Wedge is a moron

[browntown653]

Why would you start Paul Byrd in Game 4 (against the Yankees' ace) and Sabathia in Game 5...rather than Sabathia on 3 day's rest which is vastly overrated and Carmona on normal rest for a Game 5, especially after Carmona destroyed the Yankees? This doesn't make any sense to me.

[DirtyKash]

It is not an elimination game for the Indians so they don't have to start Sabathia on three days rest unnecessarily. Byrd is a 15-game winner very capable of pitching well for them. And if he wins, the Tribe get to start Sabathia in game 1 against Boston and Carmona in game 2.

[browntown653]

I know there's the whole "if he wins" thing, but IMO you have to play for today. It won't matter who starts against Boston if the Yankees beat up Byrd and then win Game 5. Cleveland has to play to win this series before it can worry about the ALCS.

[Pronk48]

The Yankees are starting Wang on 3 days rest and he got rocked in game 1, so I don't think the Indians are preparing to have no offense like they did against Pettite and Hughes.

Personally, I don't like the idea of starting Sabathia on three days rest anyhow. He threw a good amount of pitches in Game 1 and I wouldn't want his arm being tired for the ALCS or worse for him to get hurt due to fatigue.

[love_that_reefer]

Yeah this makes perfect sense to me. Like Dirty said, it isn't necessary to bring Sabathia. Worst case scenario, Sabathia pitches game 5 and Carmona starts game 1 in the ALCS. Notice my worst case scenario is not the Indians losing the series.

[McKain]

I know there's the whole "if he wins" thing, but IMO you have to play for today. It won't matter who starts against Boston if the Yankees beat up Byrd and then win Game 5. Cleveland has to play to win this series before it can worry about the ALCS.

They are playing for today.

Pitchers don't like to go on 3 days rest, most of them aren't very good when doing it. Byrd on normal rest is probably going to be more effective than Sabathia on normal rest, or pretty much the same pitcher.

He's playing his cards right, I'd say.

[Fishercat]

I'd like to say...the Yankees better be thanking the Sox for taking the long series, since that prevents a C.C./Carmona 4+5...ok, it was selfish, oh well!

[Veovis]

You have to trust a manager to know his ball club. Wedge thinks Byrd is good enough to go out and win the series, and he certainly might be with the Rafaels backing him up.

[GiantsFanatic]

How many times have SP pitched on 3 day rest? And I dont think its a good idea that pitchers are forced to pitch on short rest, when the track record clearly indicates that the chances of winning are highly unlikely, and managers still do it? Look at Peavy earliar in the year and in his career on short rest, Schmidt in 03 went on short rest and lost. So I dont blame Wedge for not starting Sabathia, especially since he throw over 100 pitches.

[Veovis]

And there you go. Wang was awful and Moose is in anyway, haha.

[brewersfan19]

It seems like the smart thing to do in this scenario.

But then again, what do I know?

[DirtyKash]

Eric Wedge, what a moron this guy is! Fire his ass!!!

[brewersfan19]

The Indians will not fire Wedge. Even if people think he is a moron.

[DirtyKash]

[brewersfan19]

I know how you feel..