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.

The Red Sox extended their winning streak to 11 games last night. The Indians struggle hard enough to get just one.

So with the score tied at zero in the ninth inning the Indians went for the power play in front of the home crowd. Bringing in closer Kerry Wood to calm the Boston bats and give the Indians a chance to win it in the bottom of the ninth.

Boston outfielder Jason Bay quelled those thoughts with a three-run home run to left center field. The Boston Globe points out that Bay is red hot this season. 

Bay is now 10 for 20 (.500) with 4 homers and 10 RBIs from the seventh inning on.

It was Wood’s welcome party to the American League. What a rude welcome it was, writes Sheldon Ocker.

Wood had perhaps the best summation of the game afterward, per MLB.com:

“Cliff [Lee] throws 110 pitches and holds them scoreless,” Wood said. “I’m in for 12 pitches, and it’s 3-0.”

The bullpen has been one of the biggest issues for the Indians and Lee has done a great job in allowing the Indians to avoid them in his last two starts, both eight innings long.

Wood has been the exception to the rule, until Monday night.

But then, again would it have been a different game had the Indians bats been working? Perhaps that is an unfair statement when Tim Wakefield’s knuckleball was fluttering every which way into the night.

Both Lee and Wakefield were at the top of their game, Per the Boston Globe:

The base paths of Progressive Field, with only minor efforts needed by the grounds crew to drag the infield, looked nearly as pristine in the eighth inning as they did in the first last night. By the end of eight, the Indians had gotten two men to third base. The Red Sox hadn’t gotten one past second.

Credit Tim Wakefield, the ace so far of the Sox staff, and Cliff Lee, last year’s Cy Young Award winner, for the dearth of offense and the swift pace of the game. Each side had exactly six runners through those first eight innings, walks contributing runners for Wakefield, hits for Lee. 

Wakefield aside, the Indians are trying everything to get the bats going. Asdrubal Cabrera was moved up to the no.2 spot. Mark DeRosa is now hitting seven.

THE REST…

– Its all about adjustments for reliever Jensen Lewis.

– Despite the Boston Red Sox being in town, the weather being extremely nice and the Cavaliers having an off day; the attendance still struggled at “The Prog.” What gives?

– Before being ejected Monday, Eric Wedge got fired about the leadership and approach of his team.

There’s no indication that Indians batsmen have overcome their collective problems at the plate.

Consequently, manager Eric Wedge is trying to keep the pressure on to help the hitters make amends for their ineffective approach at the plate. 

Asked if he thought the hitters had gotten the message, Wedge said, “”If they haven’t, I’ll make sure they do. We’re not a young team anymore. We’re not old, either, but we have lots of guys who are right smack dab in the middle of their careers. 

“”A lot of things have happened that shouldn’t. We’ve always done things one way here, and that isn’t going to change.”

Going into Monday night’s game against the Red Sox, the Tribe had scored 11 runs and sustained three losses in the previous five games. Over this span, the team batting average is .238 overall and .216 with runners in scoring position. Moreover, the Indians have hit only one home run — a three-run blast by Grady Sizemore  — in the past five games. 

Wedge obviously feels more urgency to be proactive because of the team’s poor start, but he also knows that corrective measures can be achieved more quickly if team leaders become involved.

“”I’m not making any excuses,” Wedge said. “”I’m the leader of this club; I’m the manager. If I have to get upset, if I have to talk about myself, so be it. Basically, I know we’re a lot better club. I take full responsiblity, but what other players can do for other players is priceless.”

Wedge doesn’t think there is a leadership vacuum in the clubhouse, despite the losses of C.C. Sabathia, Casey Blake and others from last year.

“”It has to be position players who are in there every day,” Wedge said. “”They’re the ones that have to lead the way. And we definitely have people who can do it.”

Wedge also realizes that relatively few players will get out front and lead.  

“”More times than not, people wait around for somebody else to do something,” he said.

And when almost an entire lineup stops hitting?

“”That should not happen,” Wedge said. “”Should not H-A-P-P-E-N.”

NO (WAKE)UP CALL FOR HAFNER — With knuckleball specialist Tim Wakefield starting for the Red Sox, Wedge decided to give Travis Hafner a second consecutive game off. 

Not only is Hafner 0-for-9 against Wakefield, Wedge feared that altering his swing to hit a knuckleball might ruin his swing for several days.

“”I’m not crazy about Hafner hitting against a knuckleballer,” the manager said. “”He’s worked too hard to find his swing (after returning from surgery).” 

A NEW THREAT — Wedge is mindful that Jacoby Ellsbury stole home Sunday night against the Yankees. 

“I think we’ll keep an eye on him,” the manager said.

COLOR HIM SILVER, GOLD — Before Monday night’s game, Grady Sizemore was presented with his 2008 Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards. 

Sizemore has won Gold Gloves the past two seasons. This was his first Silver Slugger Award.  Before Sizemore was so honored in 2007, no Tribe player had won a Gold Glove since 2001, when Roberto Alomar and Omar Vizquel were winners. last Cleveland player to win a Silver Slugger Award was Victor Martinez in 2004. 

LAPORTA HONORED — Columbus outfielder Matt LaPorta was named International League Batter of the Week for hitting .520, scoring 10 runs and compiling a .613 on-base percentage over the past seven days. 

He ranks fourth in the league in average (.400), is tied for second in home runs (5), tied for third in hits (24) and is first in slugging percentage (.767) and runs (19).

FARM FACTS — Josh Barfield had two hits and two RBI, raising his average to .375, but Columbus lost 5-4 to Indianapolis. Toma Ohka delivered six scoreless innings, giving up two hits… Matt McBride lifted his average to .380 with a home run and a single, as Kinston beat Lynchburg 6-3. Eric Berger (2-1, 1.42 ERA) worked five scoreless innings, giving up three hits while walking none and striking out six.

The New York Yankees got its first taste of the new Yankee Stadium this week. The Indians will help them officially open the stadium on April 16.

It’s not exactly the House that Ruth Built, but its pretty darn close.

To be perfectly honest, from the stands it looks an awful lot like the old Yankee Stadium with a face-lift and a tummy tuck — that seems to be by design. The seats are still blue and the characteristic white facade lines the top of the park. The real difference is in the concourses, which are wide, breezy and go 360 degrees — around the new monument to the Yankees and the concession stands. — Per Bats.

The field dimensions remain virtually the same as the old stadium, with the exception of wider foul territory down the baselines and a shorter distance from the wall to the catcher.

“It looks exactly like the old ballpark from the dugout and when you get out there,” (Andy Pettitte) explained (in the New York Times blog, Bats). “It looks like it’s going to play big in left, short porch in right, which usually works out well for left-handed pitchers.”

The players and fans alike will be spoiled by the vastness of the stadium and the technology used in it.

The humongous club house now features personal laptops in every single locker, with a message system for communication.

 ”Every bit of this stadium has a ‘Wow!’ factor, and it’s going to stink for us to go on the road,” (Brian) Bruney said (to MLB.com). “Take a look around — there are screens in your locker, which is three times the size of other places. We have cubbyholes. We have a chef — crazy stuff. It’s the best venue in any sport, I can guarantee you.”

Food won’t be a problem for fans either, according to Kevin Devaney, at the Westchester Journal News.

I took two laps around the main concourse at Yankee Stadium this afternoon, which had to total about 12 miles in length. If you come to a game, you’ll never be wanting for food. They literally have everything, from tofu to fresh fruit stands to sushi to cheese steaks to Brother Jimmy’s barbecue. If you wanted a bowl of cereal, I’m sure it could be arranged.

Yankee Stadium sign of Apocalypse:

Official Yankees grass seed and sod pallets will soon be on sale throughout the New York area.

The sod is supposed to grow more frequently. The story notes that the Yankee Stadium grass is mowed twice a day. I don’t even like mowing the grass once a week.

Don’t forget about Boston

Not to be outdone, the Red Sox did plenty of renovations this off season on Fenway Park. Most notably (Per Extra bases):

– An improved right field roof box, where crews ripped out 383 seats, replacing them with 574 new seats and 100 standing room spaces with drink rails.

– Repairs to and waterproofing of a large portion of the concrete in the lower bowl area.

– All field box seats were replaced by seats with cushioned bottoms and cup holders.

– New food items will be on sale for fans throughout the concessions at the park. They include lobster rolls, pulled-pork sandwiches, burritos, boneless chicken wings, shrimp rolls, and steak tips.

I should have something up on the Mets new stadium soon as well.

I like this story by the Canton Rep’s Josh Weir on possible Comeback-Player-of-the-Year candidates – including two Indians in newcomer and right-handed pitcher Carl Pavano and All-Star catcher Victor Martinez. Of course, designated hitter Travis Hafner could have easily made the list as well.

Around baseball: Several players hope to recapture old magic in new locations

Barry Zito
The Giants are hoping for a little return on their $126 million investment.

The Boston Globe’s Red Sox blog, Extra Bases, has an update on the signing of former Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Rocco Baldelli and future Hall of Famer John Smoltz.

Baldelli officially has joined the Red Sox on a one year contract.

Smoltz is finalizing a one year, five million dollar deal with the team, which also could offer five million in incentives.

Anyone else think it will be weird seeing Smoltz in anything but a Braves uniform? I guess he did start with the Detroit Tigers though after all.