Soft Spot

from Foxsports.com

The loss of Omar Vizquel to free agency looms over the Tribe's middle infield like a thundercloud. The problem is not that 2B Ronnie Belliard can't hold up his side of things; he can. But he'll be partnered with either Jhonny Peralta or Brandon Phillips, two prospects with no major league credentials to speak of. Peralta and Phillips will fight for the starting job in a winner-take-all affair. Both have talent aplenty; neither is the next Vizquel, which raised concerns within the organization. Team officials tried to lessen those concerns with the offseason signings of veterans Jose Hernandez and Alex Cora. They are not Vizquel clones either, nor are they long-term solutions. So shortstop belongs to either Peralta or Phillips. The winner, however, will face pressure from Cora and Hernandez to keep it.

The Anchor in the Bullpen

"To sign a closer is a definite priority for us. We're looking at what those options are currently. We want to find the most dependable, proven closer we can to fit into our budget."

Those were comments from Manager Eric Wedge, and Wedge made it his priority as he re-singed 35-year-old RHP Bob Wickman to set the foundation for his bullpen.

Wickman went (0-2) with 13 saves and a respectable 4.25 ERA in 2004, yet Wickman has also given up more hits than innings pitched, giving up 33 hits compared to 29 2/3 innings pitched. Wickman is the type of guy that the Indians want, simply because he can protect leads.

Vizquel or Peralta?

Omar Vizquel is baseball player through and through, but nothing last for ever. Even the Cubs know that, letting go of Grace in the past and now Sosa in the present. This is why the Indians will stick with Jhonny Peralta at shortstop. Peralta shined in Triple-A ball, and the same expectations are in place for him in the Majors too. Although Peralta did look hesitant at the plate and unasserted at shortstop… you still have to give the youth time to grow.

Which in the big leagues now n’ days is one more season, or back to the minors.

Go Indians!