrist Wednesday against the Brewers, but the injury didn’t catch up to him until Saturday against the Cubs.

“I really felt it when I swung at a high fastball in the sixth inning,” he said Sunday.

Garko was removed from the game in the eighth and did not start on Sunday. However, he said he was available to play.

“They took X-rays after Saturday’s game, just to make sure there wasn’t something cracked in there,” he said. “”The X-rays were negative.”

DEROSA RETURNS — Mark DeRosa was back in the lineup after sitting out Saturday’s game with a bruise on his upper leg.

“He came out early and was moving around OK,” manager Eric Wedge said. “”I wouldn’t say he’s 100 percent, but he can play.”

FARM FACTS — Lonnie Chisenhall doubled, singled and drove in one run, as Kinston beat Lynchburg 5-0. Ryan Blair also had two hits and an RBI, and Eric Berger (5-5, 2.11 ERA) threw seven shutout innings, giving up two hits. *elip Lurvin Basabe and Bo Greenwell each had three hits, as Mahoning Valley defeated Jamestown 12-2.

Jake Westbrook’s seemingly minor setback probably will delay his return to the mound by at least a month.

After being shut down after his last rehab start because of soreness in his surgically reconstructed right elbow, Westbrook was scheduled to throw a bullpen Wednesday, but that will not happen.

“´Dr. (Lewis) Yocum felt that as well as Jake has done so far, we should take a conservative approach,” head trainer Lonnie Soloff said Saturday. “”He advocated no throwing for 14 days, and we’re about five days into that now. if there is no pain after the two weeks, Jake will begin a return-to-throw program starting with (long toss from) 75 feet, progressing to the mound.”

Yocum performed Tommy John surgery on Westbrook in June of 2008 in Southern California.

“After UCL reconstructive surgery, it takes 12-18 months before guys pitch again,” Soloff said. “Now, we’re looking at the end of July or the beginning of August for Jake.”

Before experiencing pain in the elbow as week ago, the Indians were hoping that Westbrook could return to the rotation by the end of this month or early July.

Despite the setback, a recent examination by doctors in Cleveland, that included an MRI, showed there is no structural damage to Westbrook’s elbow.

DEROSA SCRATCHED — Mark DeRosa was removed from the lineup shortly before game time because of a sore left quad, sustained Friday, when he ran into a metal box containing the bullpen telephone that is attached to the wall adjacent to the left field foul line.

“This is one place I really wanted to be in there,” said DeRosa, who played for the Cubs in 2007 and 2008 before being traded to Cleveland last winter.

STATUS CHANGE? — When Aaron Laffey (right oblique strain) was ready to come off the disabled list, manager Eric Wedge was hoping to install him in the rotation.

But with the current disarray in the bullpen, Laffey might have to make his living as a reliever, at least for awhile.

“We’ll do what we have to do,” Wedge said. “”If we feel more of a need in the bullpen, that’s something we’ll have to consider. We have to keep every option open.”

If Laffey goes to the bullpen, it might alter his rehab program. He has been working his way back as a starter, that is, the idea was to build up his arm to throw 85-90 pitches by making four to five starts in the minors.

That could change if the Tribe decides soon to use Laffey as a reliever. He is scheduled to make his next start in Akron on Tuesday.

NO PAIN, GAIN — Grady Sizemore (inflammation of the lining of the elbow) took batting practice and played catch from 120 feet.

“Grady responded favorably to the increase in baseball activity, as has Asdrubal (Cabrera),” Soloff said. “”Hopefully, Asdrubal (strained AC joint) will be ready to play in a game in five to seven days. The question is whether we send him out (on a rehab asignment) or not.”

Rafael Betancourt (strained groin) played long toss from 105 feet and will begin throwing bullpens next week if he suffers no setbacks.

“He might end up on the shorter end of that 4-6 period,” said Soloff, referring to the amount of time the reliever was expected to miss.

MANAGER’S LAMENT — Wedge can’t manage his way out of the Tribe’s current pitching dilemma without the help of the bullpen.

“It’s tough when you get into the eighth inning and it takes four pitchers, or whatever, to get three outs,” he said. “”It’s ridiculous. It doesn’t do anything to name names. Everybody knows who’s down there (the bullpen). This is a great opportunity for someone to step up. But I’m tired of talking about it. I’d like to see somebody do it.”

FARM FACTS — Wyatt Toregas hit his sixth homer of the year, Tony Graffanino had three hits and Michael Aubrey singled twice, but Columbus lost to Syracuse 6-5. *elip Lonnie Chisenall hit his 13th home run of the season and drove in two runs, but Kinston lost 5-3 to Lynchburg. *elip John Allman doubled twice, singled and drove in three runs, as Mahoning Valley opened its season with a 6-5 win over Jamestown. Kaimi Mead (1-0, 3.60 ERA) pitched five innings and allowed two runs on one hit and one walk.

Here is the Associated Press story, followed by reaction from the blogsphere.

CLEVELAND: The Indians have recalled left-hander Rafael Perez from Triple-A Columbus and designated outfielder David Dellucci for assignment to make roster room.

The moves came on Friday before the Indians opened a four-game home series against the New York Yankees.

The 35-year-old Dellucci opened this season on the disabled list and has battled injuries since signing a three-year contract to join the Indians as a free agent in December 2006. He hit .238 (132-for-554) in 183 games for Cleveland.

Perez, one of team’s most consistent relievers the past two seasons, struggled in 13 outings this April, going 0-1 with a 15.19 ERA.

At Columbus, he was 1-0 with two saves and did not allow a run in nine innings over seven outings, walking three and striking out nine.

Waiting for Next Year:

Better late than never, right?

Dump David Dellucci:

It is Over!!! The dream has arrived!!! Dave Dellucci is going.. going.. GONE!

The Cleveland Indians just announced in a press release that outfielder David Dellucci is being activated from the 15-day disabled list. Left-handed pitcher Rich Rundles, who was brought up for one game to relieve an exhausted pitching staff, will return to Columbus.

Indians outfielder David Dellucci

Dellucci, who was placed on the disabled list due to a strained left calf March 30, Has spent the last 10 days on a rehab assignment at Triple A Columbus. While playing for the Clippers, Dellucci hit .414 (12-29) in seven games. He has struck out four times, walked three times and driven in two runs, while hitting safely in every game.

The addition of Dellucci’s left-handed bat should help offset the loss of designated hitter Travis Hafner, who recently went on the disabled list with a sore right shoulder. Delucci will be in the starting lineup tonight as the designated hitter, hitting in the seventh spot. 

Dellucci, who is in the last year of a three-year $11.5 million contract, has been somewhat of a dissapointment so far with the Tribe. 

In his first two season with the Indians Dellucci has played the equivalent of one season (514 at bats) and has had around a .230 batting average with 15 homers and roughly a 300 OBP. 

Dellucci’s numbers from the last two seasons:

169 games
514 at bats
121 hits
15 homers
67 RBI
116 strikeouts
41 BB 

The roster moves reduce the number of pitchers on the 25-man roster to 13 and give the Indians five outfielders on the roster.

Here, on the first day of May it feels like the AL Central standings are upside down…

(I copied and pasted this from ESPN)

April is such an odd month for baseball. Nevermind the records, take a look at the runs scored compared to the runs allowed though. Currently The Indians have score more runs than any team in the division, If only they didn’t lead in runs allowed too…. 

After one month of baseball the Indians have the worst team ERA in all of baseball, a fat 5.81. The Yankees are nipping at their heels though with a 5.79 team ERA. Oddly enough the leaders in all of Major League baseball are Pittsburgh (3.41), Seattle (3.47) and Kansas City (3.62). It will be very interesting to see if one of those three teams can sustain its strong pitching. My bet would be on Kansas City, who boast starters Zack Greinke and Gil Meche, which wouldn’t bode well for the Indians.  The Indians pitching staff won’t be this bad all season either though… I hope.  

Lot’s of feature stories filtered in due to the off day… 

– Anthony Castrovince profiled Tony Sipp’s journey to the major leagues and how Sipp wants to show others how to make it too. Growing up in a drug infested area of Mississippi, Sipp wants to sned a positive message.  

– The Beacon Journal’s David Lee Morgan Jr. recently talked with journeymen Vinnie Culk and Tony Graffanino about lessons they have learned bouncing around the major, and minor, leagues. 

– The Plain Dealer’s Dennis Manoloff examined Akron Aeros pitcher Hector Rondon. Rondon, a native of venezuela, is considered one of the best pitching prospects in the Indians organization an Manoloff does a nice job of saying how Rondon joined the club.

– Beacon Journal columnist Pat McManamon turned to one of my favorite Web Sites, fan graphs, to examine Grady Sizemore in his blog. McManamon is finding that Sizemore is fairly average in his statistical appeal.

Pitching rotations for the weekend:
Tonight: Carl Pavano Vs. Armando Galarraga
Saturday: Aaron Laffey Vs. Zach Miner
Sunday: Cliff Lee Vs. Justin Verlander

All three are right handers for Detroit. Bad time for Pronk to hit the DL.

The Indians were up five zip in the fifth inning, yet they lost 6-5 in 10.

It was yet another head scratcher loss. This time it was former Indian farmhand Jonathan Van Every who hit the 10th-inning home run to give the Red Sox the lead.

Van Every hit the ball off of his former roomate, Jensen Lewis, according to the Boston Globe. 

But what became even more puzzling is Cleveland Manager Eric Wedge’s thoughts after the game, Per Sheldon Ocker:

”We gave them everything they could handle in these three games,” he said. ”Considering the way they were rolling when they came in here [10 wins in a row] and the way we played them was a definite plus for us.”

Did Wedge forget his team had a five-run lead through five innings Wednesday?

Did He forget Boston committed four errors Tuesday allowing four unearned runs, including the game-winner?

MLB.com writer Anthony Castrovince points out that the three games were decided by a measly four runs, but the Indians were only able to win one of them — The game Boston gave away Tuesday night.

Plain Dealer beat writer Paul Hoynes wonders if this team can even sustain any type of success.

Add in the news that Travis Hafner (Scroll down to read about that) is now on the disabled list and this team is looking for any type of a burst. 

Anthony Castrovince believes it will be David Dellucci who will take Hafner’s spot at designated hitter. Although, this gives the opportunity to Ryan Garko and Kelly Shoppach to get more at bats. Shin-Soo Choo could be the new clean up hitter as well. He was Wednesday. 

 Either way the Indians can really use today’s off day before starting a three-game set in Detroit Friday. 

WHATS HAPPEN’ IN AKRON

The Aeros had a come from behind 7-6 victory over Harrisburg. Beau Mills led the Aeros with three hits, and Carlos Santana, Joshua Rodriguez and Mickey Hall each had two hits. 

The Beacon ran a story about Aeros starter Josh Tomlin and how he works well without being overpowering. Tomlin started Wednesday and allowed 12 hits and five runs in 4 1/3 innings. The story was written beforehand.

Travis Hafner’s surgically repaired right shoulder has again become an issue for the Indians.

Wednesday afternoon, Hafner was placed on the 15-day disabled list and will visit Birmingham, Ala., orthopedist James Andrews, probably on Monday. 

“Hafner is having some soreness and a little fatigue in the shoulder,” manager Eric Wedge said. “”We knew this could come up. It’s not uncommon after surgery. We’ll let it calm down. I don’t think it’s serious.”

Hafner lost virtually all of last season because of weakness in the shoulder and underwent surgery to clean out the area on Oct. 14.

Wedge was unclear whether Hafner informed the club of the injury, or staffers took note that the designated hitter’s swing was out of whack.

“I noticed that his swing was different,” the manager said, referring to inconsistencies from day to day. “”But we’ve been monitoring him for three or four days. He’s been getting treatment.”

Hafner had been maintaining a routine of playing three to five days in row then taking one day off. But when Wedge kept him out of the lineup Sunday and Monday, nothing was said about the condition of Hafner’s shoulder, which, indeed, might not have been the reason he was benched.

With Hafner sidelined for at least 15 days, Wedge and General Mark Shapiro will make at least one addition to the roster (Rich Rundles is here Wednesday night only). 

“Hafner being out changes the dynamic of our offensive scheme,” Wedge said. “”We’ll probably talk about multiple moves.”

Wedge explained that replacing Hafner will not be the only change discussed. The only name the manager mentioned was David Dellucci, who is batting .414 at Columbus, where he is on a rehabilitation assignment.

“At the very latest, David was going to be back here some time next week, anyway,” Wedge said, adding that he wasn’t confirming Dellucci will be called up in time for the first game of a trip that begins Friday in Detroit.

“We’re considering others, too,” the manager said. “”We want to look at everybody. We’ve got a lot of ability down there.”

With Tony Graffanino struggling at the plate (.130 average), Wedge and Shapiro might be thinking about calling up Josh Barfield, who was sent to Columbus to make room for Aaron Laffey two weeks ago. Barfield is batting .350 at Triple-A. 

And because top prospect Matt LaPorta is batting .368 with five home runs and 14 RBI at Columbus, his name undoubtedly will be part of any discussions. 

THE FIRST STEP — The result of the surgery to repair Adam Miller’s right middle finger is that he will undergo a second operation.

Dr. Tom Graham of the Curtis Hand Clinic in Baltimore performed surgery on Tuesday to repair the flexor pulley system on Miller’s damaged finger. Pulleys are bindings that hold the tendon to the bone.

A second phase of the surgery will be performed about three months from now. In that procedure, Graham will reconstruct the flexor tendon. 

Recovery time is estimated at six to nine months from now, but there is no guarantee that Miller’s pitching career will continue.

There is a possibility that scar tissue will form inside the finger and limit the range of motion and strength of the finger. If the scar tissue is removed successfully, Miller presumably can pitch again, but keeping the scar tissue from reforming is not a given.

TEMPORARY PASS — Tribe brass summoned Rundles to Cleveland to help boster an overworked bullpen that was gasping for breath after the marathon 9-8 win over the Red Sox Tuesday night. 

With Hafner going on the DL, there was a roster opening and Rundles will get it, but not for long.

“We had Rundles come to town, but he’ll probably only be here for one night,’ Wedge said. “”He’s been throwing well down there, and he’s had some experience up here.”

The left-hander has made seven appearances in the Clippers’ bullpen, giving up one earned run, three hits and three walks in six innings. He also has struck out seven.

With a day off today, the tired Tribe bullpen should be in good shape for the weekend series in Detroit, which means Rundles will head back to Columbus. Even when he does, the Indians will keep eight relievers, at least for a few days.

GET USED TO IT — Mark DeRosa’s comfort level as an American League player is more than becoming familiar with pitchers he hasn’t faced. 

“The American League is different,” the third baseman said. “”From a defensive standpoint, I don’t know how many times (coach) Luis Rivera has had to move me back, because I’m thinking bunt. But in this league, nobody bunts.”

ABOUT THAT NIGHT — At 4 hours, 19 minutes, Tuesday night’s game was the longest nine-inning game ever at Progressive Field… It took 410 pitches to complete the game… The Tribe lineup was 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position…The umpires went through eight dozen baseballs in the first three innings, more than in most full games.

FARM FACTS — Wes Hodges had three hits, and Wyatt Toregas had a two-run homer, as Columbus beat Toledo 5-3. Jeremy Sowers (1-1, 2.25 ERA) worked seven innings, allowing one run and five hits, while striking out six and walking two… Matt McBride, raising his average to .405, homered twice, singles and drove in four runs as Kinston beat Salem 7-2. Lonnie Chisenhall also homered and had two RBI. Ryan Morris (1-2, 3.38 ERA) gave up two unearned runs and three hits in six innings.