Indians fire Eric Wedge

[Mainspark]

CLEVELAND (AP)—The Cleveland Indians have fired manager Eric Wedge in the final days of a terrible season.

Wedge guided the Indians to one playoff appearance in seven seasons, and this year the club fell out of contention early and is currently one game out of last place in the AL Central.

The Indians have scheduled a Wednesday afternoon news conference at Progressive Field to announce Wedge’s dismissal.

Wedge will finish out the season as manager. Cleveland’s coaching staff has also been informed it will not be retained, but some of the staff could be rehired by the Indians’ next manager.

Two years ago, Cleveland was one win away from a World Series trip. The Indians fell to 81-81 in 2008, but were expected to bounce back and contend this season. However, a slow start snowballed and by midseason the club traded defending Cy Young winner Cliff Lee and All-Star catcher Victor Martinez to begin rebuilding again.

[fearofpopvol1]

i'd rather have Wedge than The Dusty. go get him BCast.

[cincrazy]

I'd rather have my leg cut off than be decapitated, doesn't mean I'd be in a rush to do it though .

[Highlifeman21]

Wedge > The Dusty

[traderumor]

Was expecting that one. Fired the wrong guy, Shapiro's the culprit with that franchise.

[Tom Servo]

I just don't understand why you'd do this with 5 or so games remaining (same goes for the Astros). Does a bigger message get sent by doing it in the ending season than right after the season ends?

I can't say whether it was justified seeing as I haven't seen much of the Indians the last year or so, but certainly for a team that routinely dissapoints it's not suprising that the coaching staff takes the fall.

[WVRed]

Originally Posted by Tom Servo

I just don't understand why you'd do this with 5 or so games remaining (same goes for the Astros). Does a bigger message get sent by doing it in the ending season than right after the season ends?

I can't say whether it was justified seeing as I haven't seen much of the Indians the last year or so, but certainly for a team that routinely dissapoints it's not suprising that the coaching staff takes the fall.

It's easier to blame coaches.

That being said, outside of Houston and Cleveland, who else will be in the hunt for a new manager next season?

[traderumor]

Originally Posted by WVRed

It's easier to blame coaches.

That being said, outside of Houston and Cleveland, who else will be in the hunt for a new manager next season?

Washington shouldn't hire Riggleman. Cubs after Lou resigns this offseason?

[Chip R]

Originally Posted by WVRed

It's easier to blame coaches.

That being said, outside of Houston and Cleveland, who else will be in the hunt for a new manager next season?

StL, if LaRussa quits. Maybe Oakland. Maybe the Mets.

[Team Clark]

Not surprised but I'd have to say that IMO Wedge was not the problem.

[cincrazy]

Originally Posted by Team Clark

Not surprised but I'd have to say that IMO Wedge was not the problem.

Agreed. The small market franchises have to find SOME scapegoat for their dwindling attendance and pile of losses... often times it's the manager, and undeservedly so.

Jim Tracy was pretty awful in Pittsburgh... amazing what good players does for someone, even for our Dusty.

[blumj]

Originally Posted by Tom Servo

I just don't understand why you'd do this with 5 or so games remaining (same goes for the Astros). Does a bigger message get sent by doing it in the ending season than right after the season ends?

No, it's just that, once you've made the decision to fire someone, you fire him. Who's helped by waiting for the season to end first?

[WVRed]

Originally Posted by blumj

No, it's just that, once you've made the decision to fire someone, you fire him. Who's helped by waiting for the season to end first?

Sometimes I think it is a good idea to let managers go at the end of the season, but I guess it depends on the situation.

For example, the Marlins replaced Jeff Torborg with Jack McKeon in 2003. That one worked out pretty well.

At the same time, I think sometimes you fall into a bit of a trap if you fire somebody early in the season and give an assistant the interim tag. If there is moderate progress, then they are usually promoted to manager at the end of the season and the mediocrity continues. See Dave Miley or Jerry Narron.

Six games left in the season though? I don't know what that proves. Milwaukee did it last season with twelve games but actually had something to play for. Not sure what the Indians and Astros are doing.

Any chance Jeff Bagwell gets the Astros manager job? I know he is working in the front office for Houston and his name was mentioned.

[klw]

So Wedge is available to be the backup to Hanigan next year?

[blumj]

Originally Posted by WVRed

Sometimes I think it is a good idea to let managers go at the end of the season, but I guess it depends on the situation.

For example, the Marlins replaced Jeff Torborg with Jack McKeon in 2003. That one worked out pretty well.

At the same time, I think sometimes you fall into a bit of a trap if you fire somebody early in the season and give an assistant the interim tag. If there is moderate progress, then they are usually promoted to manager at the end of the season and the mediocrity continues. See Dave Miley or Jerry Narron.

Six games left in the season though? I don't know what that proves. Milwaukee did it last season with twelve games but actually had something to play for. Not sure what the Indians and Astros are doing.

I don't know about the Astros, but this is different, it's only a week. They made the decision and let him choose whether or not he wanted to stay with his team for the last week. I think that's the right way to handle it. If you're not sure yet, you wait for the season to end, but, if you are sure, you tell the man the truth.