(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
In all fairness, I have to look at the situation objectively. Are the injuries his fault? No. Are the repeated bullpen meltdowns his fault? No. Is the lack of timely, clutch hitting his fault? No.
So this is why he looks so dejected and defeated. Too bad. Someone needs to be held accountable. After all, they are the worst team in the American League.
Most nights, they look like amateurs, and to me, this is a direct reflection of the manager.
The bigger problem is that this isn’t the first season that they’ve been a huge disappointment. So blame 2008 on injuries and the bullpen all you want: It’s just another lost season under Wedge’s watch.
Personally, I think both Wedge and Shapiro should be canned immediately. Unfortunately, this won’t happen.
A few weeks ago, I said the reason was because the Indians were just a hot-streak away from moving up the standings in the terrible AL Central. Now, it’s more likely that management will use the injuries and other excuses as a reason to keep Wedge.
Wedge and Shapiro are tight; remember, Shapiro fired Charlie Manuel (you know, the World Series Champion) and hand-picked Wedge. He’s not going anywhere. It makes me sick.
2. Last week Kelly Shoppach became the most recent player to be publicly chastised by Eric Wedge for his play this season. While it is hard to find much fault with Shop's performance behind the plate, his performance in the batter's box has been truly awful.
Do you think Wedge was right to call Shoppach out in a public forum for his disappointing hitting? What do you think is wrong with Shoppach that has caused his offensive production to decline so sharply this season?
Nino Colla: If I can, Shop has been pretty awful behind the plate as well. His defense has fallen off the track since his first year with the Tribe.
Wedge has no right to call out a player's performance in my opinion.
I fully support him calling out a Jhonny Peralta for not playing hard or being a jerk for not wanting to play third. I do not support him calling out Shoppach though, because as much as I'm disappointed in him, he always plays hard.
Nothing is wrong with Shoppach. This is him. He's a back-up catcher for a reason and he's proving it.
Last year, he hit a lot of home runs because he got a lot of fastballs. He's a fastball pull hitter who has bigger power than anyone else on this team.
But he has no eye and no plate discipline. Now that the opposition is aware of his game, they will not give him the fastball to pound. The solution is to not play him as much as Wedge has been, but don't tell that to Eric.
Samantha Bunten: While I readily acknowledge that Shoppach's performance this year has been sub par, I'm not sure I agree with Wedge's decision to publicly go after him.
Jhonny Peralta has spent years being lazy and indifferent and had the audacity to whine about a position change, so I fully support Wedge each and every time he calls out Peralta because what he is addressing is Peralta’s lack of effort.
But going after Shoppach, a guy who gives 150 percent every day? That doesn't sit right with me.
As for what might be wrong with Shop, I think it is pretty obvious he's pressing. Who wouldn't, after fighting for and perhaps arguably winning the starting catcher's position last year, only to arrive this year to find himself once again in the midst of one of Eric Wedge’s ever-present platoon schemes?
Add the trade rumors to that, and it becomes pretty clear why a player might press so hard that his performance suffers noticeably.
Dave Wiley: No. I don't think it is ever the correct call to place someone in the public forum like that. Bad move by the Wedge-meister.
If I were Shoppach, I would respond publicly by saying "Well, at least I've never worn a 'Porn-stache'".
One thing I've always admired about Wedge was the fact he didn't publicly challenge players like a five-year old. Let me cross that bit of father-figurehood off my list of "Reasons to keep Wedge".
Hmm...after crossing that off, there is nothing left on my list.
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