Don't be surprised if the Indians don't trade Jake Westbrook this season.
Indians general manager Mark ShapiroDETROIT, Mich. -- This is a daily review of the Indians 2010 season. They play the Tigers tonight in the second game of a three-game series at Comerica Park. The dimensions at Comerica are 345 feet to left field, 347 to left center, 420 to center, 365 to right center and 330 to right.
Game 51: The Indians enter tonight's game against the Tigers with the fourth worst winning percentage in the big leagues. They are 19-31 for a winning percentage of .380. Baltimore .288 (15-37), Houston .346 (18-34) and Arizona .377 (20-33) are the only three teams worse off than the Tribe.
"When you break camp with a young team, your expectations have to encompass a wide range of outcomes," said GM Mark Shapiro. "Yet it's still disappointing to be where we are at this point in time."
Shapiro added that the serious injuries to Grady Sizemore (left knee) and Asdrubal Cabrera (left forearm) haven't helped the Tribe in its effort to be competitive in the AL Central.
Asked if it was time to bring up Carlos Santana, Michael Brantley and any other prospects worthy of a big-league look, Shapiro said, "We're already one of the youngest teams in the big leagues."
He said he expected that Santana and Brantley would be promoted at some point this season, but gave no time table.
Regarding Santana, Shapiro said, "While he continues to flourish offensively, defensively he continues to be a work in progress. His offensive ability is so strong that we feel it's important to utilize every day possible in the minor leagues to develop his defense.
"His game calling and leadership have made strides, but his throwing has to improve."
Santana, according to baseball-reference.com, has thrown out 19 percent (7-for-29) of the baserunners he's faced.
The Indians, it appears, are trying to make a point with Santana. While he maybe ready offensively, they are trying to stress to him the importance of defense. They went through this with Manny Ramirez. Once they brought Ramirez to the big leagues, he became a Hall of Fame caliber hitter, but a defensive liability.
A team can get away with that with an outfielder. Not at catcher.
As for rookie position players Jason Donald and Lou Marson and near rookies Trevor Crowe, Matt LaPorta and Luis Valbuena, Shapiro said, "Our young guys have to get better or they're going to have to go out (to the minors) again."
Shapiro said he's under no orders from CEO Paul Dolan to make trades and cut payroll as the he has the last two years. That does not mean he won't explore trades involving "anyone in the last year of their contracts.' That would include Jake Westbrook, Russell Branyan, Austin Kearns, Mark Grudzielanek, Jhonny Peralta, Mike Redmond and Jamey Wright.
"We are not actively engaged in talks about anyone right now," he said. "The season's natural cycle will dictate when we consider some alternatives. We're not mandated to make any trades for monetary reasons.
"We'll look at each trade (possibility) as an opportunity to acquire talent and it's budgetary impact. But the acquisition of talent will be the primary driver."
Trade talks begin with vigor in July with the approach of the July 31 trading deadline.
Westbrook, out of the Tribe's available veterans, could be the most attractive if he continues to pitch like he did in Tuesday's 3-2 victory over Detroit. He is also one of the least likely to be moved.
The Indians have a good relationship with Westbrook. They feel they may have a chance to re-sign him this winter and don't have a suitable replacement if they move him at midseason.
Lineups: Indians (19-31): CF Trevor Crowe (S), RF Shin-Soo Choo (L), LF Austin Kearns (R), DH Travis Hafner (L), 3B Jhonny Peralta (R), 1B Russell Branyan (L), 2B Mark Grudzielanek (R), C Mike Redmond (R), SS Jason Donald (R) and RHP Fausto Carmona (4-3, 3.69).
Tigers (26-25): CF Austin Jackson (R), LF Johnny Damon (L), RF Magglio Ordonez (R), 1B Miguel Cabrera (R), DH Brennan Boesch (L), 2B Carlos Guillen (S), 3B Brandon Inge (R), C Alex Avila (L), SS Ramon Santiago (S) and RHP Armando Galarraga (1-1, 4.50).
Umpires: H Marvin Hudson, 1B Jim Joyce, 2B Jim Wolf, 3B Derry Cousins.
Quote of the day: "In no game of ours is failure so omnipresent as it is for the batter who would be the runner," former Commissioner Barlett A. Giamatti from Take Time for Paradise: Americans and Their Games, as it appeared in Baseball's Greatest Quotations by Paul Dickson.
Next: LHP David Huff (2-6, 5.54) vs. RHP Rick Porcello (4-4, 5.58) at 1:05 p.m. Thursday at Comerica Park.