Eric Wedge's fate uncertain as Indians' season winds down
By Paul Hoynes
September 29, 2009, 9:27PM
Wedge's last game as Indians manager could be Sunday in Boston. Boston Red Sox ptiching coach John Farrell has been mentioned as a possible replacement, but Farrell's current contract may keep him in Boston through the 2010 season. If the Indians do fire manager Eric Wedge after the season finale Sunday, it sounds like John Farrell is out as a candidate to replace him.
Farrell, Boston's pitching coach, reportedly has a clause in his contract that prevents him from taking an outside manager's job until after the 2010 season. FoxSports.com reported the story late last week.
He would not confirm the existence of the reported clause in his contract to ESPN.com, but Farrell said he would like to manage.
"I'm ambitious," said Farrell. "Yeah, I do have the goal of maybe one day fulfilling that role, but I can't tell you where and when that will be."
With several teams expected to be looking for managers this winter, it is safe to assume this is Boston's way of saying "hands off" the merchandise.
Farrell pitched for the Indians from 1987 through 1990 and again in 1995. He was their farm director under GM Mark Shapiro from 2001 through 2006 before becoming Boston's pitching coach in 2007.
Shapiro and Chris Antonetti, assistant general manager, have been meeting with owner Larry Dolan and President Paul Dolan over the past few weeks to see just how much change is needed in the organization to overcome two disappointing seasons. In 2007, the Indians were one victory away from reaching the World Series, but lost the American League Championship Series to the Red Sox after holding a 3-1 lead in the series.
The focus of these meetings has been on Wedge and the coaching staff. It's unlikely big changes will be made in the team's Latin American operations or the scouting and player development departments.
The June draft remains a concern, but the Indians think they've made strides there the past two years. They also are considering making changes in how the draft is structured.
Wedge, speaking after Tuesday's game against the Chicago White Sox was postponed -- it will be replayed today as part of a doubleheader -- said he has not been told his fate.
"Nothing has changed," he said.
Two of Wedge's coaches said the same thing after Tuesday's postponement. The answers should come soon after the season ends, but they already seem clear.
Fausto Carmona and Justin Masterson will make their last starts of the season in Wednesday's doubleheader. So the countdown to the end stands at six games -- today's doubleheader, representing the final two home games at Progressive Field, and four at Fenway Park in Boston.
If these are the last six games of Wedge's managerial career with the Indians, it will end with some theatrical cruelty. Wedge made his big-league debut with the Red Sox on Oct. 5, 1991, with a pinch-hit single at Fenway. Now his last game as Tribe manager could be Sunday at Fenway, with probable starter Tomo Ohka on the mound.
In today's doubleheader, Carmona will face Carlos Torres in the first game at 4:05 p.m. Masterson will face Mark Buehrle in the second game.
