Hello Tribe fans everywhere!

And now the tinkering begins. Cleveland General Manager Mark Shapiro knows his ball club has many areas that need immediate attention, and he started the process Monday by cutting Jason Michaels and promoting Ben Francisco. It's a move long overdue, because it's time the Indians decide if Francisco can play or not. He'll get a long look in the outfield.

You also get the feeling the Indians are on the verge of making a fairly significant trade. My only fear is that Aaron Laffey, Jason Sowers or Adam Miller will be a part of a deal. With C.C. Sabathia set to move on to greener pastures after this season, the Indians will need the three young hurlers. It would make more sense to trade Sabathia. Cleveland will be finished with the Yankees for the season after this week, so why not trade him to New York?

Yes, I know it sounds like lunacy, but it doesn't make any sense to get nothing in return for the 2007 Cy Young Award winner. Now that Sabathia has straightened out his mechanics, he would be a welcome addition to practically anybody's pitching staff, but only clubs that can afford to sign him would likely be interested. Though he's pitched well for Cleveland in recent outings, he only has one victory, so it's not as if he'd be greatly missed from this team.

The Tribe needs offense, yes, but it could also use a closer and help at third base. But, I repeat: it cannot afford to lose Sowers, Laffey or Miller. Except for Victor Martinez and Grady Sizemore, everyone else should be on the trading block.

******************
The answer to the last quickie quiz is: the Tribe previously played at Municipal Stadium and, before that, League Park.

Today's quiz: Tue or false -- Gaylord Perry won two Cy Young awards for the Indians.

******************

-- Kevin Cuneo