September 30, 2009

Cleveland Indians Fire Manager Eric Wedge: The Cleveland Indians have fired manager Eric Wedge and his entire coaching staff. In his seven seasons with the team, Wedge was 560-568. He'll finish out the last six games of the year. Two years ago, he led the Indians to a 96-66 record, AL Central championship and a trip to the ALCS.

posted by rcade to baseball at 05:03 PM - 5 comments

Man. He had a long run there. He was my age (36) when he started. Seems really young to be a manager. He'll be back.

posted by josher71 at 06:30 PM on September 30, 2009

Why on earth didn't they let him finish managing the last 6 games before announcing that he is fired. Are they big on humiliation in the mistake-by-the-lake?

posted by pullmyfinger at 10:15 AM on October 01, 2009

Been to Cleveland? It's a nice town. The "mistake by the lake" nickname born of the '70s is not an accurate picture of what it was like when I visited 10 years ago.

posted by rcade at 10:23 AM on October 01, 2009

So their main export isn't crippling depression? I've been lied to.

posted by yerfatma at 11:00 AM on October 01, 2009

Much of the comment places the blame on Mark Shapiro, the Cleveland GM. He, in turn, was probably under a lot of pressure from ownership to clear payroll. Shapiro has accepted his part in it, and refuses to place all of the blame on Wedge. If you want to rebuild a team with young talent, firing Eric Wedge is not a good move. From all I have heard, he was a good teacher of the younger players. He would be a nice addition to someone's coaching staff, with the intent of moving him into a managing job.

Here in the Boston area there is speculation that John Farrell, Red Sox pitching coach, might be considered for the job. He has worked for the club in the past, and his home is in the Cleveland area. He has a clause in his contract that prevents him from taking a managing job before 2011, but one league source is cited as saying that all that does is give Boston an opportunity for some compensation.

Gutting your team in the interest of reducing payroll, and then replacing the veterans with youngsters, is a tactic used by another team not too far from Cleveland. It hasn't worked too well with Pittsburgh, has it?

posted by Howard_T at 04:07 PM on October 01, 2009

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