Short & Quick

NBA Free Agency
The best talent currently on the market would also fill Cleveland’s biggest need. His name is Ron Artest. Yes, he’s high maintenance, but he would be #1 on my off-season shopping list if I had Dan Gilbert’s ear.

At age 29, Artest had fewer meltdowns in his last stop (Houston) and there should be enough of a presence in the Cavs’ locker room to keep him under control. His addition would make Cleveland the favorite to win it all in 2009-10 – for what that’s worth.

No one has mentioned his name, but I would also pursue Grant Hill, who is also on the market. Even with the bad wheels, he would still give you a high basketball IQ and 25 minutes a night of solid play off the bench.

Artest and Hill would bring the Cavs the length and talent they need in the perimeter. Neither one is a knock-down shooter, but both bring a multitude of skills to your team not easily found with younger, perhaps more athletic players.

If I can’t get Artest, then I target Trevor Ariza – late of the LA Lakers. I want Artest because he’s a warrior on the court, in his prime and simply one of the game’s 10 best current players.

No, I don’t rate Shawn Marion high. Check out his numbers since leaving Steve Nash and the Phoenix system.

Indians’ Fire Sale
If a quality big league arm comes in return, I would deal my boy, J. Peralta. It’s time. The only veterans off the market are Sizemore and Martinez. Everyone else is available.

As for Cliff Lee, it’s a question of what you get in return. Just like C.C., the better he pitches as he closes in on free agency, the less likely they can afford him. The question is - Do you trust Mark Shapiro to get it right? The last time he made a terrific deal prior to a player soon to skipping town (free agency) involved Bartolo Colon.

By the way, have you ever wondered why the Indians have had so many players who have a promising Major League debut, in terms of first year in the Show, then fade?

I can’t figure that one out.

100 MPH & Blisters
The numerous injuries to Adam Miller, once the organization’s #1 pitching prospect, seems to have set the farm system back several years. That should never happen. That’s why you now see the Indians scrambling attempting to acquire power arms from other organizations. Miller looks as though he was the only hard thrower with potential in the system that was close to Major League ready. Not good.


5.33
Are you like me and find it somewhat humorous the Tribe has so many starters with ERAs over 5. Notice, I’ve stayed away from the pen. That’s been done to death. Actually, that part of the staff is easier to fix than the starters. We'll explain at a later date.

I really think this organization will break camp next year with 80% of the starting staff not currently on the roster. That’s how bad it is.

It Ain’t Complicated
If I hear Eric Wedge one more time discussing in a post-game interview his frustration with the Indians’ starters inability to get to the late innings, I’m going to bust a vein. Not really. It's not complicated.

Those guys don’t get you to the late innings Eric because their stuff isn’t good enough! You already know this, but you just don’t want to publicly embarrass your boss (Mark Shapiro), the scouting staff, the player personnel people, etc… by admitting it. They are asking you to fight a war with BB guns.

I get it. Just don’t play dumb and confused when asked what the problem is. It insults our intelligence.

The guys (media) asking the question should also cease and desist – unless of course, they don’t know why Jeremy Sowers and company struggle so much.

Speaking of Sowers, I'm told by a friend that he's the only current ML pitcher to have been drafted in the first round twice. If that's true, that's scary.

Here’s what Wedge is actually thinking when asked his stating staff: “Most of these guys don’t have overpowering stuff – not even close. They simply have a small margin for error. Their primary stuff is mediocre at best and their secondary stuff stinks right now. So when big league hitters see then the second and third time around in a game, they wait them out, make them throw strikes, and more often than not, get the fat part of the bat on the ball. End result: 4.2 IP, 5 ER, 8 Hits, 3Ks, 3BB. Next qestion.

New Skipper
By the way, I am guessing Mark Shapiro waits until the All-Star Break to can Wedge. That’s just a semi-educated guess. As usual, Wedge isn't totally to blame. The players and Shapiro did their share of the damage.

The question is will the Dolans let Shapiro blow it up and start over again or have someone else do it.