Posted on Thursday 21 September 2006 by John Blake @ 9:36 pm
It seems like almost every day manager Eric Wedge has to address the team’s porous infield defense. Wedge called out the infield as a whole the other day and was clearly upset with the way they have been playing. Thursday after the Tribe’s loss, the manager pointed his frustrations towards one player in particular, shortstop Jhonny Peralta.
“[Peralta] should have made the play,” manager Eric Wedge said, clearly frustrated with a season’s worth of watching his defensively challenged infield. “I’m tired of talking about the guy.
“We’ve challenged him in about every way you can — in terms of his pregame work, in terms of his first step and just what he needs to do out there. He’s going to have to do better for him to be the defensive shortstop that we need him to be.”
I think Wedge speaks for all Tribe fans indicating his feelings towards Peralta. Sure he is still young, but his lack of speed and failure to make some of the routine plays in the infield is a thorn in the Indians’ side. Shortstop is arguably the most important position in the infield because they have to cover the most ground. It is clear that Wedge’s patience with this kid is starting to run out. If Peralta doesn’t put in extensive work this offseason trying to lose weight, get in better shape, and work on his technique, could it be possible that Jhonny could lose his spot on the team?
We never should have dealt Omar away! Also, why we kept Peralta versus Brandon Phillips is beyond me. The organization should only be upset with themselves, not Peralta
exactly. we could have given omar a 3-4 year deal for $12 mill just like the giants did. he would have stayed and he is to this day, still far better than anything we have.
plus it would have been a “positive” for the fans.
additionally, wedge is just finally “admitting” publicly what we all knew 30 games into the season.
f’n pathetic.
Correct me if I’m wrong, ut doesn’t the shortstop have to have the best and strongest throwing arm on the team. That was what I was told as a young kid. I played infield at second because the other kids arm was stronger than mine.
So who told Peralta that he was a shortstop? He doesn’t have the range, the arm, or the instinct for the ball that good shortstops need to have and is not teachable.
He has to have his mind in the game at all times, get the cutoffs, cover the bag on steals, and be the infiled general communicating with the second baseman on who is to do what in a given situation.
If you have seen that many indians games, then you know that his mind wonders, he doesn’t react well or have the speed to cover the hole, let alone have the arm strength to make a decent throw from a regular ground ball. Right now is not the time to teach him, that was in Spring Training. Now is the time to send a message to him and all of the Indians that they are playing for a roster position for next year and that road to Buffallo or Akron may be only a few hours away, but many years to get back.
Also I heard that Joe Girardi will be available next year. He had a payroll of 15 million and the Marlins played much better than the 50 million Indians. Makes you want to think doesn’t it?
For all the bashing Peralta gets, and I admit, he has not done the greatest job this season, but. his numbers this year are almost identical to those of last year and he ranks 4th in the AL in fielding percentage amongst AL shortstops.
For as bad as he is playing, when you think about it, it could be a lot worse. Part of the problem is his offense is lacking and the team is struggling. This magnifies it 10 fold