Indians Confidential

Tribe GM Mark Shapiro had a long media session today with the media at Progressive Field about 4:30pm. The topics were vast, including thoughts on the season to date, where the team is headed, trades, injuries, players that have stepped up and those that have not, the theory of doing things different this past offseason, and if this team can recover and win the AL Central.  Take some time and listen to the media session, its quite interesting to hear what the GM of the Tribe is currently thinking.

 

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Indians pitcher C.C. Sabathia admits that tonight was his best outing of the season, and now click below to hear that and the rest of his postgame comments direct from the Indians locker room following the teams 1-0 win over the Twins that moves him to 4-8 and the team to 30-35.

 

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The Indians pitching staff was dealt a blow today as it was announced that righty Jake Westbrook is done for the season and will have right elbow surgery. Here is the release from the team:

The Cleveland Indians today announced that RHP JAKE WESTBROOK will be sidelined for the remainder of the 2008 season as he will undergo right elbow (ulnar collateral ligament) reconstruction surgery. The surgery will be performed by Dr. Lewis Yocum and will take place in the next 7 to 14 days, with no exact date having been set yet. An approximate timetable on his return is 12 months.
Jake was having a tough season, first with a strained muscle in his left side he was on the DL from April 20th to May 28th, and then after coming back one game vs the White Sox, he’s gone again and will be gone for the year.

Westbrook was 1-2 with a 3.12 ERA in five starts this season.

Click below to hear Indians trainer Lonnie Soloff talk about the surgery and Westbrook’s situation:

 

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Off day for the Indians today, and as we get further and further along with this season, there appears to be one thing that is coming to the forefront.  If you have time, listen to the postgame from Eric Wedge below this post.  This is not the first time this season that Eric has sounded off about some players that have not followed direction on the team.  Yesterday’s tirade was directed squarely at pitcher Rafael Betancourt, who for some reason has decided he’s done when it comes to throwing inside.

It was that yesterday that cost the Indians a shot to take two out of three from the White Sox.  Betancourt threw outside and away, and it was a pair of doubles in the 7th that allowed Chicago to score three runs that gave them the win.  After the game was about as interesting a locker room as I have seen in sometime.  Wedge speaking out announcing to the media in no uncertain terms that he’s tired of Rafael not listening to him and the coaching staff.

While Wedge usually does not throw players under the bus like that, this was done to send a message to Betancourt - start throwing inside more - or else!  Betancourt in front of the assembled media didn’t deny that he’s been told to throw more inside, and didn’t really have an answer when asked why he wasn’t doing it. Bizarre to say the least.

So now you have to start asking yourself, are the players tuning Wedge and the coaching staff out?  And if so - why?  This is a team that has always been team that has been very willing to listen and learn, and if your not in that mold (can you say Milton Bradley and Brandon Phillips?) then you usually find yourself out the door.  Is Betancourt one of those players?  Stay tuned.

 

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DH Travis Hafner spoke to the media early this morning about his lingering shoulder injury and when he may be able to play again.  You can hear the entire media session below, but here are the highlights:

* He expects to play Friday in KC
* He had a cortisone shot in the shoulder yesterday
* There is no structure damage as determined by an MRI
* The shoulder feels sore and weak
* There has been no lengthy discussion about going on the DL
* The shoulder in his words is no excuse for the lack of production
* The injury has been on and off since Spring Training

 

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Indians starting pitcher Paul Byrd spoke to the media despite his no-decision vs the White Sox Monday night.  Byrd was candid in the interview, saying that the team is not happy where they are at, how things are going to turn around, and that the season is not over.  Click below to hear Byrd post game in the Tribe locker room.

 

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Off a 6-1 homestand, manager Eric Wedge speaks to the media following the latest Indians 4-2 win at Progressive Field over the A’s. Wedge talks about the homestand, the scoreless streak, the hitting coming around, the closer role, and the upcoming trip to Cincy. Click below to hear the Indians manager talk about this latest win and other topics.

 

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