tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post6590538592942958862..comments2024-03-16T08:21:16.037-04:00Comments on The DiaTribe: Trumpeting a Return with TomahawksPaul Cousineauhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03490622970961409253noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-38264015732160813792009-08-22T18:30:11.517-04:002009-08-22T18:30:11.517-04:00There is no reason that huff and valbuena were bot...There is no reason that huff and valbuena were both allowed to play out this season and gain big league experience while laporta, with over 900 MiLB plate appearnaces, was kept in AAA. They both have struggled big time at times and yet were not demoted. Josh Barfield could have been kept on the squad for awhile longer if Valbuena wasn't ready. Or, Cab could have stayed at 2B, Jhonny at SS and maybe Marte could have been bumped up to play 3rd. They easily could have worked something out.<br /><br />The fact is this: Wedge and Shapiro have contradicted themselves by saying LaPorta needs more minor league at bats. <br /><br />Most scouts say 800-1000 PA's in the minors is enough and LaPorta had that, not to mention all four years at Florida.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-70590615637210934922009-08-22T11:17:08.306-04:002009-08-22T11:17:08.306-04:00That's only true of every position but second ...That's only true of every position but second base. They gave Cabrera plenty of latitude, too, his rookie year. But left field? That's a different story. Because every team needs an outfield that, combined, hits 25 home runs.<br /><br />I'm in complete agreement on Wedge, by the way. In fact, I can't understand why he's still here. I know all that stuff about not hiring a manager in mid-season and the whole interim thing being a waste. But with the Indians as bad as they were at mid-season, a firing and promotion of a rookie manager who could work with the AAAA (extra A intentional) roster seemed highly appropriate.<br /><br />Did I make this point? Cy? Paul? Someone did -- Why is that these players have to be demoted to solve their problems? And why do they always seem to get worse when on the MLB roster?<br /><br />Let's hope that trend ends and we start to see some consistency at the MLB level.Eliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17515173441876386256noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-22735318738991320862009-08-21T14:38:27.593-04:002009-08-21T14:38:27.593-04:00There's really nothing to stop LaPorta from pl...There's really nothing to stop LaPorta from playing every day in left field, at least not until Crowe returns (and even then, I expect Crowe will be used to give breaks to the various outfielders rather than in a platoon role).<br /><br />The Indians' handling of Valbuena has been quite a bit different than their usual tack with young players, which is to bury them behind a 33 year-old journeyman if they don't immediately adjust to major league pitching. I liked Valbuena from the time he came up, even though his numbers weren't matching up with my positive impression of how he looked at the plate. But to Wedge's credit (this one time), he didn't give up on him.Hydehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03984348525069741897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-7152575500670518642009-08-21T13:43:16.308-04:002009-08-21T13:43:16.308-04:00Cy,
I'll stop bringing it up when the madness...Cy, <br />I'll stop bringing it up when the madness ends and Wedge is fired. The insanity of the LaPorta situation, among others, has created such a compilation of indefensible moves by the manager that I will flail my arms and stomp my feet on this until no logical person can think that it really doesn't matter whether Wedge is back or not next year.<br /><br />The fact that Shapiro continues to cast his lot with the person who is contributing to the undermining of the team has now been a reflection on him, one that grows uglier with each passing day and misjudgment by Wedge.Paul Cousineauhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03490622970961409253noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11805401.post-70567291569871996252009-08-21T12:18:32.470-04:002009-08-21T12:18:32.470-04:00unless laporta plays every day and twice on tuesda...unless laporta plays every day and twice on tuesdays, eric wedge needs to be fired yesterday. and if he's not, shapiro should be as well. i can't stand the fact that a pattern of mismanagement has been established as it relates to our young talent.<br /><br />our team leadership has come out and said the only way we are winning is with young (read: cheap) talent that flowers and is locked up to good contracts early. and then they stand idly by as our stubborn manager tries stomp the will to succeed out of them. and even contribute to the problem by giving false excuses (backup CF) as the reason these players aren't called up to the show.<br /><br />please stop bringing this up, as it just makes me furious.<br /><br />serenity now, serenity nowCy Slapnickahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10109399114263980881noreply@blogger.com