Hello Tribe fans everywhere!
One of the few bright spots for Cleveland in Saturday's 9-3 loss to Oakland was a sparkling, 2-inning scoreless performance by Cliff Lee. Finally, I thought, he's sewed up his spot on the post-season roster. But, apparently that's not the case. The Indians are still thinking of going with 15 position players, which means Lee could be out.
I don't know what atrocity he committed in the clubhouse or what, but Lee is paying for it in spades. He did have a nasty exchange -- actually two incidents -- with Victor Martinez in a game shortly before he was sent to the minors, but you'd think the Indians would be satisfied by now that they'd put the southpaw in his place. But I guess not.
Now it's a concern because the Indians could use Lee during the post-season games. I have much more faith in him, for instance, than I do in Tom Mastny. In fact, I'm getting a bit concerned about Joe Borowski, who blew his seventh save last night by coughing up a 2-run homer to Adrian Beltre in the 9th inning. But Borowski's got the post-season roster made. It's Lee I'm concerned about.
If I read this right, the Indians must be thinking of keeping a player such as David Dellucci for the post season. Yes, Dellucci's a vet with post-season experience, but the guy hasn't played in 3 months. They can't be seriously thinking of putting him on the roster.
The way the club is handling Lee is confounding. He's not a flash in the pan, after all. The guy has averaged more than 16 wins per season over the last three years. I assume the Tribe will try to trade him during the off season, but I hope they just don't give him away. This is my main gripe against Eric Wedge, who I think did a fine job managing the Indians this season. Once a player lands in his doghouse -- Milton Bradley, Brandon Phillips -- that's it. They're dead to him. Can't say that I blame him in the case of Bradley, but Phillips and Lee are quality players and solid citizens.
I've written before about how fond Erie fans have grown of Lee, who's visited here twice before during the annual Caravan visits.
Let's hope Wedge and Mark Shapiro aren't bone-headed about placing him on the post-season roster. My gosh, even Jeremy Sowers is getting a start tonight against the Mariners.
*****************
The answer to yesterday's quiz is: Yes, Trot Nixon has played against the Indians in past post-season games. When he played for the Red Sox, Nixon was one of the club's top players in October.
Today's quiz: Name the Indians pitcher who signed a letter of intent to play baseball at the University of Georgia before changing his mind and signing a pro contract with the Colorado Rockies organization.
*****************
-- Kevin Cuneo

