I say to [Wedge], "You can say that I don't play hard or whatever, but I'm the same guy every time." Whether I play good or bad, I play the same. You can't say I don't play hard, because I try to do my best every time. Sometimes things don't [go your way], and that's baseball.
"Every year, [Wedge and I] have the same problem. I don't know why. I try to do my job.
"It makes me a little bit mad sometimes. But it's his decision. He's the manager, and he can say whatever. But I try to do my best.
"I was fine at shortstop. I didn't do too bad. [The move] doesn't make me mad. Maybe it's good for my future to play third base. But right now I feel like I could play short.
"I think that someday I could go to a different team and maybe have a chance to play short."
Jhonny Peralta, as told to Castrovince.
7 months ago
Jay
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God, what a depressing season.
Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile
by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Jun 25, 2009 6:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Seriously. This is just stupid miserable.
Il faut d'abord durer.
by CU Adam on Jun 25, 2009 6:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
They would be getting along if we were winning.
"Lotta heart in Cleveland." - Ian Hunter
by Denver Tribe Fan on Jun 25, 2009 7:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Peralta’s a square peg, and Wedge is a hammer trying to pound him into a round hole.
by Ryan on Jun 25, 2009 6:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yeah. Thanks, Wedge. You’ve made our shortstop consider having an affair.
by Voltaire on Jun 25, 2009 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
And I’m not saying that moving Jhonny to third isn’t the best move for the team, but that it seems the move was handled rather poorly.
by Ryan on Jun 25, 2009 6:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Actually, it’s more like he’s a round peg being pounded into a square hole.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by Jay on Jun 25, 2009 7:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Honestly, clear them both out. I couldn’t care less.
by dgcambridge on Jun 25, 2009 6:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Why? What is wrong with Peralta that can’t be explained by the interference of Wedge? If left alone to do his thing, Jhonny hits.
I become an expert simply by doing something.
by fwembt on Jun 25, 2009 8:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You can’t say I don’t play hard, because I try to do my best every time.
Your best ?
by JimmyAB on Jun 25, 2009 6:52 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Who gives a s*** about the prom queen, I married the valedictorian.
by mrich on Jun 26, 2009 10:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
smart girls shine like laser light
‘cause they’re so sharp and they’re so bright
smart girls know the human heart
‘cause love is science, love is art
you’ll do well if you take my advice:
fall in love with a smart girl
by woodsmeister on Jun 26, 2009 12:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Columbus lost:
Huber and Valencia hit back-to-back solo home runs off Clippers’ closer Masa Kobayashi, tying the score 7-7 in the bottom half. After a Martin double, an intentional walk of Peterson, and another walk of Christy, Watkins stepped up to the plate with bases loaded and the winning run waiting on third. Watkins ended the game on his first pitch with a single up the first base line.
Crowe was on base 5 times (but 2 CS), Marte 4, LaPorta 3. Each hit a double.
by dgcambridge on Jun 25, 2009 6:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Honestly, the updates from Columbus and Akron are the only thing keeping me going at this point in this season.
"Lotta heart in Cleveland." - Ian Hunter
by Denver Tribe Fan on Jun 25, 2009 7:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m speaking of the on base stats, of course, not the parallel bullpen collapse.
"Lotta heart in Cleveland." - Ian Hunter
by Denver Tribe Fan on Jun 25, 2009 7:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
How depressing for him that he has the title.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by Jay on Jun 25, 2009 7:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m sure that’s what he pictured as he signed with us.
I become an expert simply by doing something.
by fwembt on Jun 25, 2009 8:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Peralta
It is fitting, in a way, that Peralta should be part of Wedge’s undoing. Wedge has always denied the obvious about Peralta—that he can’t play shortstop. Every year my friend Bill drives up from Columbus for a game and invariably asks me my opinion about the new players. Not long after Peralta came up Bill asked me what I thought of his defensive ability. I told him that Peralta was missing one step in either direction and had clunky hands. The next year Bill asked me if my opinion had changed. I told him that I had been off by one step in either direction.
But still Wedge left him at shortstop, ignoring his glaring lack of range and instead talking up his defensive skills by mentioning how well he made the routine plays, thereby putting fans like me in mind of Groucho’s old expression: "Who are you going to believe, me or your own eyes?" In the process of being coddled by Wedge, Peralta developed a sense of entitlement to the shortstop position, which in turn caused him to begin sulking when he was finally moved to third this season. For the last two months, Peralta has been sleepwalking through games. Believe me, I have seen players show more enthusiasm in a Sunday afternoon beer league game.
Yes, Wedge has "called him out". But after all these years, isn’t it fair for a long-suffering season ticket holder like me to ask two questions: Why should Wedge even have to? And didn’t Wedge help create Peralta’s lack of overall motivation by telling him for the last five or six years that substandard defensive play was actually good enough?
by mainstreetfan on Jun 25, 2009 9:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
This is grossly inaccurate in at least three critical ways.
There’s no evidence that Peralta has any more of a sense of entitlement than other big leaguers — of course he understands that 3B is something of a demotion, and of course he has enough pride that he wants to continue to play the tougher position. He is behaving exactly the way Cal Ripken Jr. did when asked to make the same move, and he’s probably no worse at shortstop than Ripken was at that point of his career. There are pretty much no scouts who think Peralta’s hands are clunky, and his numbers bear this out.
Peralta didn’t have a single start at 3B until his 30th game of the season. Since that game, he has hit significantly better. So much for “sulking” — not that you would care about the facts anyway.
It is true, however, that Peralta lost significant range in between his first and second years, assuming you mean 2005 and 2006.
Wedge’s poor handling of Peralta doesn’t excuse Peralta. Still, the handling has been poor.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by Jay on Jun 25, 2009 9:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
You have to love a comment that begins, “This is grossly innacurate in at least three critical ways.”
by Logodaedalus on Jun 25, 2009 10:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Believe me, I have seen players show more enthusiasm in a Sunday afternoon beer league game.
What do we want? Guys doing jumping jacks between innings? Cartwheels? Somersaults? Players who tip their hats to the crowd and smile broadly at every camera? Hank Aaron was not an enthusiastic player. Dustin Pedroia is. The defense rests.
by odradek on Jun 26, 2009 1:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Aren’t you usually on the other side of this?
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by Jay on Jun 26, 2009 1:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m for players being really low key, almost lethargic. This isn’t a goddamn college football game. One of my favorite players was Captain Easy. Players who put on a big show of trying so hard (Rose, Dykstra, Pedroia) please the casual fan, but I prefer guys who look like they could care less.
by odradek on Jun 26, 2009 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Been in a hitting slump? Wedge solution: Bear down
Range not up to par? Wedge solution: Try harder
Pitcher’s not throwing strikes? Wedge solution: Try harder
Losing close games? Wedge solution: Have to bear down
Team playing tight? Wedge solution: Grind it out
Actually, the more I think about this year, the more I am happy that the Wedge nightmare will finally be over.
by oxforddave on Jun 25, 2009 10:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I just realized, he should be a midwife.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by Jay on Jun 25, 2009 10:12 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
This would work until he tried to get her to run into one.
Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile
by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Jun 25, 2009 10:18 PM EDT up reply actions 4 recs
“C’mon, lady. Nobody handles the routine delivery like you.”
"Lotta heart in Cleveland." - Ian Hunter
by Denver Tribe Fan on Jun 25, 2009 10:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’ll believe he’s fired when it happens.
by NickFantana on Jun 25, 2009 11:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I still love Jhonny. This makes me sad. This is my least favorite thing about Wedge. I bet I could make Jhonny like playing third.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
by ClemsonGirl on Jun 25, 2009 10:18 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Now there’s a comment rife with possibilities.
I become an expert simply by doing something.
by fwembt on Jun 25, 2009 11:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh I know. They were slightly intended.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
by ClemsonGirl on Jun 26, 2009 12:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Uh oh! Not too loudly, Grady might here.
Shin-Soo Choo, future U.S. Citizen.
by USSChoo on Jun 26, 2009 4:06 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
RIGHT HERE!!!!1 OMG ITS GRADY SIZEMORE CAN I HAVE YOUR AUTOGRAPH
by Logodaedalus on Jun 26, 2009 3:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Um.. I don’t do that.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
by ClemsonGirl on Jun 26, 2009 3:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That wasn’t supposed to be you — don’t worry.
by Logodaedalus on Jun 26, 2009 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Oh good. I don’t squeal and scream. It’s not classy.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
by ClemsonGirl on Jun 26, 2009 3:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
We all know you’re a classy girl.
by Logodaedalus on Jun 26, 2009 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Aw man, I did it. I typoed. :(
Shin-Soo Choo, future U.S. Citizen.
by USSChoo on Jun 26, 2009 6:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I wasn’t going to say anything.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
by ClemsonGirl on Jun 26, 2009 10:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t, but only because I want to get Peralta, Valbuena and Cabrera in the lineup together. If Jhonny stays at SS to avoid hurting his feelings, I don’t know how you manage it.
by FredOx on Jun 25, 2009 11:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
That won’t happen, regardless of the manager.
Valbuena may well have a brief stint in the minors this season, but he and Cabrera are our middle infielders from September on.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by Jay on Jun 25, 2009 11:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t think the two things are mutually exclusive. Jhonny makes a point of the fact that he was told all spring long that he was the short stop. I think it’s the complete 180 that bothers him. If he’d been told that they wanted him to play third from spring training on, he would have made the adjustment during the games that don’t matter and been set for the start of the season. But this team does what it always does: hedges its bets.
I think Jhonny would be fine with him, Cabrera, Valbuena going across, as long as he’s not jerked around about it.
-Kyle
by Kyle Garret on Jun 26, 2009 2:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Frankly, it seems like Jhonny is having some selective memory here. It’s not uncommon for people to hear what they wanted to hear. Robbie Alomar complained bitterly that Shapiro told him he definitely wasn’t being traded. Does anybody really believe Shapiro would have said that?
Here’s my exchange with Antonetti (emphasis added):
Once you already knew that you were acquiring DeRosa, how seriously did you consider putting him at second base, and doing the big shift that everyone is always talking about?
We spent a lot of time talking about it, and it’s not something candidly that we’ll rule out at any point. And again, because he has that defensive versatility as well as some flexibility with Peralta and Cabrera, if we feel we need to adjust our defensive alignment, we have the ability to do that.
This is not much if any different than what Wedge and Shapiro were telling a dozen other media outlets. So again, are we really supposed to believe that privately they were saying, Jhonny, you’re our shortstop and that’s final, while publicly they were saying that they were going to keep their options open? I don’t believe it for a second.
They asked him to spend the offseason preparing to play 3B, and they told everyone that maybe they’d put him at 3B at some point. It’s pretty clear that they told him, for now, you’re starting at shortstop, and he heard, I’m the shortstop forever!
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by Jay on Jun 26, 2009 2:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’ll support Peralta over Wedge…but this statement certainly doesn’t make Jhonny look good. It makes him sound immature and whiny.
by APV on Jun 26, 2009 12:24 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
That’s where I’m at too. A good manager recognizes the special needs and weaknesses of his people. But does everything have to be just right for Jhonny?
by dgcambridge on Jun 26, 2009 12:34 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe that’s why Wedge doesn’t like him. He’s not tough enough.
by odradek on Jun 26, 2009 1:12 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I’m pretty ticked with both of them at this point.
Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile
by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Jun 26, 2009 8:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I blame Shapiro. This never would have happened before Mangini came to town.
by NickFantana on Jun 26, 2009 9:01 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t like this statement either. It does make him sound whiny. That bothers me because I really like Jhonny but I don’t like stuff like this.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
by ClemsonGirl on Jun 26, 2009 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
i don’t know. he’s gotten called out by wedge in the media a lot over the years. other than lewis this year, i have trouble thinking of many other instances at all, but i remember several of jhonny. it might be whinny, but i’d be fed up and want to defend myself a little bit, too.
by Brick. on Jun 26, 2009 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Called out again last night, whether correctly or not. Wedge was quoted this morning in the paper to the effect that Jhonny took the throw at 3B in the 9th out of position; “maybe he’ll learn from this” was Wedge’s verdict. Almost as if he blamed Jhonny for the loss, which is completely unfair, even if the play was a bad one, since the problem was the bullpen all along.
by peter m on Jun 26, 2009 11:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
WTF Wedge? Really? Gosh he’s ridiculous about Jhonny. When this season started I was completely against firing him. But now he manages to come up with something different every day that makes me want to get rid of him. It’s amazing.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
by ClemsonGirl on Jun 26, 2009 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Allowing three straight singles with no outs is extremely likely to lead to a run eventually, so the loss obviously had nothing to do with Jhonny’s positioning.
SportsCenter showed a view of the whole field, making the observation that it appeared the wheel play was on. Of course the 3B isn’t going to be covering the bag on a wheel play, and the shortstop, although intending to break for 3B, would rarely if ever be able to catch up to the runner if he was already running, e.g., on a hit-and-run or a straight steal attempt.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by Jay on Jun 26, 2009 1:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
The wheel play was definitely on. Jhonny was already way up. Valbuena was moving a few steps ahead of the runner, and was at the bag before the runner. The real problem, I think, was Shoppach’s double-clutch when he saw no fielder on the bag. But should he just throw to the bag?
It was a less-than-crisp play by the defense, and makes you think that the coaches are at fault. On the other hand, Wedge is suggesting that they had a plan in place for this situation, and it involved Jhonny, and he didn’t execute. But, I agree, Jay, that it seems strange that it would be the plan would involve the third baseman seeing the missed bunt and being able to get back in time.
by dgcambridge on Jun 26, 2009 1:53 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
How can the catcher just throw to 3B? If nobody catches it, the game is over. (Maybe this is what you were implying.)
Jhonny wasn’t playing 3B, Carroll was. Wedge is saying that Peralta not only should have been able to beat the runner to the bag — which he did — but also to beat him by enough that he catches Shoppach’s throw and tags out the runner. Wedge talks as if this is a very makeable play. I have never even seen that play before, and it doesn’t seem all that makeable to me.
Seems to me it’s extremely rare to see any infielder catch a throw while on the run and tag a runner out. About the only time you see an infielder making an out by catching a ball on the run are (a) a middle infielder in the middle of a double-play, and (b) a pitcher catching the toss from the 1B. Both of those situations are force-plays, not tags.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by Jay on Jun 26, 2009 2:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I had my infielders confused. If Jhonny can’t get there, the only way to do it is for Shoppach to hit him in stride with the throw, and Jhonny to make the tag in stride. Which does seem unusual and different for both players. The other option is for Jhonny to position himself closer to third to start, and haul. But I agree that sounds difficult.
I have no doubt that Santana and Cabrera can pull it off.
by dgcambridge on Jun 26, 2009 5:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Jay, he did beat him to the bag. Wedge is just saying that the fundamental play is to take the throw at the bag, not in front of it.
That said, Wedge thought he was dead to rights if Peralta had played it the correct way, but I don’t think they would’ve gotten him if he did. It was a risky play by Wilson, but he executed it nicely.
Haven’t read the game thread or review of Friday’s game, but it should be mentioned that in his postgame comments Wedge was pretty effusive in his praise of Jhonny, and that he “really likes how he’s playing right now.” He also went into detail about how Jhonny needs to stay with the approach that gives him the best chance to succeed. This is telling because it explains his comment a week or so ago about Peralta being up in the bigs for 5-6 years now, and he should be able to recognize this issue and correct it sooner than he does.
You can make an argument he overdoes the criticism, but Wedge will often praise Peralta too. It’s not one way all the time. And after being called out last Thursday, Peralta has driven the ball more in the past week than he did in probably the previous month. I don’t have any data to support it, but I seem to remember this phenomenon happening at least one other time, so I’m not too upset with the occasional calling out of Peralta.
by TribeJay on Jun 27, 2009 1:15 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Maybe it does make Peralta sound immatue and whiny.
But then it shows again that Wedge can’t deal with players who are less than ideal personality fits for him. That’s a knock on Wedge. Players are there to produce, not have personalities that Wedge likes. As Jay pointed out before, ideal character/personality might be a luxury the Indians can’t afford.
by KevinV on Jun 26, 2009 2:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t think he sounds particularly whiny or immature, especially considering he’s 27 (not young but not old either) and it’s in his second language. He probably could sound more nuanced in Spanish, but in English, he’s just speaking plainly. If I was called out publicly by my manager every year, several times, I’d be a lot more PO’ed than this.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by Jay on Jun 26, 2009 2:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I was wondering if anyone else thought about English being his second language and if that affected his comments at all. I tend to agree with you and think that it probably does. And I would pretty mad if I kept getting called out by my manager all the time. So I don’t blame him all that much for saying what he said.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
by ClemsonGirl on Jun 26, 2009 3:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Even if subtleties are being lost in translation, if you go back and read the whole article I think the basic subject matter Peralta is addressing makes it whining. All the way down to his suggestion he could play SS for another team. The more times I read this statement the more it pisses me off. I’ll still back Peralta over Wedge, but I really think Peralta needs to do more in the field (.280 OBP in June) before he starts complaining.
by APV on Jun 26, 2009 3:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
If he were doing better, no one would be complaining
by Roger Dorn on Jun 26, 2009 3:41 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah I don’t like that line at all. I wish he hadn’t said it because it makes it hard to defend him. He is having a rough year, I just think this happens every year the minute he struggles just a little bit so he is probably just fed up with it.
Who needs affection when you can have blind hatred?
by ClemsonGirl on Jun 26, 2009 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
What are you talking about? Peralta has been putting up with Wedge’s crap for years. This isn’t about playing shortstop, it’s about a coach who famously doesn’t call players out, constantly calling Peralta out and micromanaging his approach. When the chips were down, Peralta hit. And it’s not like he refused to play third base.
by randallhank on Jun 26, 2009 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Good point.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by Jay on Jun 26, 2009 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
if we had a winning record right now, I’d agree with you. But we’ve pathetically underperformed. And every player should be asking what they can do better, especially those like Jhonny, who have played key roles in the suck. So I’ve got to disagree with you and Jay. Wedge might have unfairly ridden Jhonny’s ass over the past three or four seasons, but now, I don’t want to hear Jhonny complaining about that. Sure it’d be nice to hear Wedge say how maybe he needs to take a different approach with guys, but I don’t want to hear Jhonny whining (“It makes me a little bit mad sometimes” – try getting mad at yourself).
by APV on Jun 26, 2009 3:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I wouldn’t deny that Peralta has played below expectations this season. And, he’s far from my favorite player on the Indians. Far from it.
But, this is a team that’s being undone by its PITCHING. Both starting and relief pitching. So, why are we talking about Peralta? It’s because Wedge is. And, that’s a distraction from the real problem with the team, which is the PITCHING.
by peter m on Jun 26, 2009 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Of course it’s the pitching. The offense is much better than the pitching. But I don’t think that gives Jhonny a pass at all. He’d get more of a pass if his defense was awesome obviously. Our pitching sucks, we need every run we can get.
by dgcambridge on Jun 26, 2009 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I agree. I thikn Peralta probably feels very underappreciated. When it mattered most (the 2005 playoff run and the 2007 playoffs), Peralta played his best baseball of his career. The following year in 2008 Peralta leads all SS’s in power numbers, but gets benched more than once for his perceived effort.
by Roger Dorn on Jun 26, 2009 3:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Peralta ironically is totally clutch without being at all gritty. Which just goes to show how flimsy those concepts are.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by Jay on Jun 26, 2009 5:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
He’s being so unWedge. Earlier in the year he called out Jensen Lewis and now Jhonny. Couple that with an increasing number of down right strange managerial decisions and I think that Wedge is starting to show signs of instability. The scrambling often seen of coaches before they’re fired, maybe even to the point of how Butch Davis was near insane before he the Browns let him go. In my book, the team needs someone else at the helm because Wedge cannot get them over the hump and he is showing the signs that are making the decision clearer each day. I have liked Wedge more than most, but now I’m on board, people. Fire Eric Wedge.
Shin-Soo Choo, future U.S. Citizen.
by USSChoo on Jun 26, 2009 4:15 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
i’m officially done with wedge now. he’s lost one player. that’s one too many with this record.
by Brick. on Jun 26, 2009 10:55 AM EDT reply actions 2 recs
And again.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by Jay on Jun 26, 2009 2:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
jhonny better hope manager (think his name is rick?) gets fired now.
by emil minty on Jun 26, 2009 11:46 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I wonder if Wedge told Grady not to hang out with JP.
by afh4 on Jun 27, 2009 6:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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