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Do IT this week: Layering
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 05:30 p.m. EDT, Jul 06, 2009
Until this year, General Manager Mark Shapiro had never gone through a season in which the Indians' performance fell so totally below expectations and the heat on his manager, Eric Wedge, was so intense.
This kind of season takes a toll on all of the decision makers associated with a club. But maybe it's true that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
''It's not something I ever thought about, because I didn't think this outcome was a potential reality,'' Shapiro said of what is fast becoming a lost year for the Tribe. ''It's certainly not enjoyable, because I didn't want to see the focus put on anyone but myself. But I accept it as the reality of this business, this game.''
For Shapiro, it's more important than ever to filter out the emotions — his and the fans' — from the way he goes about his tasks.
''I'm dealing with this the way I've dealt with everything else in my seven-plus years as general manager,'' he said. ''There is a consistency in the way we make decisions and a consistency in the way we communicate with people.
''That's the right way to do business that I think ultimately leads to a better organization and better results. I think it's important not to deviate when emotions run high and disappointments are great. That's not to say we don't go through a tremendous amount of self-analysis and self-criticism.''
Shapiro does not believe that Wedge will cave in to the criticism from the fans and media.
''Eric is strong,'' Shapiro said. ''People can make a lot of accusations at Eric, but if you spend any time with him, you recognize he's a tough individual, a strong individual.
''Behind closed doors, he's largely the same guy he is out here. He's focused on the job, the task at hand, one day at a time.''
Simple wish list
Shapiro doesn't know how active he will be in the trade market the rest of the year, but he has one objective.
''Clearly, we're looking for pitching,'' he said. ''Starting pitching, relief pitching, any way we can get it. Young pitchers, who we can control for multiple seasons.
''I don't know if we will be able to get that, because there are probably 26 teams looking for the same thing.''
Clubhouse reaction
When Shapiro announced that Wedge would keep his job at least through the season, he was trying to avoid a potential distraction for the players.
''It wasn't a distraction for me,'' Cliff Lee said. ''It's nothing that has anything to do with me.
''Wedge has been my manager since I've been here. He's what I'm used to. Until someone tells me different, he's my manager. To be honest, this isn't something I put too much thought into.''
Ryan Garko didn't see the speculation about Wedge's future as a distraction, either.
''As a player, you just go out and play,'' he said. ''It's out of our control, and it's part of the business.''
Does Garko think it's fair that Wedge has taken most of the criticism for the team's failure?
''It goes with the territory,'' he said. ''He's the manager, the leader, and I know he's not scared to be in that position.
''He's the only manager I've ever played for. We've had a lot of success with him here. He brought a lot of us to the big leagues and made us better players, so it's [Shapiro's announcement] good to hear.''
Other stuff
Since coming off the disabled list June 23, Grady Sizemore is batting .268 with two home runs and 13 RBI in 11 games. . . .During the six-game homestand, Shin-Soo Choo batted .333 with four doubles, three home runs and 11 RBI in 33 at-bats. . . .Ben Francisco batted .409 in 22 at-bats during the homestand.
Farm facts
Fausto Carmona gave up one run and six hits, walking one and striking out five in five innings, as Columbus beat Toledo 8-1 in Class AAA. Rafael Betancourt threw one inning, striking out two.
Sheldon Ocker can be reached at socker@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Indians blog at http://www.ohio.com/tribematters. Follow the Indians on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ABJ_Indians.
Until this year, General Manager Mark Shapiro had never gone through a season in which the Indians' performance fell so totally below expectations and the heat on his manager, Eric Wedge, was so intense.
This kind of season takes a toll on all of the decision makers associated with a club. But maybe it's true that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
''It's not something I ever thought about, because I didn't think this outcome was a potential reality,'' Shapiro said of what is fast becoming a lost year for the Tribe. ''It's certainly not enjoyable, because I didn't want to see the focus put on anyone but myself. But I accept it as the reality of this business, this game.''
For Shapiro, it's more important than ever to filter out the emotions — his and the fans' — from the way he goes about his tasks.
''I'm dealing with this the way I've dealt with everything else in my seven-plus years as general manager,'' he said. ''There is a consistency in the way we make decisions and a consistency in the way we communicate with people.
''That's the right way to do business that I think ultimately leads to a better organization and better results. I think it's important not to deviate when emotions run high and disappointments are great. That's not to say we don't go through a tremendous amount of self-analysis and self-criticism.''
Shapiro does not believe that Wedge will cave in to the criticism from the fans and media.
''Eric is strong,'' Shapiro said. ''People can make a lot of accusations at Eric, but if you spend any time with him, you recognize he's a tough individual, a strong individual.
''Behind closed doors, he's largely the same guy he is out here. He's focused on the job, the task at hand, one day at a time.''
Simple wish list
Shapiro doesn't know how active he will be in the trade market the rest of the year, but he has one objective.
''Clearly, we're looking for pitching,'' he said. ''Starting pitching, relief pitching, any way we can get it. Young pitchers, who we can control for multiple seasons.
''I don't know if we will be able to get that, because there are probably 26 teams looking for the same thing.''
Clubhouse reaction
When Shapiro announced that Wedge would keep his job at least through the season, he was trying to avoid a potential distraction for the players.
''It wasn't a distraction for me,'' Cliff Lee said. ''It's nothing that has anything to do with me.
''Wedge has been my manager since I've been here. He's what I'm used to. Until someone tells me different, he's my manager. To be honest, this isn't something I put too much thought into.''
Ryan Garko didn't see the speculation about Wedge's future as a distraction, either.
''As a player, you just go out and play,'' he said. ''It's out of our control, and it's part of the business.''
Does Garko think it's fair that Wedge has taken most of the criticism for the team's failure?
''It goes with the territory,'' he said. ''He's the manager, the leader, and I know he's not scared to be in that position.
''He's the only manager I've ever played for. We've had a lot of success with him here. He brought a lot of us to the big leagues and made us better players, so it's [Shapiro's announcement] good to hear.''
Other stuff
Since coming off the disabled list June 23, Grady Sizemore is batting .268 with two home runs and 13 RBI in 11 games. . . .During the six-game homestand, Shin-Soo Choo batted .333 with four doubles, three home runs and 11 RBI in 33 at-bats. . . .Ben Francisco batted .409 in 22 at-bats during the homestand.
Farm facts
Fausto Carmona gave up one run and six hits, walking one and striking out five in five innings, as Columbus beat Toledo 8-1 in Class AAA. Rafael Betancourt threw one inning, striking out two.
Sheldon Ocker can be reached at socker@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Indians blog at http://www.ohio.com/tribematters. Follow the Indians on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ABJ_Indians.
Comments
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Canton, OH
Posted 05:47 PM, 07/06/2009
Get use to it, Mark. . .
Tallmadge, OH
Posted 06:54 PM, 07/06/2009
Shapiro's biggest wish - more money to solve his problems from the cheapskate Dolans. You can't win consistantly in the AL without money. Boston & NY prove that year after year after year.
Stow, OH
Posted 07:10 PM, 07/06/2009
Unfamiliar territory ? I wouldn't call 1 playoff appearance in 7 years a winning tradition either .
Posted 07:10 PM, 07/06/2009
OMG. The only thing the Yankees have proven recently is that having money does not mean entry into the playoffs. Good management is the key. The Twins have proven this year after year. If the tribe is not willing to fire Wedge, OK. However, the pitching coach must go. Has he turned around any pitcher since he's been there?
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Posted 09:09 PM, 07/06/2009
Sad truth is, I (and many others) saw this disaster-in-waiting in the off-season, when we decided to go with the same old inconsistent bats. I didn't know the pitching would be quite so bad, but the lineup issue has been a problem for several years now...with no positive influx whatsoever.
Mark and Eric may not have been "worried" during the first week, when we were like 1-5. But I knew immediately: this is a trend we will not recover from. And oh, how I wish I'd been wrong.
Posted 07:17 AM, 07/07/2009
"There is a consistency in the way we make decisions..."
Carmona: he's a starter, he's a reliever, he's a closer, he's a starter, he's in the minors trying to learn to pitch again.
Yep, that's consistency. And that's just one example.
Jefferson, Oh
Posted 07:37 AM, 07/07/2009
Larry is right. The Tribe management is consistently inconsistent.
Where is their highly priased farm system? Why is it there is no one ready to step up? Every player seems to have issues which prevent him from moving up???
Their pitching is in shambles throughout the organization. When a player is ready for a new contract, they trade him. When they trade for a player, they develop him then trade him. Why is it so many ex-Indian players are doing well with other teams in the league?
I have never seen so many excuses as to why they cannot field a team. Could it POSSIBLY be that their player evaluations by management, recruiters and coaches is "off base"? Or is it simply that their coaching is not good?
Akron, Oh
Posted 07:52 AM, 07/07/2009
Unreal is this clown a joke or what? No changes ahead for this sinking ship!
Hiram, GA
Posted 08:32 AM, 07/07/2009
Dolan is sick, the fans are sick of this crapola, let's hope he sells the team this fall and a new owner who puts out hte money and brings in baseball people that can bring the consistancy that is sorely lacking with htis organization. Take a look at what Dan Gilbert is doing with the Cavs. This team in it's present ownership will never get to the promised land without some sound investment.
Hiram, GA
Posted 08:32 AM, 07/07/2009
And maybe I can do a better job with my typing!
Akron, OH
Posted 10:08 AM, 07/07/2009
Dolan's final move might be the whole Tribe.
To Portland, Vancouver, or Las Vegas.
Since people start talkin' Browns before Independence Day around here, who'd really notice?
Posted 10:13 AM, 07/07/2009
To Old Man Grump......the Tribe cannot financially compete with the Yankees or Red Sox. To Slovensko......Fear the Roo? Good news though....the Browns are just around the corner!
Clinton, Oh
Posted 10:46 AM, 07/07/2009
Shapiro is in unfamiliar territory? What exactly would you call last year..a stunning success?
Posted 11:13 AM, 07/07/2009
''I'm dealing with this the way I've dealt with everything else in my seven-plus years as general manager,'' he said. ''There is a consistency in the way we make decisions and a consistency in the way we communicate with people.
''That's the right way to do business that I think ultimately leads to a better organization and better results. I think it's important not to deviate when emotions run high and disappointments are great. That's not to say we don't go through a tremendous amount of self-analysis and self-criticism.''
Hey Mr. Doublespeak / corporate speak Shapiro, I could not have said it any better myself. There is definitely a consistency in the way the organization makes decisions and communicates, but guess what?, it's not working!
Take a look at your record the past seven years. The consistency is that the Indians are not much better than a .500 team. When you had a chance to make the playoffs five years ago, you choked. When you had a chance to go to the World Series, you choked. When it comes to drafting and evaluating talent, you choke.
Obviously there isn't much self criticism, or you would have cleaned house a long time ago. Jeremy Sowers as the 6th overall pick in the draft, and now he's being looked at for the bullpen?
Who makes these decisions? Aren't you ultimately responsible for the people in the positions that make these decisions or recommendations?
I can only hope that the Dolans look at this the same way and ship both you and Wedge out by seasons end!
Posted 02:44 PM, 07/07/2009
I remember when Sabathia, Lee, and Sowers were signing autographs at the Indians media stop in Akron a couple years ago. Sabathia and Lee were really tall imposing guys. Sowers looked like the kid down the street. You've got to look at physical attributes of successful pitchers like the NFL does at combines. How many reps at 300 pounds, wing span, vertical leap, time in the 40, etc. They all don't compute for baseball pitchers but there must e some way genius Shapiro can put the characteristics of excellence in a computer and to figure out the ideal range for height, weight, and so on.
NFL and NBA would never draft on statistics or game film. how many Heisman winners have been truly outstanding. Shapiro might have made ken Dorsey the overall number 1 had Shapiro managed the browns. (Of course ours haven't turned out much better anyway).
Posted 06:11 PM, 07/07/2009
Yeah Buck Stops, just like Tim Lincecum. He's a monster.
Posted 07:47 PM, 07/07/2009
@Gary
Tell me about it in a couple years. Sowers was pretty good when he came up. There are always exceptions. Look at the article on the predictability of injuries in today's New York Times.
I'm just saying that these guys, Shapiro and Wedge, would have you believe they have all the answers. I wish Lincecum all the best. But he is the exception (and taller than me).
