Indians beat writer Paul Hoynes answers the best questions posed by readers in this week's mailbag.
At least for one inning in a wasted evening, Andy Marte was as good as it can get for Indians pitching.Hey, Hoynsie: I coach hockey. I once was without a goalie so I took the worst player on my team and plugged him into the net saying, "You can't screw this up, so no pressure." Is that what Manny Acta did with Andy Marte when he pitched against the Yankees on July 29? -- Joe Cepec, Dublin, Ohio
Hey, Joe: I think Acta was just glad Marte said yes. I know he was happy that the game didn't get any uglier than it always was. Marte, of course, may have found another calling.
Hey, Hoynsie: You quoted the soon-to-be former GM Mark Shapiro as saying, "there is value in not trading [Jake] Westbrook." Do you know why there was no value in keeping Cliff Lee, Victor Martinez or Jhonny Peralta? -- Craig Ross, Canton
Hey, Craig: Ownership in so many words told Shapiro last season that he had to trade Lee and Martinez. He could have traded them last year or this year. He just decided to start rebuilding a year earlier.
There was no such push to trade Westbrook this year since he was a free agent at the end of the year. As for Peralta, they weren't going to pick up his club option for 2011. So why not get something for him?
Hey, Hoynsie: How long did it take the new owner and his management team to turn around the Tampa Bay team? -- Jason Stackhouse, Vermilion
Hey, Jason: Stuart Sternburg took control of the Rays in October of 2005. GM Andrew Friedman and manager Joe Maddon were hired in November of 2005.
The Rays went to the World Series in 2008, won 84 games last year and are one of the best teams in baseball again this year.
Before 2008, the Rays had 10 straight losing seasons, including nine last-place finishes. All those losing seasons, which took place long before Sternburg purchased the club, and the high draft picks they reaped, helped Sternburg turn the Rays around.
Hey, Hoynsie: Not sure why Austin Kearns was expendable, but was it to create an opportunity for Jordan Brown? -- Kenny Powers, Cleveland
Hey, Kenny: I don't think so. I think Brown was called up because the Indians knew Travis Hafner was headed for the disabled list.
Hey, Hoynsie: For years now, the Tribe has been trading major leaguers for minor leaguers. The team is barely playing .400 baseball. Why do you think they feel this business model works? -- Bill Compton, Jackson, Mass.
Hey, Bill: It did get them to within a game of the 2007 World Series. As for putting a consistent winner on the field, it leaves a lot to be desired.
It would be understandable if Indians fans felt like this entire season was played under threatening skies.Hey, Hoynsie: Are you privy to any plans that the Tribe will announce to thank fans after yet another purge? How do they compensate season-ticket holders who have already paid for future games? -- Suzanne Strong, Cleveland
Hey, Suzanne: I heard they're going to give away free Aspirin and Alka-Seltzer during the last homestand.
If you're a season-ticket holder, and you don't like the direction the club is going in, don't renew your tickets. You can make no louder statement.
Believe me, you will be heard.
Hey, Hoynsie: Well, the Indians have little major-league talent left on the roster. I'm concerned that no top tier free agent will even entertain an Indians offer this winter. -- Chuck Noland, Columbus.
Hey, Chuck: Let me ease your concern. The Indians have no plans to make an offer to a top-tier free agent this winter or any winter in the foreseeable future.
Hey, Hoynsie: Sad to see Jake Westbrook go. He was with the Tribe longer then "he who shall not be named" was with the Cavs. With all of the dead money coming off the books thanks to Jhonny Peralta, Russell Branyan, Kerry Wood, Westbrook, Austin Kearns and Mike Redmond, could the Indians take a run at trying to bring Westbrook back? -- Dan Tanton, Chicago, Ill., (via Rocky River)
Hey, Dan: Westbrook said he'd be more than willing to listen to the Indians if they came after him this winter. I think the Indians would be willing to pursue him.
Still, I've heard this kind of happy talk before. The fact is, it rarely happens.
What it comes down to is this -- if the Indians really wanted the player, they wouldn't have traded him in the first place.
Hey, Hoynsie: With the Indians struggling at the gate and on the field, and again gutting their team of high-salaried veterans, do you think the Dolan family will sell the team in the next few years? -- Duncan Othen, Hudson
Hey, Duncan: I get no indication that the Dolans are thinking about selling the ballclub, but if you want to make them an offer, I'm sure they'd listen.
Hey, Hoynsie: I have not done the research, but it sure seems the Indians aren't a comeback team. If they are behind by the sixth or seventh inning, they will lose. Is this because they generally lose more games than they win or their hitting is weak? -- Jim Fisher, Boston
Hey, Jim: The Indians went into Friday's game with 46 wins, including 22 comeback victories.
Jim, here's something I learned a long time ago -- bad teams don't win many games. It doesn't matter if they let the opposition catch them from behind or never take a lead. They just lose and lose and lose.
Here's the answer to one fan's trivia question: Bob Lemon was the last Indian to have his uniform retired, in 1998.Hey, Hoynsie: Who is the last player to have his number retired by the Indians? I can't help but think that one or two of the 1990s era players deserve the honor. Those teams revived baseball in Cleveland. I'm thinking about Jim Thome and Omar Vizquel in particular. They are both in line for the Hall of Fame and had the majority of their success in Cleveland. Do you think 25 and 13 will be retired? -- David Gumola, Cleveland.
Hey, David: The last Indians player to have his number retired was Hall of Famer Bob Lemon on June 20, 1998.
Except for Mel Harder, the Indians who have had their numbers retired have all been inducted into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. If Thome, Vizquel or Kenny Lofton are ever honored in that manner, I would imagine they'd be inducted as Indians and be in line to have their numbers retired.
I hope I'm around to see it happen.
Hey, Hoynsie: Shelley Duncan has been a pleasant surprise. He's averaging close to an RBI every six at-bats. Is he a free agent after this year or do we own his contract for another year or two? -- Joe Eversole, Pelham, Ala.
Hey, Joe: Duncan will be a minor-league free agent at the end of the season. Like you, I think he's done a good job for Tribe.
Hey, Hoynsie: Is there any chance that instead of deciding home field for the World Serieswith the All-Star Game, that they give it to the league with the best record in interleague play? -- Angelo Costanzo, Cleveland
Hey, Angelo: I'm sure it's been talked about, but here's the thing -- Commissioner Bud Selig likes the current system. He thinks it gives the All-Star Game an edge. As long as he likes it, it's going to stay that way.
To Selig's credit, since he made the move in 2003, almost every All-Star Game has been competitive and well played.
Hey, Hoynsie: Given that the Indians appear to be intent on dumping any player making more than the major-league minimum, would they, in your opinion, have traded Grady Sizemore had he been healthy? -- Jim Wensits, South Bend, Ind.
Hey, Jim: At the beginning of the year, when Sizemore was relatively healthy, I was told they wouldn't trade him. After watching the third roster cleansing in as many years, I'm not so sure Sizemore would still be here if he had two good knees and the right offer was made.
One thing that may have prevented Sizemore from getting traded was the fact that the Indians control him for two more years, 2011 and 2012.
Hey, Hoynsie: In my opinion, the Indians have never really given Andy Marte an opportunity to show that he can play every day. What do you think? -- Chet Shedloski, Hudson
Hey, Chet: They say a cat has nine lives. I think Andy Marte has 18.
-- Hoynsie