NewsWedge's final chapter with Tribe arrives
Cleveland (65-96) at Boston (94-67), 1:35 p.m. ET
By Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com
10/03/09 11:57 PM EST
BOSTON -- This is where it ends for Eric Wedge. The 2009 season's last gasp and Wedge's last game of his managerial tenure with the Indians come Sunday at Fenway Park. Wedge wasn't expecting any strange feelings in the season finale, because he's known his fate for more than a week, officially, and even longer than that, unofficially. Wedge and his coaching staff came here this weekend to finish what they started, knowing full well their days with the Tribe are numbered. "I felt it was important for us to handle this the right way," Wedge said. "It was important for us to do that, and I think we have. When [Sunday] comes and goes, we'll move on to the next chapter." And so will the Indians. The managerial search will begin in earnest this week, and the Tribe's goal is to decide on a new skipper by the end of the World Series. According to an ESPN.com report Saturday night, Red Sox pitching coach and former Tribe farm director John Farrell -- a popular possibility among fans -- has pulled himself out of consideration for the job. Wedge laughed Saturday when it was pointed out to him that both general manager Mark Shapiro and team president Paul Dolan said the Indians would be looking for a candidate who possesses many of the same traits as Wedge, who was the fall guy for the organization's struggles over the past two years. He's holding no grudges over what transpired. "That's the way it works," Wedge said. "It comes with the territory of being a manager." Shapiro said earlier this season that dismissing Wedge would be a "cop out," but eventually the Indians' record, which has them in danger of finishing in last place in the American League Central for the first time in the division's history, got to the point where bringing Wedge back would have been an impossible sell to a frustrated fan base. It's believed Wedge might have been able to keep his job, had the Indians not completely fallen off the face of the earth by going 7-21 in September. Changes to Wedge's staff, however, were probably going to be suggested by the front office, either way. Wedge said he doesn't feel as though he got hung out to dry. "I understand the job and what goes along with that," he said. "Certain things have happened that have led us to this point." And after one last day with Wedge at the helm, the Indians will begin in earnest the search for his replacement. Pitching matchupCLE: RHP Tomo Ohka (1-4, 5.45 ERA)
Justin Masterson was originally slated to get this start, but a rainout Tuesday pushed him back to Wednesday and canceled those plans. In a pinch, the Indians will start Ohka in the season finale. Ohka has filled in for the rotation five times this season. His other 12 appearances for the Tribe have come as a long man out of the bullpen. BOS: RHP Clay Buchholz (7-4, 3.74 ERA)
The wiry righty had his recent hot streak halted in his previous start, when he surrendered a career-high five home runs in a loss to the Blue Jays. Buchholz went five innings in that one, giving up eight hits and seven runs. He had given up one earned run or less in his four starts prior to that. Opponents are hitting .251 against Buchholz. In seven starts at Fenway, he's 2-2 with a 3.83 ERA. Tidbits
This season will not only be the worst in Wedge's tenure (second prize goes to the 68-94 season in his rookie year of 2003), but it will also be the Indians' worst since 1991, when they went 57-105 and finished last in the AL East. All that remains to be seen is whether the Indians will finish last in the AL Central for the first time in the division's history. The Indians and Royals enter Sunday's action in a deadlock. ... Shin-Soo Choo hit his 20th homer Saturday. In doing so, he became the fourth player in the AL this year to hit 20 homers and steal 20 bases. The others are Ian Kinsler, Nelson Cruz and Curtis Granderson. Seven players in the NL have done it. Choo is also the first Asian-born player in MLB history to reach that mark. ... The Indians have not won a series against the Red Sox since April 25-27, 2006. They are 5-15 against them since the beginning of '07. ... For more info and analysis, visit CastroTurf. Tickets
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Anthony Castrovince is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
