Ch-Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes

Until Friday night, the thought was that the replacements that have been coming up from the minors (Perez for Sauerbeck, Carmona/Mujica for Graves/Mota’s reduced role, Sowers for Johnson) were based on talent and the ability of those players to help for this year. However with Shoppach catching, Martinez seeing some games at 1B, and Broussard moving to the periphery of the locker room is a definite shift in thinking/philosophy for 2006.

It’s true that Broussard has not been a very solid defender, but he’s certainly not alone in that respect in the Indians’ infield. Belliard and Peralta have looked like they’re sleepwalking at times, and Boone has zero range at 3B (without even addressing offensive production).

So, it’s not surprising that one of those underperformers was singled out for a change. What is surprising is that Wedge has picked out Broussard to be the “example” for this team that anyone is replaceable. It’s surprising because the 1B platoon was one of the areas of the team that was OUTPERFORMING expectations coming into the season. Perhaps the move was made because the most feasible alternative was available at 1B/C (as opposed to 2B), but the wheels seem to be in motion for Benny B. to strap his 6-string on his back and head out of town.

Some would say, “why wouldn’t Boone be the example with Andy Marte heating up in Buffalo?” The only answer that I can come up with is that Marte’s reputation is built on his offense, not his defense; so Marte wouldn’t necessarily be a defensive upgrade from Boone. Conversely, Shoppach is considered a definite upgrade defensively from Victor at C.

Don’t get me wrong - I don’t have a problem with the move to see what the Indians have in Shoppach, to see if he’s a long-term alternative at C. Broussard wasn’t going to be patrolling 1B for the 2007 Tribe; it’s just a surprising turn of events.

Now that the page has been turned (has it?), it shouldn’t be too much longer for Boone/Belliard to be moved and for Marte to come up from Buffalo (unless the Indians Front Office is THAT concerned about his arbitration clock).

Think about this – the last Minor League Report that appeared in this space on June 12th (less than 2 weeks ago) contained 5 names (Shoppach, Inglett, Gutierrez, Sowers, and Mujica) that are now on the big league roster, or 20% of the Tribe.

With the Tribe now 17 games out of 1st and the Twins now pulling away from them for 3rd place, maybe we shouldn’t be surprised. Disappointed? Sure. Frustrated? Absolutely.

However we feel, mark Sunday, June 25th as the day that clearly delineates when the moves have started to find out what they have in the minors (presumably for 2007) as Jeremy Sowers made his debut, pitching to Kelly Shoppach, and Rafael Perez ending the game.

Whether these moves are talent upgrades for 2006 or whether we're just seeing what we’ve got in the stable for 2007 should be known in the next two weeks.

With the Tigers (swept the Cards), the White Sox (winners of 9 straight) and the Twins (on fire since the promotion of Liriano) - it's getting late early in the Central.