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Do IT this week: Layering
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 08:52 p.m. EDT, Sep 30, 2009
CLEVELAND: Northeast Ohio fans never warmed to Eric Wedge, who was fired after seven seasons on Wednesday.
''I don't really know why,'' General Manager Mark Shapiro said. ''Eric is a guy who is consistent with the values of Northeast Ohio. He's a hard worker, a blue-collar guy.
''I think in the end maybe it's because this is an entertainment business, and Eric isn't flamboyant enough. He kept his feelings internal at all times to protect the players. But sometimes the fans wanted to see those emotions on his shirtsleeve. But believe me, as someone who was next to him, those emotions were there.''
QUICK VISIT — Joe Smith underwent surgery at the Cleveland Clinic on Wednesday to remove loose bodies from his left knee.
The last time Smith pitched was Aug. 29, but until last weekend, Indians officials hoped he would return to make one or two relief appearances before the end of the season.
He will start his rehabilitation program today in Cleveland and is expected to be ready to participate in full baseball activities when spring training starts in February in Goodyear, Ariz.
Surgery was performed by Drs. Mark Schickendantz and Jim Williams.
CABRERA HURTING — Asdrubal Cabrera was removed in the fifth inning of the first game with a tight hamstring.
Cabrera didn't play in the second game, and it's unknown if he will be ready to play against the Red Sox in Boston tonight.
SIZEMORE PROGRESSING — Grady Sizemore is recovering as expected from two relatively minor operations, one on his left elbow, the other on his abdomen.
''I feel great,'' he said Wednesday. ''I'm moving around pretty good. From what they tell me, I should be pretty strong by December.''
CLEVELAND: Northeast Ohio fans never warmed to Eric Wedge, who was fired after seven seasons on Wednesday.
''I don't really know why,'' General Manager Mark Shapiro said. ''Eric is a guy who is consistent with the values of Northeast Ohio. He's a hard worker, a blue-collar guy.
''I think in the end maybe it's because this is an entertainment business, and Eric isn't flamboyant enough. He kept his feelings internal at all times to protect the players. But sometimes the fans wanted to see those emotions on his shirtsleeve. But believe me, as someone who was next to him, those emotions were there.''
QUICK VISIT — Joe Smith underwent surgery at the Cleveland Clinic on Wednesday to remove loose bodies from his left knee.
The last time Smith pitched was Aug. 29, but until last weekend, Indians officials hoped he would return to make one or two relief appearances before the end of the season.
He will start his rehabilitation program today in Cleveland and is expected to be ready to participate in full baseball activities when spring training starts in February in Goodyear, Ariz.
Surgery was performed by Drs. Mark Schickendantz and Jim Williams.
CABRERA HURTING — Asdrubal Cabrera was removed in the fifth inning of the first game with a tight hamstring.
Cabrera didn't play in the second game, and it's unknown if he will be ready to play against the Red Sox in Boston tonight.
SIZEMORE PROGRESSING — Grady Sizemore is recovering as expected from two relatively minor operations, one on his left elbow, the other on his abdomen.
''I feel great,'' he said Wednesday. ''I'm moving around pretty good. From what they tell me, I should be pretty strong by December.''
Comments
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Kandi, SL
Posted 09:50 PM, 09/30/2009
Consistent with the values of Northeast Ohio. Read: "A loser". Maybe he'll be the next coach at Akron U.
Stow, OH
Posted 10:56 PM, 09/30/2009
I wonder if Mark Shapiro considered the possibility that fans may not feel warm toward him?
Akron, OH
Posted 01:38 AM, 10/01/2009
Shapiro,
You can analyze all you want, but get to the main point more quickly: we want wins. If you win, then you forget all of that other "stuff." Look at Mr. Parcells in the NFL. He's a jerk. But he is an effective, winning jerk.
, OH
Posted 08:11 AM, 10/01/2009
Hey Shapiro! If Wedgie would have gotten his team to win that Series against Boston in 07 when he was up 3 games to 1 and his two best starting pitchers scheduled to throw, he could have run for Mayor of Cleveland. It's that simple.
Farragut, TN
Posted 11:49 AM, 10/01/2009
Did it ever occur to Shapiro that Indians' fans were weary of a team that habitually came out of spring training unprepared to play high-quality major league baseball? In my opinion, Wedge was a well below average manager in terms of using spring training effectively. Personally, I'm glad he's gone.
Cleveland, OH
Posted 02:10 PM, 10/01/2009
I never warmed up to Wedge because I said at the time of the hiring that this was the biggest mistake the Indians had made in the last 15 years (even bigger than firing Hargrove).
I'm sorry, but you NEVER, EVER should hire a manager that has never coached in the MLs. It just doesn't work. 30 managers in the MLs this year.....only 3 have no coaching experience prior to becoming manager, THREE.
Wedge, Hillman, and AJ Hinch.....that's it!
Major League baseball is FAR different from minor league baseball. You have to actually make pitching decisions and personel moves within your team. In the minors you don't have that power. The decisions are all (or 99%) made for you. Teams want to make sure their prospects are playing as much as 'they' want (not what the manager wants) and that their pitchers are getting in enough work to build arm strenght and aren't concerned with results.
This is why you MUST be a bench coach or some other coach at the ML level before becoming manager.
Look at the last 5 World Sereies champs and their managers...
2004: Red Sox and francona...was a 3rd base coach before becoming manager of the Phillies. Then moved on to bench coach, front office guy, and finally manager of the Red Sox.
2005: White Sox and Ozzie Guillen....Guillen was a 3rd base coach before becoming the White Sox manager.
2006: Cardinals and LaRussa....was an assistant way back in the 1970s then moved on to manage the A's and Cards.
2007: Red Sox and Francona....again.
2008: Phillies and Charlie Manuel....was the hittign coach in Cleveland before taking over and leading the Indians to back-to-back 90 win seasons to start his managerial career (and 1 playoff appearance) in 2000 and 2001.
If you want to have a winning ballclub, hire a manager with experience!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's not that hard Shapiro.
