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Do IT this week: Layering
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 08:04 p.m. EDT, Sep 21, 2009
What is left for the Indians to play for?
No matter how many of the last 13 games they win, they will not induce the fans to visit Progressive Field next year. Neither can they significantly improve their place in the standings nor come close to finishing .500.
But they can reach for one goal: They can ensure a top-five draft pick for next June. The Tribe has not drafted that high in years. Jeremy Sowers was the sixth pick in 2004. But you have to go back to 1992 to find an Indians draft choice among the first five. Paul Shuey was the No. 2 pick that year.
It will be almost impossible for the Indians to lose enough games to claim such a valuable prize, even if they fail to win another game and end the season with 100 defeats. But the Tribe ought to be able to hold its position and has a chance to move up.
The battle for the basement in the Central Division between the Indians and Kansas City Royals should go down to the wire. Whoever finishes last probably will pick fourth at worst.
The Washington Nationals and Pittsburgh Pirates are in a class of their own when it comes to losing records, but the Tribe has a chance to lose more than the Baltimore Orioles. That could mean the third choice in next year's lottery.
But there's always a catch. Indians players don't care where the team picks in the draft. After all, if the Tribe selects a player with superior talent, he might take away the job of a current player in two or three years.
Back in the race
It's been months, if at all, since the Indians could lay claim to having a chance to play in the postseason, but tonight the Tribe can be part of the race.
The Detroit Tigers come to Progressive Field for three games, trying to hang onto their dwindling lead in the Central Division.
Having lost two of three to the Minnesota Twins over the weekend, the Tigers' margin has shrunk to three games. Can the Indians do something to diminish it further, and will playing a contender jerk the Tribe out of its malaise?
''I don't know,'' Indians manager Eric Wedge said. ''The way we played on this trip, we didn't put ourselves in a position to win games. We got down early and never could come back.''
The Tribe, losers of eight in a row and 17 of the past 20, were swept by the Twins in the Metrodome. Moreover, the Tigers hold an 11-4 advantage in the season series.
''We haven't been playing good baseball,'' outfielder Trevor Crowe said. ''I think everybody is frustrated.''
The Twins and Tigers face one another four more times in Detroit to end the season.
Meloan on loan?
What happens to pitchers discarded by the Indians?
One of them turned up in Oakland on Sunday, John Meloan, who started the season at Triple-A Columbus. Since then, Meloan has been on an odyssey that has taken him to three other franchises, which usually is not a boost to a player's career.
The Tribe traded Meloan to the Tampa Bay Rays on July 2 for reliever Winston Abreu, but after making 10 appearances at Triple-A Durham, Meloan was released. He was claimed on waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates, staying in that organization long enough to pitch six times at Triple-A Indianapolis before he was released again.
The Athletics claimed Meloan on waivers Sept. 2, and he was sent to Triple-A Sacramento, where he made only three appearances. All of this was a prelude to making his first 2009 big-league appearance, against the Indians on Sunday.
How did he fare? Meloan gave up one unearned run, one hit and one walk in two innings, striking out three.
Other stuff
The Tribe was swept in a four-game series for the first time since July 17-20, 2003, against the New York Yankees. It was the first time ever that the Indians had lost a four-game set at the A's ballpark. . . . In his past five starts, Fausto Carmona is 0-4 with a 10.72 ERA. His batting average during that span is .373. . . . Since starting his major-league career, Michael Brantley has reached base in 17 of 18 games. . . . Jhonny Peralta is on an 0-for-21 skid.
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.
What is left for the Indians to play for?
No matter how many of the last 13 games they win, they will not induce the fans to visit Progressive Field next year. Neither can they significantly improve their place in the standings nor come close to finishing .500.
But they can reach for one goal: They can ensure a top-five draft pick for next June. The Tribe has not drafted that high in years. Jeremy Sowers was the sixth pick in 2004. But you have to go back to 1992 to find an Indians draft choice among the first five. Paul Shuey was the No. 2 pick that year.
It will be almost impossible for the Indians to lose enough games to claim such a valuable prize, even if they fail to win another game and end the season with 100 defeats. But the Tribe ought to be able to hold its position and has a chance to move up.
The battle for the basement in the Central Division between the Indians and Kansas City Royals should go down to the wire. Whoever finishes last probably will pick fourth at worst.
The Washington Nationals and Pittsburgh Pirates are in a class of their own when it comes to losing records, but the Tribe has a chance to lose more than the Baltimore Orioles. That could mean the third choice in next year's lottery.
But there's always a catch. Indians players don't care where the team picks in the draft. After all, if the Tribe selects a player with superior talent, he might take away the job of a current player in two or three years.
Back in the race
It's been months, if at all, since the Indians could lay claim to having a chance to play in the postseason, but tonight the Tribe can be part of the race.
The Detroit Tigers come to Progressive Field for three games, trying to hang onto their dwindling lead in the Central Division.
Having lost two of three to the Minnesota Twins over the weekend, the Tigers' margin has shrunk to three games. Can the Indians do something to diminish it further, and will playing a contender jerk the Tribe out of its malaise?
''I don't know,'' Indians manager Eric Wedge said. ''The way we played on this trip, we didn't put ourselves in a position to win games. We got down early and never could come back.''
The Tribe, losers of eight in a row and 17 of the past 20, were swept by the Twins in the Metrodome. Moreover, the Tigers hold an 11-4 advantage in the season series.
''We haven't been playing good baseball,'' outfielder Trevor Crowe said. ''I think everybody is frustrated.''
The Twins and Tigers face one another four more times in Detroit to end the season.
Meloan on loan?
What happens to pitchers discarded by the Indians?
One of them turned up in Oakland on Sunday, John Meloan, who started the season at Triple-A Columbus. Since then, Meloan has been on an odyssey that has taken him to three other franchises, which usually is not a boost to a player's career.
The Tribe traded Meloan to the Tampa Bay Rays on July 2 for reliever Winston Abreu, but after making 10 appearances at Triple-A Durham, Meloan was released. He was claimed on waivers by the Pittsburgh Pirates, staying in that organization long enough to pitch six times at Triple-A Indianapolis before he was released again.
The Athletics claimed Meloan on waivers Sept. 2, and he was sent to Triple-A Sacramento, where he made only three appearances. All of this was a prelude to making his first 2009 big-league appearance, against the Indians on Sunday.
How did he fare? Meloan gave up one unearned run, one hit and one walk in two innings, striking out three.
Other stuff
The Tribe was swept in a four-game series for the first time since July 17-20, 2003, against the New York Yankees. It was the first time ever that the Indians had lost a four-game set at the A's ballpark. . . . In his past five starts, Fausto Carmona is 0-4 with a 10.72 ERA. His batting average during that span is .373. . . . Since starting his major-league career, Michael Brantley has reached base in 17 of 18 games. . . . Jhonny Peralta is on an 0-for-21 skid.
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 08:20 PM, 09/21/2009
Yawn. . .
Seminole, FL
Posted 08:40 PM, 09/21/2009
Do you honestly think if we get such a high pick, they will sign with the Indians?....Ha!
Think those players (and respective agents) in the running need to realise what kind of owner we have in Dolan. No big bucks for him.....better luck reentering next year's draft!
PS. Here's hoping that both the NFL and MLB locks out their players in 2011 (and beyond hopefully) to get these ridiculous rookie contracts to at least a cap...shees....
Sagamore Hills, Oh
Posted 09:06 PM, 09/21/2009
Lets see, the two picks written about are Paul Shuey and Jerry Sowers. What on earth would make anyone think the Indians aren't going to use the 3rd, 4th or 5th pick in next years draft on the next Dan Denham or Corey Smith.
Posted 06:28 AM, 09/22/2009
If Wedge is here next year the attendance will be even lower!
Mentor, OH
Posted 11:00 AM, 09/22/2009
People buy tickets because of the team having a legit chance to win games and contend. Manager has nothing to do with it. If we win or have an exciting young team of players that get fans attention they will buy tickets even if Wedge is still the manager. If we suck they won't buy tickets even if we have a new manager. Fans get all hung up on the manager, when in baseball the manager is less important than the 5th starter or second set up man. Manager in baseball can do almost nothing to win games. If you are hating on Wedge for the Indians poor seasons you are barking up the wrong tree. Players win games not managers. GMs get the players who win the games. All managers can do it get the players to give effort and there has never been a doubt that the Indians players do that from day one to day 162. Wedge is not the reason we lose or fans do not buy tickets.
Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Posted 12:57 PM, 09/22/2009
I find it hard to...
a) get excited that we have a chance to suck even worse than Baltimore, and ...
b) get excited about a high draft considering the GM making the pick hasn't exactly knocked it outta the park when it comes to talent evaluation
Posted 06:02 PM, 09/22/2009
Hey Rick, the Rockies fired their manager in July or so and that team went on a tear and is in the play-off hunt...think that would have happened if they didn't can the manager?
