Indians have power from a plethora of positions

[Pronk48]

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. -- Manager Eric Wedge doesn't buy into the age-old theory that a lineup's power should come from its corner spots.

"I think that's changed, and I think we're a perfect example of that," Wedge said. "People get caught up in, 'You've got to have this at this position and this at that position.' But it's the overall [that matters]."

Last season, Victor Martinez (25 homers), Grady Sizemore (24) and Travis Hafner (24) were the Indians' top three home-run hitters. Of that group, only Hafner, at designated hitter, has a position with a power tradition. The Tribe also got 21 homers out of shortstop Jhonny Peralta.

The Indians' corner infielders -- Ryan Garko and Casey Blake -- and outfielders -- David Dellucci and Franklin Gutierrez -- have proven they have pop, but it's not necessarily the strength of their offensive games.

Wedge said he puts his lineup together in threes. At the end of last season, it was Sizemore, Asdrubal Cabrera and Hafner in the top third of the order, Martinez, Garko and Peralta in the middle third and Kenny Lofton, Gutierrez and Blake in the lower third.

"You've got to put the time and effort into your lineup and how the threes work," Wedge said. "Your top three, your middle three and your bottom three. Ultimately, you want to give yourself a chance to go out there and create opportunities for your team each and every inning."

This season's lineup is expected to be very similar to last year's -- with a newly healthy Dellucci taking over for Lofton. But Wedge said it's not a given that Cabrera will remain in the No. 2 spot.

What is a given is that the Indians won't be dependent on a single player to carry their order.

"If you are way south in a couple areas of your club, then you've got to make up for it with a big bopper," Wedge said. "But if you've got everybody doing their job and contributing, regardless of where their skill set is, you're going to be all right."

Shape up: Heading into the offseason at the end of '07, the Indians made it clear they wanted third baseman Andy Marte to come into '08 in better shape.

Marte, though, arrived to camp looking very similar to his playing shape from last season.

"It's OK, it's not great," Wedge said of Marte's conditioning. "But it's not bad, either. He's in the middle of the road. He needs to do some work this spring. But he is moving around well at third."

Marte is expected to be on the big league club as a backup to Blake, because he is out of Minor League options.

"He just needs to relax and play," Wedge said of Marte.

No comment: Roving Minor League instructor Tim Laker was on hand for the batting practice sessions Saturday morning. He declined to comment on his appearance in and cooperation with the Mitchell Report, though he said he might speak to reporters about the issue sometime this spring.

According to the report, Laker, a former catcher for the Indians, Expos, Orioles, Pirates and Rays, purchased performance-enhancing drugs from former Mets clubhouse employee Kirk Radomski between 1995 and 2000.

Laker told former Sen. George Mitchell that Radomski's claims about his steroid use were accurate. Because he is a team employee, Laker was required to cooperate with Mitchell's investigation.

Fatigue a factor: Rafael Perez's dynamic '07 season ended with a thud in the American League Championship Series against the Red Sox.

Perez, who had compiled a 1.78 ERA in 44 appearances during the regular season and dominated the Yankees in the AL Division Series, gave up eight runs (five earned) on seven hits in one inning of work over three appearances against Boston.

Wedge said he thinks fatigue was the factor for the 25-year-old Perez's sudden slide in the season's final week.

"I felt you could see that toward the end," Wedge said. "He did a lot of pitching last year in a very pivotal role for us in the bullpen."

Wedge expects Perez to be ready for the long haul this season.

"He had a light winter," Wedge said. "He looks good, and he feels good."

Blockbuster deal: General manager Mark Shapiro said he has exchanged a few e-mails with his good friend Danny Ferry, the GM of the NBA's Cleveland Cavaliers, about the mega-trade Ferry pulled off this week.

Ferry dealt half his active roster in a three-team trade that revamped the Cavs' starting lineup.

Wedge was asked if he could imagine a trade in baseball that would affect such a large percentage of a club.

"You're talking about 12 guys or 15 guys," Wedge told reporters with a laugh. "I'd like to see the GM who has the guts to do that."

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[catman]

The Indians are still my choice to win the AL Central, even with the improvements the Tigers have made. I like this team alot.

[Pronk48]

As long as our pitching holds up, we'll win the Central again. Good pitching beats good hitting most of the time.