Two Guys Sports
Bruce Bostwick
State of the Tribe: Is It Time for Wedge and Shapiro to Go?
June 19th 2009 19:13
The Indians this season have been terrible but the only thing saving them is the fact the AL Central has nobody running away with it and it is doubtful that it will happen in the first place. It is fair to say that this team has not been the type of team that can win in the post-season or even make it outside of one time since John Hart left back in 2001.
Mark Shapiro has been the General Manager since the 2002 season. During his tenure, the Indians have a combined record excluding the 2009 season for now at 570-564. That isn't exactly a great record but far from the worst. Only one division title and that year was a playoff appearance seeing the Indians choke in the ALCS after having a 3-1 lead over the Boston Red Sox.
Eric Wedge has been there just a year under Shapiro and has a record of 496-476. Again, it isn't great but not the worst record. It is a far cry from the time Mike Hargrove was the manager of the Indians though his tenure lasted from 1991-1999 seeing five straight division titles, three ALCS appearances, and two AL Pennants being in 1995 and 1997.
It also has become that of a team that would be too conservative when it comes to going out of its way to go for a championship for the particular year and instead is quicker to quit on a season selling off their best players for prospects essentially becoming a farm team for the rest of the league.
Granted, it may not be the biggest market but it is no excuse to not attempt to go for a championship for a team that hasn't won since 1948. The attendance is now just sad how they are barley even getting 50% inside except for other teams coming in like the Cardinals or the Yankees. When the park opened up, you couldn't find a ticket anywhere, now it is just so easy it's sad.
While the players are to blame, Wedge has made some strange decisions that has cost the team some wins. For instance, whenever a starter was doing well and didn't seem fatigue, they would get yanked for a bullpen that just cost them some wins and some series wins.
Shapiro has to be held accountable for his judgment of talent and who he has picked up. If all is known for doing is the Bartolo Colon trade that brought in Grady Sizemore, Cliff Lee, and Brandon Phillips (now with the Reds), that doesn't say much about him now does it? At the end of the day, the question should be did you do enough to win a championship for the season? Way I see it, anything less than a championship is not going to be good enough.
Would I fire Wedge and Shapiro? If they do not make the playoffs, then yes. The only way their jobs would be safe if they made it and can get to the World Series and actually win it for a change.
Mark Shapiro has been the General Manager since the 2002 season. During his tenure, the Indians have a combined record excluding the 2009 season for now at 570-564. That isn't exactly a great record but far from the worst. Only one division title and that year was a playoff appearance seeing the Indians choke in the ALCS after having a 3-1 lead over the Boston Red Sox.
Eric Wedge has been there just a year under Shapiro and has a record of 496-476. Again, it isn't great but not the worst record. It is a far cry from the time Mike Hargrove was the manager of the Indians though his tenure lasted from 1991-1999 seeing five straight division titles, three ALCS appearances, and two AL Pennants being in 1995 and 1997.
It also has become that of a team that would be too conservative when it comes to going out of its way to go for a championship for the particular year and instead is quicker to quit on a season selling off their best players for prospects essentially becoming a farm team for the rest of the league.
Granted, it may not be the biggest market but it is no excuse to not attempt to go for a championship for a team that hasn't won since 1948. The attendance is now just sad how they are barley even getting 50% inside except for other teams coming in like the Cardinals or the Yankees. When the park opened up, you couldn't find a ticket anywhere, now it is just so easy it's sad.
While the players are to blame, Wedge has made some strange decisions that has cost the team some wins. For instance, whenever a starter was doing well and didn't seem fatigue, they would get yanked for a bullpen that just cost them some wins and some series wins.
Shapiro has to be held accountable for his judgment of talent and who he has picked up. If all is known for doing is the Bartolo Colon trade that brought in Grady Sizemore, Cliff Lee, and Brandon Phillips (now with the Reds), that doesn't say much about him now does it? At the end of the day, the question should be did you do enough to win a championship for the season? Way I see it, anything less than a championship is not going to be good enough.
Would I fire Wedge and Shapiro? If they do not make the playoffs, then yes. The only way their jobs would be safe if they made it and can get to the World Series and actually win it for a change.
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