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2010: The halfway point

No surprises here as last place Indians stumble into the break at 34-54

Kerry Wood’s walk-off base hit given up to the Ray’s Jason Bartlett in the tenth inning of the Tribe’s 6-5 loss on Sunday seemed to sum the first half of the 2010 season perfectly. Cleveland’s 16 pathetic saves (last in the A.L.) leaves most of us die-hards pining for the good old days when the unique genius of Bob Wickman caused every fan in the city to stop what they were doing and glue themselves to the TV for the roller coaster ninth.

Injuries to Asdrubal Cabrera, Grady Sizemore and Shin-Soo Choo didn’t help things, but every team goes through them. I can’t imagine this group being a .500 team even without the injuries. When your best hitter (Choo) is batting .286 on July 4^th, it turns decent outings by your starters into a bunch of 3-1 losses.

It’s the ill-conceived salaries of Wood, Travis Hafner and others that have brought us to this “Season of Waste.” Tribe fans had to sit and watch the salary dumps of favorites Cliff Lee and Victor Martinez to pay for the foolish and ignorant signings of misjudged talent. It was laughable to hear manager Manny Acta complaining about the interleague schedule and how he had to go 9 games without the use of DH Travis Hafner. Did he and the rest of the Indian brain trust not foresee a problem on the June schedule carrying a $12 million designated hitter that cannot throw a baseball because of his surgically repaired shoulder? Inept and clueless describe the dollars they do spend.

It’s always fun to watch a team try and rebuild by fielding its young players, and it will be again the second half of this year with the likes of Carlos Santana, Mitch Talbot. Matt LaPorta and Michael Brantley taking their places. But to what end?

Do we have to continue watching our young guys develop into star talent that wins nothing and becomes too expensive for our penny ante ownership to keep here? If we were a farm team for the New York Yankees, that’s what we would expect. Until we get an owner that will spend and spend wisely, the future for baseball fans in Cleveland looks as bleak and dismal as the rest of summer, 2010. J. Ladd 7/14/2010

LeGone

The clown who thinks he’s god bolts Cleveland; Thousands of brain-dead Lebroniacs are stunned as they fall to planet earth

I must admit, I was getting nervous over the July 4^th holiday weekend.

Many of the sports pundits had LeBron James re-signing with the Cavaliers. But, alas, in true Jim Phonyesque fashion, the “Bloated One” kept almost everyone guessing to the end with his festival of free agency lies and then took off for southern Florida. The King without a ring’s announcement came via a cataclysmically asinine ESPN special that proved once and for all that James hasn’t an iota of integrity in his entire tattooed body.

This debacle was reminiscent of the old 1960’s “Dating Game,” where the nervous bachelor stuttered a little and then spit out: “I’m going with bachelorette Miami!”

Longtime Cavalier hall of fame announcer Joe Tait called the one-hour prime time special an “embarrassment born out of pure ego.”

It’s hard for me to fathom the fact that anyone in Cleveland actually wanted this guy to stay here after he simply quit playing in game 5 of the NBA semifinals against Boston. The Cavs were tied 2-2 with the Celtics and had this pivotal playoff game at home. James just stood around on the court in a funk while the Celtics pummeled the Cavs like a kindergarten class. He was dreaming back then about prancing like a pagan dancing girl on a stage in Florida with Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh by his side.

Yours truly would have traded James in 2007 when I looked up at the Jumbotron at Jacobs Field in the 3^rd inning of the Tribe’s first playoff game against New York and saw that fool sitting in the stands yucking it up with a Yankees ball cap on. And people expected loyalty from him now? Based on what? This guy just doesn’t get it and never did.

It is appropriate that LeBron chose a team that incorporates fire into its logo. He might as well get used to being surrounded by flames now, since he has nowhere to go from here but down. J. Ladd 7/10/10

Lee not enough

Phils fall to the Yanks in six despite the lefty’s two sparkling performances

It’s too bad that Cliff Lee couldn’t have started all four games in the World Series for the Phillies. They would have swept the Yankees, and Lee’s fans would have a lifetimes worth of highlight clips to savor.

Lefty went 4-0 in the postseason for Philadelphia after being traded from the Indians on July 29^th.

In his first World Series start, Lee seemed to have nerves of steel as he pitched a masterful complete game six-hitter to lead the Phillies to a 6-1 victory over the Yankees. In a meeting between former Indians Cy Young winners, Lee not only out-pitched CC Sabathia, but he looked cool doing it.

Lee's signature moment came in the sixth inning when Jhonny Damon sent a pop-up to the mound, with one out and Derek Jeter on first. Lee didn't even raise his glove above his head to make the catch. He caught the ball at waist level, almost yawning as he did.

It drew a smile from manager Charlie Manuel on a cold and rainy night in the Bronx.

If that didn't get the Yankees' attention, his behind-the-back grab of Robinson Cano's hot-shot back to the mound to start the eighth certainly did. Lee just shrugged his shoulders to his teammates, just like Michael Jordan sinking a 30-footer against the Cavs.

But there was more to Lee’s attitude than nonchalance, as there has been ever since the Indians sent him to Class AAA Buffalo in 2007, kept him there for almost a month, and then didn't put him on their postseason roster. Whatever beast that snub awoke in Lee hasn't stopped roaring since.

Lee looked borderline cocky, a look every Indians fans had seen from the left-hander at one time or another from 2002 until he was traded to the Phillies along with Ben Fransisco for a bunch of injured minor league prospects. It was a senseless move that irritated Tribe fans to no end and left us without an ace for the 2010 season. In a no-brainer of a move, the Phillies picked up Lee’s $9 million option for next year - adding salt to the already gaping wound that is the Indians starting rotation. J.Ladd 11/7/09

Check out Cliff Lee's awesome 2008 season highlights here

The Locker of Power

In a far, dark corner of the Indians locker room, hidden behind two pillars next to the electrical circuit box is the Locker of Power. It was where Bob Wickman, the Indians greatest closer, dressed for six years.

It is reserved for veterans or long-tenured players. Previous occupants included Jack Morris, David Justice and Orel Hershiser. C.C. Sabathia took it over after Wick was traded to Atlanta in 2006.

After C.C. was traded to Milwaukee on July 7^th, Casey Blake decided to move into a new neighborhood. Blake still headed for his old locker out of habit when entering the locker room, so Tony Amato, the Tribe’s clubhouse manager, jokingly posted a map on one of the pillars showing the way to Blake’s isolated new digs.

 “He moves all the way to the other side of the locker room and he’s still hanging out over here,” said Kelly Shoppach, Blake’s former neighbor. “He can’t stay away from us.” “Seriously, I feel pretty honored to be here, considering all the good players that that have hung their hats here,” said Blake.

But much like the killer car in Stephen King’s “Christine,” the locker has a habit of doing away with occupants that it feels “unworthy.”

On July 26^th, Casey Blake was traded to the Dodgers, and Tony Amato decided to isolate the locker with yellow police tape.“For the second time in 20 days a prominent member of the Indians that dressed there has been traded. We’re going to let it cool off for a while. You’re talking about two big moves in the same month.”

D-Backs notebook: Wickman appears ready to hang up his cleats

Jack Magruder, Tribune

As the Diamondbacks carry on, Bob Wickman and his 267 career saves quietly moved on Monday, perhaps for good.
Wickman retired the only batter he faced on a comebacker Sunday in Colorado, stranding a runner at third base, and said later it might be a fitting way to retire.
“This gives me a chance to walk off on my own terms if I do walk off,” he said.
“I got the last out that I faced and ended up being pretty successful. Hopefully, I helped this ball club and took some pressure off some of the guys. All I wanted was a chance to pitch, and to show to myself that I still could pitch.”
Wickman admitted to doubts after being waived by Atlanta before signing here Sept. 8, but he proved a valuable stretch-run addition, giving up one earned run with a 1.35 ERA in eight appearances.
He is ineligible for the playoff roster because he was not with the D-Backs at the Aug. 31 deadline.
“I thank Bob Melvin and the whole Diamondbacks organization for giving me an opportunity,” Wickman said.
Wickman has three children — ages 10, 8 and 4 — and said it might be time to save a few pitches for them.
“I’m 38. I’ve got a wonderful wife and three wonderful kids that I want to be able to throw ‘bp’ to,” he said.
The Wickmans have taken their children to spring training every year, and the family has spent summers in New York, Milwaukee, Cleveland and Atlanta, wherever he was playing.
“It’s getting to the point right now where maybe it’s about time to get settled and let them meet some friends that they are going to have every day. Whatever decision it is going to be, it is going to be a good one,” he said.
“If I don’t play, I’m going to be happier than heck being with my family every single day. If I do play, I’m going to be happy doing the thing I love to do.”

A Farewell to Arm

Two days after the August 24^th meltdown against Adam Dunn in Cincinnati, Bob Wickman was at home in Wisconsin hangin’ around the pool with the family. They all knew something wasn’t quite right. The Atlanta train wreck just wasn’t the way a 14-year MLB career should end. His reputation was mangled, and he couldn’t even finish the season he struggled so hard with starting in the first place.

The closer needed closure.

He was unofficially retired, having been unceremoniously dumped by the imploding Braves, with every sports media writer that covered the story dragging his name through the mud.

He was called a selfish, brooding and aloof player that only cared about his own stats. He was said to be a clubhouse cancer that complained every time he was given the ball in a non-save situation. He was said to have openly bad-mouthed his teammates and actually refused to pitch in a 6-2 game against the Mets.

Bob made a few phone calls and reached out to some of the many baseball people he had known throughout his time in the Bigs, letting it be known that he was available to pitch if someone wanted him for the September stretch run. When his old friend and teammate Bob Melvin of the Arizona Diamondbacks said, “Come on down, we’d love to have you,” Bob saw it as a chance to repair his slandered reputation, prove that he could still get guys out and contribute to a playoff contending team. Choosing to join a bullpen that had the #1 closer in all of baseball in Jose Valverede made the accusations against Bobby seem even more ridiculous to me. He had virtually no chance to take the ball for a save opportunity with this team.

So when I heard that Arizona picked Bob up, naturally I went directly to their schedule like any fine upstanding Wickman Warrior would do.

They’re in Pittsburgh the last week of the season! “Thank You, Lord!”

I dashed off a quick note to Bob that the whole gang was coming down, and he responded with tickets for everyone and plans to meet up at their hotel.

It seemed like a perfect night for baseball when we took our fantastic seats right off the first base side of the field. That all changed in a hurry when a freak storm blew in like a tornado in the 3^rd inning and drenched the field before the grounds crew could even get the infield tarp unrolled. Luckily, our seats were well protected under the overhang of the upper deck, and we kicked back and laughed as everyone else ran for their lives. They showed a Styx concert recorded in August at PNC on the big screen during the delay as we talked with Pirates fans while they worked on the field.

Everything just seemed right about the trip. I’ve always been big on setting things right before moving on, and was really glad that my friend’s career wasn’t going to end in that pile of dust and ashes in Atlanta.

Bob came into the game in the fifth with a guy on second with the Snakes down 5-1, and promptly plunked his first batter in the side with his first pitch. A ground ball double play and a strikeout quickly followed as Bobby got out of his mini-jam. Just like old times.

We high-tailed it back to the Westin immediately after the game, pulled 3 tables together to set up the retirement party and waited for the Guest of Honor. Bob introduced us as his “Warrior faithful” to his teammates as they got off the bus and entered the lobby, and after a few autographs we all sat down to catch up with our favorite ballplayer. The “Guest of Honor” made sure none of us paid for a drink the rest of the evening.

Like a bunch of kids that just got the keys to the candy store, we took turns peppering the Big Guy with baseball questions. He told us the circumstances that led to his trade from the Tribe, and that he held no animosity toward anyone in Cleveland. He vigorously defended Eric Wedge and said he always felt he was the right man to lead the young Indians team to the Promised Land. He told me again, as he did in this same park a year ago, that he was concerned about Wedge taking all the heat for the Fausto Carmona closer disaster and the demise of the 2006 Indians team. Bob said that would be totally unfair to him, and felt genuinely sorry if he had added to his troubles last year.

He told us that he had just called Mark Shapiro to congratulate him for winning the division. They had discussed his possible return to the Tribe after the Braves released him, but they both agreed that it would more likely disrupt the bullpen rather than strengthen it. The media and sports blabbers would turn the situation into a circus the first time closer Joe Borowski struggled, and they didn’t need that fiasco heading into the playoffs.

He said the Braves ordeal was largely overblown. He felt that because he only signed a one-year deal with Atlanta that they were going to use him up until his back broke or his arm fell off, whichever came first. When I pointed to Cox using him 5 times in one week back in April and landing him on the DL as the start of his injury problems, he nodded in agreement. He indicated that unless you were in a select group of players on the Braves, anyone with any injuries on that team was deemed a goldbricker that didn’t want to carry his load. We noted for the record that a squabble that spilled over into the press at mid-season between two of the “big-boys” over the seriousness of injuries was quickly hushed up.

 He said his daily routine, which he followed religiously since his 2004 comeback from Tommy John surgery, was misinterpreted as him being a selfish and aloof loner. He said he never once refused to take the ball in a non-save situation as was falsely reported by the Atlanta media, and that Andruw Jones seemed to have a personal axe to grind with him. His demeanor was never a problem to them last year when he saved 18 of 19 games after giving up one earned run in the final 2 months of 2006.

As the evening went on, Bob gave us the good, the bad and the ugly as we ran the gamut of major league players that he had known through the years. There was no bitterness or regret as he spoke about his career, and he refused to dwell on the negatives as he smiled and patted little Garrett on the head and greeted Dback players and coaches that came over to see what all the fun was about. We finally closed the place down at about 2 o’clock after they started flashing the lights to get us up and out.

The clubhouse-cancer jerk tag that was hung around his neck when he was railroaded out of Atlanta was nowhere to be found. That guy with the sour attitude never did exist. This was the same Bob Wickman that I’ve known for the past 7 years. My personal guess is that he just didn’t fit in on a clannish team that should have been torn down and rebuilt a couple of years ago, starting with their out of touch manager.

He caught me off guard when he turned to me and said, "Joe, I think the game has passed me by." Sadly enough, I couldn't disagree with him. Not knowing quite how to answer, I think I told him that his leaving would be baseball's loss. I always felt that Bob belonged more to my father's era of ballplayers rather than this modern group of distant millionaires. It felt like we were all catching up over beers at a family reunion. 

Click here for more final road trip photos

Cleveland fans click here for in-depth coverage of  Bob's years with the Indians as well as his entire MLB career