Tribe notes: Wedge isn’t ready to give up on season
Chris Assenheimer | The Chronicle-Telegram
CLEVELAND — Call him delusional, but Indians manager Eric Wedge still says this season is all about winning.
His comments prior to Saturday’s game against Tampa Bay were in direct contrast to those from general manager Mark Shapiro, who said after the team traded ace CC Sabathia to the Brewers on Monday that the rest of the season would focus on the development of the club’s young players for 2009.
“No, it hasn’t,” said Wedge, when asked if development had assumed center stage a year removed from the team’s first postseason appearance since 2001. “There’s always some development that goes on over the course of the year, but without a doubt, 100 percent, we’re here to win. And we feel like we can do that along with giving some opportunities to our young players.”
The Indians are 13 games under .500 and trailing the first-place White Sox by 14 games in the Central Division standings. They are expected to get two of their top run producers, Travis Hafner and Victor Martinez, back by August, as well as starting pitcher Fausto Carmona, but will also be relying on a number of unproven players in the lineup such as Andy Marte, Shin-Soo Choo and Ben Francisco.
That’s enough to achieve success, according to Wedge.
“It’s important that everyone understands we can win with the people we have,” he said.
New order
Wedge said with Cliff Lee expected to pitch on short rest in the All-Star Game on Tuesday night, that he would alter his second-half rotation to give Lee extra time off.
Lee pitched Friday and under the rotation’s current order would follow Paul Byrd and Aaron Laffey to make his first post-break start July 20, preceding Matt Ginter and Jeremy Sowers.
Lee (12-2, 2.31 ERA) is a strong candidate to start for the American League at Yankee Stadium, with AL manager Terry Francona (Boston) expected to make the decision Monday.
“I would think he would be one of the top two or three options,” Wedge said. “It’s a tough decision for (Francona). Either way they go, we’ll be respectful of the decision.”
Ready, set, go
Carmona (strained left hip) threw a bullpen session at Progressive Field in preparation for his first rehab start at Class A Lake County on Monday.
The right-hander is expected to make at least two rehab appearances before possibly rejoining the rotation at the end of the month. He hasn’t pitched since leaving a start against the Rangers after two innings on May 23.
A diss from Vic
Martinez (right elbow surgery) was in the clubhouse Saturday, when a reporter approached him at his locker. After telling the reporter he couldn’t grant his interview request because he had to see the doctor, Martinez sat down at a table and began playing cards with teammate Andy Marte.
The Indians are still hopeful Martinez, who has been on the disabled list since June 12, can return by August.
Coming and goings
The Indians made it official Saturday, optioning reliever Brian Slocum back to Triple-A Buffalo, while promoting Ginter to start against the Rays. Ginter is expected to fill a spot in the rotation until Carmona is ready to return.
Slocum, who was recently converted to relief work, made two appearances for the Indians, allowing six runs on eight hits (two home runs).
“We’re just not seeing up here what we’ve seen down (in the minors),” Wedge said of the
27-year-old right-hander, who is 3-5 with a 4.62 ERA in 18 games (11 starts) for Buffalo.
Roundin’ third
The Indians are the first team in history to snap a double-digit losing streak with two straight wins by five or more runs against the club with the best record in baseball —13-2 and 5-0 over the Rays on Thursday and Friday.
• Cleveland and Boston have the most shutouts in baseball with 10 apiece.
Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.
| |
|
Filed by Chris Assenheimer | The Chronicle-Telegram July 13th, 2008 in Sports. Popularity: 10% |
 Email this story
 Print this story
Read comments and discuss this story
Report an innappropriate comment
|
In order to comment, you must agree to our user agreement
and discussion guidelines.
You must be registered and logged in to post a comment. If you aren't already registered, click here. If you are registered, click here to log in.
Write a Comment