Calling LaPorta!!!

Ryan C · Post by **Ryan C** » Wed May 06, 2009 1:20 pm

Originally posted by Ryan Carey:

Yeah - I benched Kouzmanoff and sent Scutaro to 3B for this week. Almost benched Hardy, but you know as soon as you bench the guy he's going to have one of those 3-4 hr weeks. Sure enough - Hardy is going off this week - 3 run jack tonight after his 3-3 4RBI night last night. Frustrating player in weekly play - but exactly why you almost can't bench the guy - never know when one of his streaks is coming.

Okay Jimmy Rollins - now it's your turn.

Oh yeah - Laporta sitting tonight against Masterson. He'll likely get in this game late as a pinch hitter if needed.

[ May 06, 2009, 07:22 PM: Message edited by: Ryan Carey ]

Return of the Aces · Post by **Return of the Aces** » Mon May 11, 2009 10:21 am

When is Wedge going to play him? Maybe I am missing something here, but when did David Delucci become a vital part of the lineup?

swampass · Post by **swampass** » Mon May 11, 2009 12:06 pm

Originally posted by Return of the Aces:

When is Wedge going to play him? Maybe I am missing something here, but when did David Delucci become a vital part of the lineup? you obviously didnt watch much of the indians at the end of last year. they love dellucci! he was playing at the end of last year instead of the team finding out what they really had in choo, guitierrez, and francisco. they are a very frustrating organization to watch. cant imagine being a fan of them. must be painful.

you'd hope as the season goes along and they fall further and further out we'd get some auditions for laporta, barfield, garko, and some of their younger players as they deal dellucci, derosa, and some of their older players. time for some turnover tribe...kc is making a mockery of you now.

Glenneration X · Post by **Glenneration X** » Mon May 11, 2009 12:44 pm

This reminds me of Brandon Wood.....why even call LaPorta up if you're not going to use him....makes zero sense....

Of course I overpayed for both Wood & LaPorta after their call ups.....throw in my overpayment for Philip Hughes and my FAAB went down the proverbial drain on a lot of nothing from some big name prospects..

Still hopeful nonetheless.....talent should always win out.

Ryan C · Post by **Ryan C** » Tue May 12, 2009 5:01 am

I am also perplexed that LaPorta didn't see the field all weekend as the Tribe got swept by Detroit.

Like many of Wedge's decisions - it makes no sense- especially when it means sticking with the very ordinary Francisco everyday. Obviously- Wedge is feeling the heat and I guess if he's going to go down - he is going to do it with "his" guys Dellucci and Francisco.

I can understand Dellucci, since the team has millions invested here, they need to play him, so they at least have the possibility of trading him - and they are stuck with Hafner's contract.

Also - WHY is Sizemore still leading off??? He needs to get moved down a couple spots once and for all. It's time to reboot the top of the Indians order - Cabrera, Choo, Vmart, Sizemore needs to be tried.

Also - David Huff needs to get a shot - Sowers is a road alreay traveled down.

Return of the Aces · Post by **Return of the Aces** » Tue May 12, 2009 7:21 am

Courtesy of Cleveland.com and rotoworld.com:

The Cleveland Indians' 9-4 win over the Chicago White Sox on Monday night doesn't mean all issues about the struggling team have been settled.

Far from it. The Indians are 12-21, and the list of players who have disappointed during the first 20 percent of the season is lengthy.

Changes could be in store. Tonight, when the Indians and White Sox again meet at Progressive Field, promising rookie outfielder Matt LaPorta should be in the lineup against Chicago's left-handed starting pitcher, Clayton Richard (0-0). A right-handed hitter, LaPorta hasn't played the last four games and has just 13 at-bats since being recalled from Class AAA Columbus on May 2.

Hopefully, LaPorta will now get an opportunity.

DOUGHBOYS · Post by **DOUGHBOYS** » Tue May 12, 2009 7:21 am

Unless these rookies are pre-ordained saints like Longoria or Weiters, to a MLB manager, they are rookies.

Rookies are a cuss word to most Managers.

Ryan C · Post by **Ryan C** » Tue May 12, 2009 8:28 am

Don't disagree Dan about the rookies - and Wedge has shown in the past (with his poor judgement and handling of Brandon Phillips) that he doesn't really like rookies- but Francisco is nothing more than a 27 year old journeyman at this point - there just isn't the upside that LaPorta offers - especially to a lineup that is desperate for a power boost.

The fan base is screaming for Wedge's scalp to the point where the players are having to deal with questions about the manager daily. He needs to go - yesterday and we need to see if somebody else can light a fire under this teams ass.

DOUGHBOYS · Post by **DOUGHBOYS** » Tue May 12, 2009 9:03 am

Really, I don't blame Wedge as much as Indian management for calling him up. There really is no opening per se. Francisco is a wonderful defender, something LaPorta is still working on.

Even with a new manager, I don't see the LaPorta situation changing much. It's up to him now. He's going to have to hit NOW to even stay up for more than a cup of coffee. If he hits big, they won't be able to keep him sitting.

I think Crazy mentioned that he had LaPorta. I apologize in advance for any negative things that Crazy takes offense to, directly or indirectly via LaPorta.

Ryan C · Post by **Ryan C** » Thu May 14, 2009 2:33 pm

Seems like Wedge finally got the memo from Mark Shapiro - we didn't call this kid up for you not to play him and LOSE.

Since benching LaPorta for 4 games - Three days in the lineup - three days of production out of the No. 8 hole - even chipped in an SB tonight. He has scored a run in everyone of the 6 games that he has played thus far.

They even had him in the lineup at 1B on Tues - something that shows me that Wedge has been told to find ways to get him in the lineup. You are going to see Peralta playing some 3B as well, he is starting there tonight with DeRosa manning 1B.

Fellow NFBC man Jeff Erickson had this to say in a recent article:

"And to follow up on Matt LaPorta, why is it that he's stuck platooning right now? Wouldn't he be better off playing every day in Triple-A, especially when there's so much concern about his defense? I don't know who's at fault for that one - manager Eric Wedge, or GM Mark Shapiro. If it's Wedge just refusing to play him because he doesn't trust a young player, that's a firing offense to me. The Indians are losing, and it's not all Wedge's fault, but if he's too concerned about his job to not do what's best for the franchise in the long run (and it's arguably not best for the team in the short-run to sit LaPorta against righties), then he should be gone. I think he's done for soon anyhow - in fact, I don't see another manager more likely to get canned."

Jeff was on the money here - Shapiro called the guy up for a reason - and you are going to bench the guy and go with Francisco AND Dellucci while losing three straight to a division rival - NO.

Who knows - the kid might just save your job Wedgie - Dellucci and Francisco make a nice platoon option in LF - but neither should get extra playing time at LaPorta's expense at this point - he is the future and these two guys just aren't.

He may very well get sent down once Hafner returns - but til then you play the kid, or get fired Wedgie - looks like he finally made the smart decision.

[ May 14, 2009, 08:38 PM: Message edited by: Ryan Carey ]

headhunters · Post by **headhunters** » Fri May 15, 2009 2:55 am

big problem when fantasy players evaluate player moves based on stats. i could say "i hope or wish or pray" that a club plays a guy- but to really evaluate it you need to know 1) defense 2) organizational attitude. i have noticed and tried to follow some really good fantasy players and how they draft rookies. seems to me they do evaluate an organizations willingness to push rookies along. florida takes the short view. others are slower in pushing rookies. dan kenyon, as usual, is correct on these counts. cleveland makes organizational decisions and has moved playes along in the exaxt same manner as laporta. keep in mind milwaukee as an organization says " we do not care at all about defense- get me a bat". laporta came from there. sizemore was a plus plus defender and moved quicker. most brewer fans are so intrigued with hitting they really don't appreciate camerons high value in center field. angels are another example with all the fantasy guys crying for wood. the angels must laugh. they are winning the division without their top 3 starters, their best hitter and had a horrible death. i am sure they care a lot about what some 30 year that writes out of his parents house for some website says about what they should do.

Ryan C · Post by **Ryan C** » Fri May 15, 2009 11:02 am

I hear what you are saying - and I will admit that while I drafted LaPorta I didn't think we'd see him til at least June.

Then again I didn't think my Indians would be in last place at this point either.

So while your point about evaluating players on stats has merit, in this case It seems clearer now that this was a case of a manager and a GM having a disconnect. How else do you explain Wedge pinning the teams prized prospect to the pine only to change course a day after the orginization releases a statement saying the kid will be getting regular Ab's?

While the team may not listen to bloggers from the basement (you certainly didn't mean Jeff there right?)- to assume that a team is totally tone deaf to their fan base is a stretch. They still need to put fannies in the seats.

Also - don't think that Shapiro has forgotten how Wedge screwed up Brandon Phillips and missed the boat on Ryan Ludwick as well- I still say Wedge is a goner soon.

DOUGHBOYS · Post by **DOUGHBOYS** » Fri May 15, 2009 11:40 am

The blame game. Nasty. I couldn't fault Wedge at all for Brandon Phillips and very little for Ludwick. Silly, really.

Phillips was crap in Cleveland. All hype and no production. If he had stayed in Cleveland he may have gone the way of Lastings Milledge, we'll never know. Sometimes players need a new environment to flourish in and more than anything it is what Phillips needed. To blame a Manager for not playing a guy that was hurting his team is downright silly. If you're upset about the trade, that would be the fault of Shapiro if the Blame Game has to be played.

Ludwick is a different case. He was lost in an outfield shuffle in both Texas and Cleveland and never really given an oppurtunity by either team. When he did play, he showed a few signs of a good ballplayer but not the monster he has become.

If Francisco is traded and becomes a 20-20 player with five gold gloves somewhere else while LaPorta flops, would that be Wedge fault as well? The fan base was clamoring for it. Wedge gave it to them, but the only thing that will be remembered is that Wedge should have kept Francisco.

Cleveland is lucky to be in the division they are in. There is no clear cut good team in that division. If I were a Cleveland fan and playing the Blame Game, I would be more on Shapiro than Wedge. Pavano, Reyes, and 5th starter du jour is a very bad hand to deal any Manager. All the while hoping that Carmona comes back and Lee wasn't a flash in the pan. So far, the Indians have given up 206 runs, second most in the majors.

The offense will hit, with or without LaPorta. LaPorta will be up and down the way most kids are, while being consistently defective in the field. Fans remember home runs and forget about errors or range. Managers can't.

On the other hand, the pitching staff will have to perform way over their heads for Cleveland to contend even in that division. I wouldn't bet on that, myself, but if you're playing the Blame Game, Shapiro is.

[ May 15, 2009, 06:49 PM: Message edited by: DOUGHBOYS ]

DOUGHBOYS · Post by **DOUGHBOYS** » Fri May 15, 2009 12:31 pm

Wedge and Melvin were both named Managers of the Year, in their respective leagues in 2007. Two years.

My own opinion here, but I feel GM's have longer shelf lifes in baseball because they are mostly picked by owners and develop friendships with owners. In the Meanwhile the Manager is doing the yeoman's work down on the field with no time for doing lunch at the Chalet with the owner.

Its too bad, there are a lot of GM's in baseball that are doing lousy jobs as far as putting product on the field.

Some GM'S hands are tied as owners are going through financial burdens, but c'mon! Lets put a name out there to create some interest. Kevin Towers, can anybody tell me what good he has done for that franchise since the Padres lost their playoff game to the Rockies a couple of years ago?

He has been phoning it in. Getting more notoriety for dangling Peavy to teams than actually helping his own. San Diego plays in the best pitchers park in baseball, they've had good pitching, they have Adrian Gonzalez in the middle of the lineup, does a team scream for small ball more than the Padres? Get speed in two outfied posions, do the same at 2nd and short. What do they have? A makeshift infield and Old Man Giles, Headley, and two fourth outfielders on other teams in Hairston and Gerut. Its a total joke of a situation, but hey, Towers is a great conversationalist at the Chalet.

[ May 15, 2009, 06:33 PM: Message edited by: DOUGHBOYS ]

Ryan C · Post by **Ryan C** » Fri May 15, 2009 2:21 pm

"I couldn't fault Wedge at all for Brandon Phillips"

Dan, I respect your opinion - but you clearly don't understand what really went on with regards to Brandon Phillips - and even less of an understanding of Eric Wedge's role in the whole story.

If you did - you would realize that your statement couldn't be more wrong. I won't go into it further because you obviously have your opinion, which is fine.

I don't disagree that players need a change of scenery time and again. Same goes for teams and organizations - sometimes they need a change as well.

[ May 15, 2009, 08:54 PM: Message edited by: Ryan Carey ]

DOUGHBOYS · Post by **DOUGHBOYS** » Fri May 15, 2009 3:09 pm

After reading your post, Ryan. I went back and looked at the history of the Indians and Phillips. Wedge will take some "blame". Shapiro, just as much or more. Phillips was tired of the bus from Buffalo to Cleveland and let it be known. He even pulled a Manny and didn't play hard for Buffalo since he was upset at the organization. Sufficith to say Wedge handled Phillips tirades and emotions badly. Somehow Shapiro gets a pass. Wedge didn't like Phillips, Phillips didn't like Wedge. Phillips gets traded, so it's Wedge fault? Isn't this where Shapiro intervenes and tells them to co-exist? What am I missing? I'm not being contrite, I like learning more about situations like this if I am missing something. Thanks Ryan.

Ryan C · Post by **Ryan C** » Fri May 15, 2009 4:38 pm

First off - for anyone still reading this - Dan and I actually like each other - so this is a friendly back and forth here.

Dan - that is a pretty fair take on what went down. And you are right - Shapiro has gotten more leeway from me than Wedge. And yes - he was to blame as well.

The only part missing is this - after spending two years in AAA ( he played 6 games each year for the Tribe in 04 and 05- so he was never really given that long a look by Wedge) after flopping as a regular in 2003 - Phillips came into camp in 06 out of options. The Tribe had ZERO organizational depth at 2B - yet Wedge argued to keep journeyman Ramon Vazquez over Phillips as his utility man. Shapiro went along with his manager over the protest of his entire scouting department.

The point is that Wedge put his personal feelings

ahead of the good of the organization. And Shapiro let him. He had done it before with Milton Bradley and been right - the only problem here was the fact that Wedge should have given Phillips another chance to see if he could've handled the bench and try to groom the kid to take over from a fading Belliard. If it didn't work out - then you trade him - but Wedge just wanted nothing to do with Phillips.

So I'll give Wedge at least 50% of the blame there and Shapiro can have the other 50%.

Just for fun - Laporta flied out to the CF warning track to end the Indians ninth inning with men on 1st and 2nd.

Luis Vizciano, making his first appearance for the Tribe, promptly gave up a walkoff HR in the bottom of the 9th inning. Welcome to the Indians 2009 bullpen Luis - you're fitting right in!

DOUGHBOYS · Post by **DOUGHBOYS** » Fri May 15, 2009 5:31 pm

Good enough, Ryan.

LaPorta does have a good stroke.

Can he pitch?

sportsbettingman · Post by **sportsbettingman** » Sun May 17, 2009 4:34 pm

In reality..this is a pretty tough call all around...

"Travis Hafner (shoulder) will return Tuesday. To make room, the Indians will have to demote Matt LaPorta or Ben Francisco or release David Dellucci."

Ryan C · Post by **Ryan C** » Mon May 18, 2009 3:52 am

Haven't been able to find any news of what the Tribe might do here - but Francisco's 2 HR day and Dellucci's contract would seem to indicate that LaPorta is heading back to AAA. Throw in 3 interleague games this week in CIN, where they lose the DH - and even if he doesn't get sent down - LaPorta is a risky start this week.

On the when/if Eric Wedge will get fired front - there was a lot of noise yesterday over the Tribes latest loss - their 3rd in a row.

The noise yesterday was Wedge's reaction, or lack of, to the ump's blown call of Ryan Garko's would be double off the wall. The umps ruled that Crawford caught the ball - but replays clearly showed that the ball hit off the top of the wall. MLB.com

Now Dan I am sure you might say I am just dumping on Wedge again - but while Wedge argued the case, after having his say, he headed back to the dugout. WHAT?!?!?

In the 8th inning of a game you are losing 7-5 if you are the manager you have got to get tossed over a call like that. Can you imagine Lou Pinella letting a call like that go without making sure he got tossed over it?? It might just be me - but I think if you are going to come out of the dugout at all in that situation - you need to go all the way with it. Just another case of Wedge getting it wrong.

One bright spot yesterday - was after David Huff's sorry debut - newly recalled Greg Aquino, Matt Herges and Kerry Wood combined for 4 1/3 scroeless innings of relief -

DOUGHBOYS · Post by **DOUGHBOYS** » Mon May 18, 2009 6:41 am

Clearly a blown call.

The umpires blew a call after deliberating amongst themselves. Most Managers do not get tossed after the group umpire hug because they've had time to settle down. If he were defending a player, yes, I'd want him tossed, but I think you're beginning to pick nits with Wedge.

Watching that game yesterday, I was amazed that Wedge's personal appearance looked so bedraggled. He has the look of a guy that is about to be fired and doesen't care. If he's lost the fire or even the spunk to shave or shower it is time to go.

Cleveland fans wanted to see LaPorta play, they got it. they wanted to see Huff called up and start, they got it. Has it helped them? No.

They want to see Wedge fired, will that help? Doubtful. At least for this year. Oh, they may get that magical two week ride where everything is just peaches and cream with the new Manager. But they're still the Indians. They have "Cliff Lee and the LessThanLee's" throwing every five days. No matter who is managing that won't change. Their bullpen has been bad. No matter who is managing that probably won't change either.

The firing of Wedge will probably happen. Indian fans will rejoice. But like the fans in Arizona have come to realize, they'll still have the same team on the field.

Just another add, watching the game yesterday, I was amazed at all the griping and whining by the Cleveland broadcasters. It seemed like every strike, ball, out, or safe call after the seventh inning was a monumental call against the Indians. :rolleyes:

Joe Sambito · Post by **Joe Sambito** » Mon May 18, 2009 8:43 am

If I were the Indians with NL interleague on the horizon. I would give Pronk a week of minor league at bats. But we'll see.

Ryan C · Post by **Ryan C** » Mon May 18, 2009 10:00 am

You are right Dan - they were whining about the calls late in the game.

One thing we have come to expect from Wedge's teams is slow starts. And while I don't disagree that it won't change the pitching staff or players-at what point do you finally hold the manager accountable for the yearly sputter out of the gate? Fortunately for Wedge- the cost-conscious Dolan's may just ride this out til after the season- but it should be noted that 3rd base coach Joel Skinner has bided his time - and in my opinion earned a shot as interim manager to see if he can save the season.

The the Indians can evaluate where they want to go in the offseason regarding a new manager.

DOUGHBOYS · Post by **DOUGHBOYS** » Mon May 18, 2009 10:15 am

Looking at him and reading his body language over the last few days since this was brought up, I don't think he'll last the year. The drive does not appear to be there.

If I were Indians Management, heck, make the change now. They may be doing him a favor and it seems to be what their fans are asking for. I still don't think it'll make much difference, but for the short term it'll make the fans happy and give Skinner a chance to feel the reigns.

DOUGHBOYS · Post by **DOUGHBOYS** » Mon May 18, 2009 10:22 am

Ryan, since we have instant replay available, we, the fans, get to see a lot of missed calls. That one yesterday, from how far it hit on the fence, to how far above Crawford's glove, to even Crawford's reaction as he threw in the ball had to be one of the most missed calls I've seen in a long time. Agree?