Indians fans just know is that Shapiro and Wedge have a preference for veteran role players rather over young players, almost irrespective of pedigree. To an outsider, this may seem like a ridiculous proposition and for proof they'll point to center fielder Grady Sizemore and even second baseman Asdrubal Cabrera. You can argue this one all day if you want, but Indians fans would tell you and they'd be right that both Sizemore and Cabrera were reluctant additions that have worked out.

The kinds of players Shapiro and Wedge are more comfortable with are Jason Michaels, David Dellucci. At this point, most fans can no longer distinguish between Michaels and Dellucci. Michaels is the one with the lifetime .277 average, Dellucci is the one with the .260 average. Both are what might be termed "nice" players, but are not anything special nor will they be capable of random good play. The kind of player that tends to fill out a major league roster, but having both of them is not exactly a luxury. It is more a problem.

Watching Wedge put both in the lineup recently is the typical Wedge being Wedge. Rather than watch a young player like Franklin Gutierrez struggle Wedge apparently prefers watching established patchiness do the same thing. Maybe they are good in the clubhouse. At least fans were fed that excuse when it came to Aaron Boone and Trot Nixon.

Another place this kind of veteran over youth thinking is playing itself out is in the Tribe's fourth starter, Paul Byrd. Whether either Shapiro or Wedge want to admit it publicly, the fans know that Byrd is pretty much done. He can still get hitters out for the most part and will still give the team a bunch of innings, but what is really the point?

Byrd was 15-8 last season, which is somewhat like Borowski getting 45 saves, so the case for not using Byrd isn't easily made on the surface. But just as there are always those pitchers that never seem to get run support, Byrd was one of those pitchers that always seemed to throw on the days the Tribe's offense came alive. His 4.38 ERA last season was not particularly impressive so something else must have gone right.

What the fans really know about the Byrd situation, indeed the whole veteran presence thing that Shapiro likes to tout, is that this is a budget issue. If there is one thing Shapiro has specialized in since he became general manager, it is taking a flyer on some other team's previously injured castoffs. They cost less than premier free agents and thus the risk/reward equation is tilted much more favorably toward the Indians. This is fine, for as far as it goes, but when the roster starts filling up with these kinds of players at the expense of developing the prospects the team otherwise highly touts, it gets a tad frustrating to the average fan.

But for all Indians fans there is only one question they're really interested in having answered and that is when, if ever, the skies will clear, the seas will part, and they'll get their World Series pennant. It is never easily answered, of course, but a good start will certainly come when the Indians stop living up to the sad truth that is not so much setting them free as holding them back.

-twisted-

I second that motion tribemuck!

The Blake/Marte switch could be interesting, although I was really unimpressed with Marte this spring.

so your whole post was about Marte not getting at bats?

My point exactly still early they arent producing something needs to be done!

I think thats a first! lol It just scares me to bring Ben up now when he is dead down there... But I really think the shifting things up with Marte to 3rd and Blake to the OF could help us a little more for now!

I think once Choo gets back and Ben heats up thats what we will see