Hello Tribe fans everywhere!

While Detroit battles the Yankees, it's time for the Indians to clean up against Tampa Bay. The Tribe absolutely must take two of three games against the Devil Rays this weekend. Anything less would represent yet another blow to the Indians' pennant hopes. Frankly, I have no idea which Indians team will show up against the Devil Rays tonight. But if the Indians ever expect to emerge from this horrific batting slump, tonight is the night.

I'm a little alarmed by the way Eric Wedge is handling a couple of personnel matters. He's been really griping about Jhonny Peralta, who until three weeks ago was having a great season. Now Peralta's in a bad batting slump and his concentration seems to be slipping. He's still fielding OK, which was the big rap against him last season, but he's not the player he was through the all-star break.

So, what's a manager to do? Actually, this is the key to modern baseball management -- finding a way to communicate and motivate young, rich, headstrong athletes when they're struggling. I can't complain about Wedge's handling of Peralta up to the All-Star Game -- the kid was playing great baseball. But, suddenly, Wedge can't seem to reach him again. Therein lies the challenge.

I would throw in the towel and say, "Oh, well. What's a manager to do with a head case like Peralta," except that I think Wedge kind of blew it with Cliff Lee, too. Lee is not a rookie -- he was one of the Indians' best pitchers over the past three seasons, averaging 16 wins a year. Yes, he was awful this season after coming back from an injury he suffered in spring training.

Then Lee became embroiled in a public spat with catcher Victor Martinez that erupted on the field and in the dugout -- not once but twice. When he got bombed in his next two starts, the Indians sent Lee to Buffalo. Completely understandable. Cliff clearly had to get his mechanics straightened out.

But now it seems to me Wedge and GM Mark Shapiro are playing games with Lee. They need to promote a pitcher to start a game on Aug. 25, but instead of coming out and saying, "Cliff, we want you back on that date. Get yourself ready." Or, "Cliff, we don't think you're where we need you to be. We're going to give Aaron Laffey the start." No, they're letting Lee twist slowly in the wind, which I think is counter productive.

It'd be one thing is they were ready to part ways with the veteran lefty, but Lee is under contract for several more years. And, really, they're ruining his trade value by keeping him at Buffalo as punishment.

I don't know why they can't promote Lee or Laffey now and use them out of the bullpen. The Tribe's relief corps looks as if it's out of gas, as it is. There's no reason to keep two reserve infielders -- Asdrubal Cabrera and Chris Gomez. Except that by keeping Cabrera and spotting him at second base every now and then, Wedge is trying to put some pressure on Josh Barfield.

I have my doubts that this is the best way to motivate players -- not when you're locked in a pennant race and can't really afford to keep players on the roster just to play mind games. If they want to send Barfield message, ship him to Buffalo for a week or two.

These are trying times, as the Indians struggle to emerge from a month-long batting slump. My concerns about Wedge, however, are deepening. It's easy to manage well when the players are hitting well and pitching well, but this is the time when a good manager shows his mettle.

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The answer to the last quickie quiz is: Hal Trosky was a great Indians slugger of the 1930's and early '40s, whose career was cut short by migraine headaches.

Today's quiz: Name the outfielder Cleveland traded for Franklin Gutierrez.

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-- Kevin Cuneo