OT: Wedge fired
Eric Wedge will no longer be the manager of the Cleveland Indians.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=4519460
Probably not going to change much in Cleveland in the short term unless they either get an incredible manager or enough revenue to compete with big market teams every year. Then again, Cleveland often underperformed in close games under Wedge...
I just hope that they continue to suck.
September 30th, 2009 at 9:27 PM ^
They are stacked with pitching in their farm system. Zach Putnam was part of the AA level champion Akron Aeros. Their AAA team wasn't that good, but had an upswing toward the end of the year from what I've heard.
September 30th, 2009 at 9:34 PM ^
And it sucks that their amazing star (Seizmore) was hurt the entire year. Then they trade away all of their pitching, or let them go (Sabathia, Lee, etc.) What was he supposed to do? Two years ago, he was in the freakin' ALCS game 7!
September 30th, 2009 at 9:35 PM ^
I was at that game in Boston. That game is the only good I can speak about the Red Sox. It was awesome.
September 30th, 2009 at 9:35 PM ^
one of the biggest choke jobs ever. Up 3-1 with your Cy Young Winner and 2nd Ace going at it you need to win 1 of those games and get in the freaking world series.
September 30th, 2009 at 9:34 PM ^
stacked with minor league talent. Trade away the talent once we develop it because the owners don't want to pay out. Sprinkle in 1 or 2 seasons where we go deep every 5 years and call it a baseball team.
September 30th, 2009 at 9:34 PM ^
Regardless, I'm happier off now, because I never trusted the guy when he played the Tigers. I don't know why...
September 30th, 2009 at 9:50 PM ^
I always thought he had a plastic face. It kind of creeped me out. He seemed to be a pretty decent manager for the most part though.
October 1st, 2009 at 8:03 AM ^
OMG LET'S HIRE HIM FOR THE POSTSEASON! TIGERS WILL BE RISING!
(You just know someone on talk radio will say this today.)
September 30th, 2009 at 11:40 PM ^
for Cleveland (if they get a manager better than Wedge, but with awful ownership, I wouldn't count on it) - Wedge was notorious for his slow starts - the Tribe was awful to begin the season and then would have to try to dig themselves of a hole.
I think Wedge has done a better job than Shapiro (the GM)- but I think Shapiro save his own job for another season by canning Wedge.
Furthermore, Wedge never won over the fans, which can go a long way in a town like Cleveland.
October 1st, 2009 at 12:36 AM ^
Terrible baseball team. Terrible football team. No hockey team. LaBron can't wait to blow town. Located in that state to the south.
October 1st, 2009 at 10:27 AM ^
The GM Completely destroyed that team and the manager gets fired, Gotta love sports
October 1st, 2009 at 8:42 PM ^
shapiro has won every trade that he's made that we've had time to examine (cc, but he shouldn't count as they were going to lose him, c-lee and v-mart aside).
to me, having a team digging out of a hole EVERY JUNE is the reason wedge is gone. that and him 'playing favorites' with certain players over others.
noooo reason to have young guys called up to sit the bench when you're 13 games out.
never really got behind him, i guess. losing 3 straight to boston in the alcs (i was at the 'bug game' where joba got covered and we won late with a hafner single in the 11th) and then only going .500 the next year did it.
*shrug*
problem is, who else is out there that can turn this around? and will they pay that person, when they've already traded cliff lee and victor when their salaries were well below value and still signed through next season?
the aaa manager (forget his name right now) has to be a main candidate. his record there this year doesn't matter, he was doing a pretty good job developing the young guys he had when they were there, which are the same guys that will make the team next year.
October 1st, 2009 at 10:36 AM ^
Well shit looks like the rebels will have to find another pilot 'cuz Wedge was a good one.