Hold On Loosely

The frustration is building and the team is feeling it. C.C. told the media that he lost his focus in the 8 run inning last night (frankly, Belliard’s nonchalance in the field had a similar effect on me in Pronkville) and Wedge sounded visibly shaken and obviously angry for one of the first time during his post-game press conference in his tenure as Tribe skipper.

I’m not sure if Sabathia was taking a bullet for the team (“they’re big shoulders, I’ll take the heat”) or if C.C. really became disinterested. I tend to think the former, maybe because I continue to give the Big Fella the benefit of the doubt.

More changes could be afoot, with Belliard or Boone investing in new return address labels in the next few weeks. If Belliard is moved, Boone could shift over to 2B and Marte could be promoted from Buffalo. If Boone is traded, that cuts out the position change and Marte enters the picture that way.

Has anyone else noticed that Boone has been off for 2 straight nights? Are they showcasing Ramon Vazquez (good luck, with his $1.50 average) so they can find a taker for him when Sowers is called up on Saturday, allowing Inglett to become the Utility IF? Or are they holding out Boone to prevent injury? Or am I reading too much into the days off, chalking them up to Wedge’s approach to getting a player out of a slump (see Peralta, Jhonny)?

I don’t see Sticky going anywhere just yet (he’s the other veteran that has been rumored to be on the block with Belliard and Boone) as the bullpen is simply too unsettled to move him. Belliard and Boone aren’t nearly as vital to the offense or defense (certainly) as Wickman is to the bullpen.

Wrestling with trying to hang on to this season (I’m not ready to throw this away in late June) and still keeping the optimistic approach intact, I found some words from Eddie Vedder that pretty effectively sums up what it’s been like this season as a Tribe fan (or even as a Cleveland sports fan, in general):

I will hold the candle till it burns up my arm
I'll keep taking punches until their will grows tired
I will stare the sun down until my eyes go blind
I won't change direction, and I won't change my mind
I'll swallow poison, until I grow immune
I will scream my lungs out till it fills this room

I’m not ready to give up on this season, no matter how much of a beating I continue to take.

On a final note, as has been mentioned in the comments section – it’s official - in the words of George Constanza, “my boys can swim.”