But Mr Moohead…The Indians Can’t Get Worse….
As I have countlessly stated over 4 years on this show, Eric Wedge is capable of bringing a team to its knees. Long losing streaks are nothing new. But it’s different this time. The organization is no longer living on Dick Jacobs’ fumes. We are now seeing the fruits of Larry Dolan’s save-a-thon. We are once again reduced to selling off our stars for minor league talent.
Curiously, how can a minor league system go from Thome, Ramirez and Sabathia to Gutierrez, Mastny and Slocum? It’s called investment and decision making. Dolan has drained the minor league system, filling our roster with bozo journeymen (Dellucci, Velandia, Carroll) and big league busts (Marte, Jason Davis, Sowers).
Add in a few injuries, and now the team is little more than the Buffalo Bisons with a few veteran journeymen. And the manager cannot get a group of inexperienced AAA guys and career near misses to play professional ball.
Guys not covering first…catchers missing pitches…wild pitches with men on third…two out relief disasters…baserunning errors…third base coaching glitches…AND THAT’S JUST THE LAST 2 WEEKS!
We are NOT in rebuilding mode. We have no minor league foundation to build around. Our best guys are hurt. Our Cy Young winner is all but gone (rumored to be gone for AA prospects who are 2 years away). The Indians are in decline. From the great 1995-2001 period, to the current dry spell. We have no Colons in Class A or AA. No closers. No way to get them unless we trade our best players, which will assure 2-3 years of KC Royal baseball.
If it were 2-3 years, I could live with it. But I see no sign of Dolan shoring up our minor league system. Unlike the Brewers, Rays and others, the Indians are a declining team with no future prospects and a 65 million payroll.
Fire Wedge? Makes no difference. Without players and young talent, we can hire the spirit of Earl Weaver and still lose. The answer to this dilemma?
Wait for football season and pray LeBron stays put. Baseball in Cleveland is an after thought.
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Comment by: Calf
Posted on July 6th, 2008 at 7:20 pmMLBtraderumors.com is Reporting that The Deal is All But announced to have The Cleveland Indians Trade Pitcher CC Sabathia to the Brewers for Class Double A outfielder Matt Laporta, Class Single A Third Baseman Taylor Green, and another undisclosed Prospect.
Laporta is hitting 288 with 87 hits in 302 At bats,with 56 Runs scored, 23 doubles, 2 Triples, 20 Home Runs and 66 RBI’s with 45 Walks and 63 Strike outs, His On Base Percentage is 402 and his Slugging Percentage is 576 along with an OPS of 9.78
Green is hitting 295 with 89 Hits in 302 At bats, 33 Runs, 15 Doubles, 0 Triples, 10 Home runs, and 54 RBI’s with 42 Walks and 42 Strikeouts, his On Base Percentage is 380, slugging Percentange is 444 and his OPS is 824.