Reassessing three underachievers and notes around the majors (cont.)

Cleveland Indians

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The pitching-poor, cash-strapped Indians did the right thing by jump-starting a rebuilding program with trades of stars Victor Martinez and Cliff Lee, an unpleasant necessity for a small-market team that needs the funds and a fresh start. They also traded Mark DeRosa, Rafael Betancourt and Ryan Garko and wound up with 11 prospects under 25 (some are under 20) in return, nine of them pitchers. So there's hope here -- though hope's ETA probably isn't 2010.

• Did they get anything for their trouble? Yes, in fact they appear to have done as well as could possibly be expected in an environment where the value of prospects is through the roof. They are especially happy with young reliever Chris Perez and young starter Justin Masterson, though there's plenty of talent to sort through. Nick Hagadone, Carlos Carrasco and Scott Barnes are three more potential keepers.

• What kind of shape is their rotation in now? They are hoping Fausto Carmona and Jake Westbrook, who both provided nothing this year (Carmona was bad, Westbrook hurt), can bounce back to peak form. If they do, they might be all right. But if not, it could be a repeat of 2009 all over again. Others in the mix include Aaron Laffey, Jeremy Sowers, David Huff, Carrasco and Masterson. They will still need to go out and get another innings eater after also sending Carl Pavano away in the purge, and the trades of Martinez and Lee should give them a few dollars to spend (it saved them $21 million between this year and next).

• How's their everyday lineup shaping up? Not too bad, especially with the infusion of young talent. Grady Sizemore is expected to return to full strength, allowing newcomer Michael Brantley to move to left field and pair with Trevor Crowe. Power prospect Matt LaPorta appears like he may be ready to take over first base. Most of the rest of the lineup looks pretty well set with Shin-Soo Choo in right field, Luis Valbuena at second, Asdrubal Cabrera at shortstop, Jhonny Peralta at third and Travis Hafner the DH. Hafner, unfortunately, appears to be a shadow of his former self. Lou Marson, acquired in the Lee deal, has a decent chance to win the catching job, as top catching prospect Carlos Santana is still thought to be a full year away. Meanwhile, Kelly Shoppach, who struggled at the plate this year, looks like a candidate to be non-tendered.

• What about Wedge? Manager Eric Wedge has long had the support of GM Mark Shapiro, but Wedge's status appears iffy with the Indians saying there will be no announcement on the manager until after the year. Shapiro is still seen as a Wedge supporter, but two straight disappointing seasons (one Indians insider said things seem "stale") have to be considered. The bigger question becomes whether ownership will feel strongly enough to nudge Shapiro to make a change (so far, their faith in Shapiro is so strong they've let him run the show -- other than insisting he cut payroll this summer). If a change is about to be made, Indians insiders say it isn't showing on Wedge, who remains the same consistent and calm fellow. If Wedge does go, the most obvious choice to replace him would be Red Sox pitching coach and former Indian John Farrell.

Around the majors

• Andy Pettitte begged the Yankees to keep pitching through his shoulder fatigue -- though it appears he's going to make almost all his incentives and more than double his $5.5 million salary, anyway. Yankees people realize they need Pettitte in the playoffs.

• While Jorge Posada's feistiness generally makes him a beloved figure around the Yankees, club personnel were not pleased Posada ignited a brawl with the Blue Jays. As Toronto manager Cito Gaston pointed out, the Yankees were the ones with something to lose. The Yankees didn't fight Posada's three-game suspension (perhaps they knew he got a break).

• The Yankees think they may have detected the flaw in Joba Chamberlain's delivery that's caused him to be so mediocre lately. Pitching coach Dave Eiland is said to have noticed something was awry.

• Torii Hunter was right, of course, that the Angels had been choking vs. Boston. He said they weren't showing any ["guts"], only he used a different word that rhymed with guts. Very true. The team responded with a big win on Thursday, though.

• Home plate umpire Rick Reed blew two straight strike calls that cost Angels closer Brian Fuentes, then complained how Angels manager Mike Scioscia and Angels coaches treated him. Reed did admit the 3-and-2 pitch might have been in the lower portion of the strike zone but suggested catcher Mike Napoli nudging the ball up led him to believe it was a ball. How about just admitting he blew the call?

• The Twins have a shot this weekend, hosting the first-place Tigers at the outgoing Metrodome. Big start tonight for Tigers Rookie of the Year candidate Rick Porcello.

• Losing Michael Young and Josh Hamilton was just too much for the young Rangers. Both are expected back soon, but it may be too late.

• I should have included Marlins bench coach Carlos Tosca on my recent list of managerial candidates. They're all doing something right down in Miami.

• Dan Uggla said he thinks he'll be traded this winter. I'd concur. The Marlins aren't going to want to pay $7 million-plus in arbitration for him.

• If Chipper Jones does retire after next year, he is indeed a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

• Best wishes to legendary Tigers broadcaster Ernie Harwell, who is handling his terminal illness with dignity.

• Best wishes, too, for longtime Reds beat writer Hal McCoy, who was honored after being forced out by the Dayton Daily News after 37 years as one of the best beat writers in the business. McCoy was always a class act and an excellent reporter.

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