Morning Update: Wedge - "Peralta is Our Shortstop"

As expected, Jake Westbrook is with the Indians on their trip to the west coast. He will visit Dr. Yocum for a check-up. That's two injured ducklings with the team and they will soon be joined by another soon-to-be healthy one in Fausto Carmona.

Looks like Fausto will throw a bullpen session for Wedge and crew instead of starting the next time out. So the rotation should continue on as normal with Aaron Laffey starting on Wednesday after Ginter starts on Tuesday. I'll place a bet on him starting on Friday when the Indians return from the trip.

Mark Shapiro has also come along for the ride.

Speaking injuries, the Travis Hafner injury has really opened up the opportunity for Eric Wedge to get a look at more players. Also.. They hope Hafner will be feeling up to swinging a bat when they return from the road-trip.

The problem is he isn't doing a very good job of it in my opinion.

Why is David Dellucci still playing? Is this guy in our plans for 2009? Seriously, what the hell is going on here? Why isn't Franklin Gutierrez and Shin-Soo Choo playing every day or at least close to every day with Garko getting most of the DH starts.

I know you are teaching Garko a little bit of a lesson by saying, your spot isn't guarenteed. But this is getting ridiculous with Dellucci. The guy has no future with this team, yet he is still taking up at bats away from a guy like Franklin, who needs all of them to get out of this funk he is in.

"It helps us having the DH spot," Wedge said. "I mean, don't get me wrong, I wanted Hafner back yesterday. But what it does, it allows us to give these guys playing time because we can work in and out of that DH spot." (Indians.com)

SHADDUP! JUST SHADDUP!

Wedge did state that Peralta is his shortstop and continues to say that Cabrera playing Short in Buffalo had nothing to do with a move. Marte will continue to get the third base starts and Cabrera will see time at second. More days off for Jhonny in the second half though, so he will play short when that happens.

Either way.. The glove work has been awesome for the Tribe this year.

"I've never been real big ranking this team versus other clubs we've had here, but I will say we've been very consistent defensively this year," Indians manager Eric Wedge said prior to the series opener against Seattle on Friday. "It goes a long way with me. You talk about not giving teams extra outs -- especially in the American League. That can be helpful." (Indians.com)

Right Right Right Right.. I agree too.

Oh and here are the numbers on Ervin Santana against the Tribe.

6 Starts, 0-5, 27 IP, 6.59 ERA, 5 HR, Yowza.

Let's hope that holds true..

The debut of Photoshop Off-Day Later Today!