Hello Tribe fans everywhere!

The plan that seemed to make so much sense three weeks ago has gone up in smoke. And those smoke signals spell bad news for the Cleveland Indians.

Prior to the All-Star break, it appeared the Tribe would promote Adam Miller, the prize of its farm system, to the big leagues. Miller has always been a starting pitcher, but after suffering an injury to a finger earlier this season, the Indians brass was convinced he could switch to the bullpen. If he resembled anything close to the dominant pitcher he'd been in spring training, he would be able to shore up the back end of Cleveland's bullpen. That was the plan, anyway.

Even though he shows no sign of weakening yet, Tribe GM Mark Shapiro worries that Rafael Betancourt will soon start running out of gas. Betancourt has been a teriffic setup man for closer Joe Borowski, and only Rafael Perez has inspired confidence that he might be able to step in and do the job should Betancourt falter.

Now that Miller had been sidelined for at least the next month by an elbow injury, the Indians will likely have to go out and acquire some help for the pen. Kansas City demanded either Franklin Gutierrez or Ben Francisco for Octavio Dotel, which Shapiro quickly declined. But now perhaps the Indians will have to look again.

Personally, I would be leery of trading either of the two young outfielders. Perhaps if David Dellucci showed something at bat before he got hurt, or if Trot Nixon gave some sign that he could regain the form that made him such a valuable performer in Boston for all those years, I'd say, go ahead: trade one of the kids. But Dellucci could be out for the year, and, frankly, he proved a major disappointment before he tore a muscle. Considering that he'd be recuperating from a major injury, could the Indians realistically expect much from him? I wouldn't.

Nixon provides solid clubhouse leadership, but, as player, he's a ghost of what he was. If I was Eric Wedge, I don't think I'd play him much at all anymore. It means the Indians would have to bank on Gutierrez and Francisco, which would be fine with me. Richard Jacobs doesn't own this club anymore, which means the era of deep financial pockets is over. The Indians just can't (or won't) go out and buy players anymore, so you have to put your faith in talented kids.

But Shapiro's worries about the bullpen are probably correct. The Tribe needs help. Miller apparently isn't the answer, which means the club has to go another route.

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The answer to yesterday's quickie quiz is: Tom Mastny. He is believed to be the first Indonesian-born player to advance to the big leagues.

Name the Indians player who grew up idolizing Ozzie Guillen. Hint: he's a Venezuelan.

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-- Kevin Cuneo