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.
In one of his more peeved off moods, Indians skipper Eric Wedge spoke to the media Monday night following game two of the double header with the Jays. The manger talks about the frustration at the plate, the wasted effort from Cliff Lee, and does not even give much credit to the team for the Asdrubal Cabrera triple play. Worth listening. Click below to hear the manager.
Eric Wedge called it the worst approach at the plate he had seen all season. That’s how bad it was Monday night in game two of the doubleheader between the Indians and Blue Jays. Toronto, a team that is about as offensively challenged as any in the league right now, put some hits together and combined with a shot off Rafael Betancourt’s elbow, they beat the Indians 3-0 at Progressive Field. What made Wedge so mad was the Indians offense, which clearly took a step back into the same lame struggling bermuda triangle it was about 10 days ago when they could do nothing to get runners on, or runners across the plate.
The team wasted another super outing by Cliff Lee, who did what it seems he’s done all season - throw nine innings of shutout ball, walking two, striking out five, and giving up seven hits. Lee now has an ERA of 0.67, and he has not allowed a run since a three-run homer to the Mariners on April 30th. He has allowed four earned runs in 53.2 innings pitched, and has given up three runs in 39 innings. It was all for not.
Also for not was the Tribe’s first unassisted triple play since Game 5 of the 1920 World Series. The play came from Asdrubal Cabrera, who in the fifth inning pulled off the play after Kevin Mench and Marco Scutaro began the inning with singles, Lyle Overbay lined out to Cabrera near second base. Cabrera alertly tagged Scutaro, who was running toward second base, before stepping on the bag before Mench was able to return to complete the triple play. Not even that could put a silver lining on a night that saw the team manage just three hits.
Toronto scored their three runs in the 10th, when Betancourt took over for Lee, and after a single, a ball was hit up the middle that Betancourt tried to backhand, but it smacked off his elbow for a single to third. A sac, an intentional walk later, Shannon Stewart hit a sac fly to center to make it 1-0. Then a ball was hit up the middle by Aaron Hill to bring home two more runs to make it 3-0.
The loss drops the Indians back to 19-19 on the season. They will kick off a three-game set vs the Oakland A’s on Tuesday night, as Paul Byrd (1-3, 4.28) takes on Justin Duchscherer (3-1, 2.45) at 7:05pm.
Tribe skipper Eric Wedge spoke to the media before Friday’s matchup with the Blue Jays at home, kicking off a 7-game in 7-day homestand. In this audio Eric talks about the ongoing issues with the offense, the update on Victor Martinez, the Travis Hafner saga, the wins in New York, as well as getting some consistent hitting going. Click below to hear the manger of the Indians talk about his team and tonight’s matchup.
Eric Wedge Sunday said the team will do whatever it takes to get out of its offensive slump, and one move that is going to happen will take place tomorrow, when outfielder Ben Francisco joins the team for its trip to the Brox to play the Yankees. Francisco told a reporter in AAA Buffalo that he is being recalled by the Indians for the second time this season.
He was called up for four days back on April 22nd when the team put Jake Westbrook on the DL. More proof of the callup is the fact he was pulled from the second game of a doubleheader Sunday for the Bisons. Last season in 25 games with the Indians he hit .274.
The question will be what roster move is made to make room for Francisco? The obvious choice would be to dump Jason Michaels, and put him on waivers. Michaels is hitting just .207, and has struck out 13 times in 58 at-bats. The move would open up the left field spot for Francisco and David Dellucci, who is hitting .264 with three homers.
Another tough day for the Indians offense and manager Eric Wedge, as the team was again held to four hits and zero runs in falling to the Royals 2-0. Click below to hear Wedge’s comments as his team continues to struggle at the plate, and also he talks about the very solid outing again from Aaron Laffey.
Indians manager Eric Wedge talks to the media following the Indians 8-3 win over the Mariners at Progressive FIeld. Wedge speaks about Cliff Lee, the offense and the month of April and where he thinks things are heading with the team. Click below to hear the postgame presser with manger Eric Wedge.
Matt has covered Major League Baseball and the "other two" Pro teams in Cleveland since 1994. He has been on the beat of the Indians in full-time mode since 1996, working for various raido and print networks around the country.
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