Does This Season for the Tribe Come Down to Preserving Mark Shapiro's Ego?
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I wrote this article two weeks ago but after review, it still is applicable. What really concerns me this season is that Mark Shapiro and Eric Wedge has really be telling the press and the fans 'untruths'. The both said that who they keep on the roster this year will depend on how they perform, in Spring Training and in the season and not whether they have any options left or guaranteed contracts. That was not the truth.I am at the point where I am wondering if it comes down to preserving Shapiro's ego and not letting unwisely spent dollars walk.First, Andy Marte was kept because Shapiro is still trying to prove that his Coco Crisp/Marte trade was not a horrible trade for the Tribe. Marte performed poorly the last two years with the Tribe and at Buffalo, came in this spring in 'dissapointly poor shape' according Wedge, performed poorly this spring with the exception of a few home runs, his fielding was pathetic. He can really only play third base but he makes the team as a utility man. Remember last season, Marte was given the starting job at third base and Ryan Garko almost didn't make the team. Was Marte playing 'asleep at the wheel' this spring to make sure that the Tribe released him so he could play for another team. He is smart enough to realize that he is not going to get very many at bats with Wedge's buddy Casey Blake around. And even Marte knows that he is not a 'utility player'.Even though I think that he will do fine, Jeremy Carroll had the utility spot sewn up regardless of what Josh Barfield or Andy Gonzalez did. Not base on performance but because he was signed as a free agent. Barfield was doomed for Triple A and Buffalo regardless of what he or anyone else did on the field.David Dellucci and Jason Michaels were given they left field platoon before spring and again, regardless of performance, Francisco or anyone else was destined for Buffalo. There a few teams out there that would take Michaels off our hands as a fourth outfielder but no team is desperate enough to take Dellucci and his $7.75 Million salary that we owe him off our hands.Most knowledgeable baseball fans would much prefer a platoon of Ben Francisco and Shin-Shoo Choo rather than the Dellucci/Michaels platoon, and it comes considerably cheaper too. Don't forget, we have Blake and Carroll who can fill in the outfield if needed. In addition, there are many outfielders out there available that are as good as or better than Dellucci/Michaels if the young guys would falter.Choo, when he is finally activated in late May will be released unless there are injuries to the outfield. The Tribe brass is adamant that they will try to prove that signing Dellucci and Michaels was not a mistake.In spite of all of those wrong decisions, the Tribe may be able to overcome them, just like the large number of poor decisions that were made last season. Injuries, not ability or superior talent evaluation, enabled the Tribe to be bring up players who would not have been given a chance otherwise. And it was not a shock to many of us that they performed well when finally given a chance.If the brain trust of the Indians try to force feed us Dellucci, Michaels and Marte like they tried to force things in 2006, I can see the same type of frustrating season as 2006. Well, it is starting to look a lot like 2006.
Editorial
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About the Author Bob Salyer (scribe)
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5 months ago
Mark Shapiro doesn't have to save his ego at all. He has won two executive of the year awards in the past four years, he has built a damn good team with a lot less wiggle room than some larger markets.
Francisco and Barfield lost because they had options, yes they performed well in the spring, but right now Francisco is under .200 in AAA and Barfield will be up before you know it. His lack of ability to play multiple positions cost his the utility role to Carroll. And I'd rather have him getting at-bats nightly in AAA as opposed to sporadic at-bats as a bench player. Carroll is a veteran who has done that and can play multiple positions, that is why he is up and Barfield is down. If Cabrera can't snap out of it, you will see the Indians make a move to Barfield, this looks like last year when Barfield was struggling and they brought up Cabrera who was producing. Yes, the Indians promoted based on performance as you said they do not. Barfield was a big investment, are we letting him rot away on the major league bench as Marte?
You are right on Marte, but who should be our corner infield backup? Marte has played 1B/3B and was out of options. Marte did perform well with like 6 home runs in the spring. He deserves a chance. Frankly, I'd like to see a little more of him. He will never get into a rythm playing once a week. I also think the Coco trade has still worked out rather well even without Marte, Kelly Shoppach is giving great value.
As for the outfield, Michaels hits Left-handed pitching really well and is a solid defender. Just look up his platoon stats against lefties. The platoon will only work if Dellucci stays healthy and on the field. He has a similar track record against righties, without the defense though. Francisco deserves a shot, but I think we are just fine in the outfield right now. If it comes to the middle of May, things might be different and a move might be needed, but it is too early.
Also, last season when Free Agent Trot Nixon was struggling, the Indians didn't hesitate to pull the plug on him and insert Gutierrez who was performing well in AAA. They also brought in Lofton to plug the left-handed hole in the left-field platoon. The Indians do have a track record of inserting new players for under performers, it is just too early to jump to conclusions. Give it some time.
from 5 months ago
Michael, I may be wrong but when a guy keeps putting out certain people on the roster who should not even be on the squad, there must be a reason. My search indicated to me that it must have been Shapiro's ego of not letting go of guys he has brought in, knowing that there are better players available and different options.
As I wrote to Nino, Fransicso struggling at Buffalo is more due to frustration and most of us would be at the same point also. And the statement that Barfield can only play one position but yet they keep Marte who can really only play one position. You don't want Barfield to waste on the bench because
'he was a big investment'. Well, I though Marte was a big investment too and he is certainly rotting on the bench.
The way Blake is playing right now, Marte could not do any worse and would at least give us a little range at 3B.
Michaels hits left hand pitching really well (?) and a solid defender. That tells me that having him around for 3 years has caused our expectations to be lowered considerebly. I don't understand you saying that if Dellucci stays healthy, the platoon will work. If failed miserably last season, before Dellucci was injured. And then Michaels lost all of his playing time to Kenny Lofton, who was what, 49 years old last season. And Dellucci wasn't even thought about being activated for the playoffs and Michaels only had a couple token appearances. That tells me a lot on not what I think of Dellucci and Michaels but what Shapiro and Wedge thinks of the platoon. Then they all of sudden think that this year will be magical for both. Well, this failure was predictable for any who really looked at the situation.
I could not believe that you said "but I think we are just fine in the outfield right now". My analysis would be that it couldn't get a whole lot worse in both LF and RF.
The Indian's didn't hesitate in pulling the plug on Nixon? It took more than half the season for them to finally make changes and they were affected because of injury. Remember, Blake and Nxon were going to platoon in RF and Gutierrez was the odd man out until Marte and Dellucci were injured.
As previously stated, they brought Lofton in and he not only filled the left handed hole in LF but he also filled the RH hole in LF. The reasons the Tribe finally insert new players in is because of injury, not because of poor performances. They finally did cut back Nixon but it was well into the season.
We have given it some time. This trend was with us the entire second half of last season too.
5 months ago
Mark Shapiro doesn't have to save his ego at all. He has won two executive of the year awards in the past four years, he has built a damn good team with a lot less wiggle room than some larger markets.
Francisco and Barfield lost because they had options, yes they performed well in the spring, but right now Francisco is under .200 in AAA and Barfield will be up before you know it. His lack of ability to play multiple positions cost his the utility role to Carroll. And I'd rather have him getting at-bats nightly in AAA as opposed to sporadic at-bats as a bench player. Carroll is a veteran who has done that and can play multiple positions, that is why he is up and Barfield is down. If Cabrera can't snap out of it, you will see the Indians make a move to Barfield, this looks like last year when Barfield was struggling and they brought up Cabrera who was producing. Yes, the Indians promoted based on performance as you said they do not. Barfield was a big investment, are we letting him rot away on the major league bench as Marte?
You are right on Marte, but who should be our corner infield backup? Marte has played 1B/3B and was out of options. Marte did perform well with like 6 home runs in the spring. He deserves a chance. Frankly, I'd like to see a little more of him. He will never get into a rythm playing once a week. I also think the Coco trade has still worked out rather well even without Marte, Kelly Shoppach is giving great value.
As for the outfield, Michaels hits Left-handed pitching really well and is a solid defender. Just look up his platoon stats against lefties. The platoon will only work if Dellucci stays healthy and on the field. He has a similar track record against righties, without the defense though. Francisco deserves a shot, but I think we are just fine in the outfield right now. If it comes to the middle of May, things might be different and a move might be needed, but it is too early.
Also, last season when Free Agent Trot Nixon was struggling, the Indians didn't hesitate to pull the plug on him and insert Gutierrez who was performing well in AAA. They also brought in Lofton to plug the left-handed hole in the left-field platoon. The Indians do have a track record of inserting new players for under performers, it is just too early to jump to conclusions. Give it some time.
5 months ago
sorry for the double post, don't know how that happened
5 months ago
You are way off base on Andy Marte...
First off.. What is the big deal with him being on the roster?
Ryan Garko plays first, he's played every game there. If they want to give him a break they play Vic at first with Shoppach at the plate. Middle Infield is taken by Carroll.. All the outfield spots are fine, they have four guys, and Grady never has a day off. So you got three outfielders for two spots.
That leaves 3rd base, who is gonna spell Casey and why not Andy?
Guy has played in what, 2-3 games this year? What do you want him to do with that playing time, hit a homer ever at bat?
Mark Shapiro isn't looking to save his bacon on this trade. He still has faith in Marte and wants to make sure he can't perform up to his potential before he makes a rash move... Shapiro isn't interested in "saving" anything, he does what is best for the team and always has. He admits he makes bad trades, EVERYONE makes bad trades. But so far they still have time with Marte, so why get rid of him?
Dellucci.. Once again they aren't trying to prove anything... They don't have a decision to make right now because Ben Francisco isn't putting any pressure on them. Until Choo comes back they won't have to make a move. So whats the big deal?
I'm sorry but I just think you are way off base on this Marte situation.
from 5 months ago
Nino, Andy Marte is a big deal, so much of a deal that we traded our starting LF, Coco Crisp to get him and then ended up spending over $15 Million to get Michaels and sign Dellucci to replace him, inadequately, I might add.
For a player so special, planting his rear on the bench as 'a utility player' is useless. I have said many times that we need to find out whether he can play major league ball but getting 7 at bats in 19 games ins't going to do it. Now if Marte was playing backup to a Joe Crede for instance, I could see why you wouldn't sit a player who is hitting well. But Casey Blake? He is batting .189 and not doing that well in the field. Yes, he has made a couple of nice plays but I have seen him, more than once, go the wrong way and make what should have been an out, a hit.
That is where you misinterpeted my comment of PLAY MARTE OR TRADE HIM. Sitting his butt on the bench is not doing anything positive for the team or Andy Marte. And the reason is because Shapiro is running scared of the Brandon Phillips fiasco.
Just tell me of a good trade or move that Shapiro has made in the last two years. If you analyze the moves that he had made and the lineups that he and Wedge have tried to maintain, with the non-core players, almost every move has backfired. If a person would look at these moves with an open mind, it is quite obvious.
I agree that every GM will make a trade that goes bad. But that should not hold you back in making a trade in attempts to improve areas that you know need improving. IMO, Shapiro is fearful of making a bad trade so he hords the prospects and won't make the necessary moves to make this team better.
I have said many times that I think that Mark Shapiro will be a great 'President of the Indians' with his business mind and ethics. But, based on his performance the last two years, I really question his evaluation of major league talent.
I won't even go into why Francisco is struggling at Buffalo. He dominated there for 2 years and there isn't a problem with him other than being very discouraged and who can serioulsy blame him. We all KNOW that he should never have been there in the first place.
Besides Francisco and even the eventual move when Choo returns, there are much better options out there to bring us a major league caliber LF that can help boost this team's offense. And it won't take giving the farm away.
Reggie Willits is a win/win move for us but I don't think any move will be made. And much of the reason will be Shapiro's ego and Wedge's bull headed attitude.
No, I think I am right on base with the Marte situation. As a matter of fact we agree that he should be given a chance. But 7 at bats in 19 games won't do it.
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