It's The Looch, and maybe more

UPDATE:

The PD and MLB.com report the Tribe will make another roster move after tonight's game.

Anthony Castronvince of MLB.com thinks it will be Luis Valbuena - who can play 2B, SS and 3B. That could mean he could be the utility infielder and that Tony Graffanino could be gone.

I doubt Valbuena would be called up to sit and watch. Is it possible the Tribe is already tired of the swiss cheese left side of the infield and that Valbuena will take over at 3B, with DeRosa moving to the outfield?

That would put Trevor Crowe and Ben Francisco on the bubble.

The Tribe has 5 outfielders currently, which would make one wonder if they'd bring up a 6th in Matt LaPorta. But it's clear LaPorta has the big-bat potential the Tribe was hoping DL'ed Travis Hafner would provide.

LaPorta's arrival also would put Crowe or Francisco at risk.

There's also some talk the new arrival could be Josh Barfield. Not sure how he fits in, unless he goes to 2B, Asdrubal Cabrerra goes to short and Jhonny Peralta moves to third - once again putting LaRosa into the outfield and jeopardizing Crowe and Francisco. But that seems like too much futzing around, especially because it would add another hurdle for the seemingly befuddled Peralta to overcome.

If it comes down to Crowe or Francisco who go, I'd say it has to be Crowe. He seems to need more time at Triple-A and he would also benefit from regular playing time.

LaPorta is the obvious choice if the Tribe perceives the need to replace Hafner's power. Valbuena would be my choice if the thought is that the infield's need for shoring up is more important.

Whatever the case, if another player is indeed on the way, the criticism in the post below - written earlier today - is no longer valid.


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I don't remember the exact quote but when the Indians brought up Rich Rundles to replace Travis Hafner on the roster, skipper Eric Wedge was clear that Rundles was a one-night deal.

But there was talk about turning over every stone and taking their time to make some decisions (plural) with the day off on Thursday. It sounded like something of decent size might be happening.

Would there be more than Rundles bidding adieu? Might Trevor Crowe be on his way to Columbus? Or Ben Francisco - although he hit the ball well on the very night Wedge starting talking about changes (plural) and scouring the system.

Might we see Matt LaPorta? Or Luis Valbuena?

Heck, Mark Shapiro even said on a TV interview during the game the other night that the team might consider going from 14 pitchers back down to the usual 12. Sure sounded exciting.

Of course Shapiro also said in the same interview that we would "get LaPorta up here this year for sure." Translation: not gonna happen now.

The Tribe boss also stated that David Dellucci - also hitting well at Triple-A- would be back sooner or later - but you new from his words that it would be sooner.

We all knew it would be the Looch coming up today. The management loves veterans, and this one in particular. Plus they owe him $4 million this year and they've gotten nothing out of him in the first 2 and 1/6 seasons of his 3-year deal so far.

There's no surprise that Dellucci is back with the Tribe.

My only question is why tease us with talk of "taking everyone into consideration" and making "decisions" (plural) on the just-completed off day.

Maybe The Looch can fill the cleanup hole too. Wedgie tried it last year.

We had a few moments to daydream about change. Instead, we got more of the same.

Food and some thoughts

The Tribe game ended pretty late last night so I didn't have time to post (my alarm goes off at 5:00).

So I figured I'd tick off a few quick thoughts while on my lunch break

Good thing I wasn't eating while watching last night's game. It was butt ugly, beginning with both starting pitchers. Neither the Tribe's Anthony Reyes nor the Sox' Brad Penny got out of the third inning, yet they gave up a combined 14 runs (11 earned) in 4 2/3 innings - tossing 175 pitches between them. Wow! The umpire had a postage-stamp zone, but still.

The Red Sox made three costly errors that led to runs, including the game winner in the ninth. In all, only 4 of the Tribe's 8 runs were earned. Making the game even uglier, the Tribe left 12 runners on base, 6 of them in scoring position with two out. Despite scoring 9 runs, you could argue the clutch hitting still wasn't there.

One bit of irony. I blasted Ben Francisco and Mark DeRosa on this blog Monday night as guys I was losing patience with. DeRosa went 4 for 5 Tuesday with a game-tying homer in the 7th. Francisco went 2 for 4 with a 3-run jack, which also - temporarily - tied the game in the 3rd. Let me just say this - Jhonny Peralta you're a bum.

Tony Sipp looked solid again last night. Really tough on lefties. Three Ks in 1 1/3 innings. Raffie Perez also looked good, allowing just 1 hit over 1 2/3 innings. They could be quite a duo if Raffie can get himself back together and Sipp keeps slinging it. Very few teams have the luxury of two solid lefties in the bullpen. Not saying we're there yet, but it's a pleasant thought right now.

As I mentioned in response to a comment Monday, it's beginning to look like David Dellucci will be arriving soon - and not Matt LaPorta. The PD quotes manager Eric Wedge as saying Dellucci may be up with the Tribe as early as this weekend. Can't wait.

Will it be Trevor Crowe or Ben Francisco who goes? My money is on Crowe, who looks like he could use more AAA time.

Well, now that the Tribe has put together its 6th one-game winning streak, let's see if they can make it two in a row for a change. With Wild Man Carmona going up against the most-patient team in the league at the plate, I don't like the chances. (Let's hope the TFIYL affect work as well with Fausto as it did last night with DeRosa and Francisco.

Tribe one-game streak screeches to a halt

The Boston Red Sox came to town on a 10-game winning streak.

The Tribe entered tonight's game on a 1-game streak - their fifth 1-game winning streak of the season so far, and just one win shy of their longest winning streak of the year.

Something had to give.

I'll give you three guesses.

Well, we'll just go out and start a new streak tomorrow.

There was something a little different about tonight's loss though.

The Tribe sprung a new leak. One of the only working parts on the team so far this season sputtered.

Tonight Kerry Wood spit the bit - giving up a three-run jack to Jason Bay to spoil the night for Cliff Lee, who had held the mighty Sox offense at bay (if you will) for 8 innings.

Hey, these things happen, and I'm sure we won't see too much of that out of Wood this season. But it seems like every night something new goes wrong - except for the offense which has been wronging us for nearly 10 days now.

No wonder Eric Wedge is angry and frustrated. He verbally slapped his club again this afternoon - the everyday players in particular - saying they are leaderless, they are in their prime and they are playing like rookies.

Wedge managed to get himself tossed from tonight's game by arguing two calls on subsequent pitches in the fourth inning. It appeared Wedge was wrong on both calls, and they ended up being of no consequence. But you can't blame the guy for blowing off a little steam.

Now, if he got himself tossed on purpose to fire up his team - well, it didn't work.

Seems as though nothing works.

I can understand Wedge's annoyance with his club. Nobody expected what we are seeing. But he's starting to look desperate - which in fact he may be.

In chastising his team for lacking leaders, Wedge is quoted by the PD this afternoon as saying the following:

"Make no mistake. I'm the leader of this club. But I'm the manager, not a player. . .what a player can do for another player is, to rob a phrase, priceless."

He is saying his leadership alone apparently is not enough. While there's some truth to that, and it's not really a capitulation, it is only about three steps or so away from Chris Palmer's "runaway train" comments 10 years ago, back with the reborn Browns.

Sounds like Wedge is not too sure where to turn next.

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A couple of other thoughts before I go.

Is anyone else growing tired of watching Ben Francisco. Anybody think it might be time to get a look at Matt LaPorta, who is tearing up Triple-A?. (Maybe that's one place Wedge can turn?)

A last thought (and I sure hope this feeling goes away soon - as I think it ultimately will). Does anyone else look out at Mark DeRosa at 3B and wish it were Casey Blake instead? Please tell me that feeling will pass.