Eric Wedge is fired as Cleveland manager

[JonLP24]

The Cleveland Indians fired manager Eric Wedge on Wednesday, but he will be at the helm of the team until the end of the season.

Wedge guided the Indians to one playoff appearance in seven seasons. The Indians are 65-93 and half a game out of last place in the American League Central.

General Manager Mark Shapiro said that Cleveland's coaches were told that they would not be retained for next season. Wedge's contract runs through 2010.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-al1-2009oct01,0,3187987.story

[Capt. America]

1. [crickets]

[Auggie]

4. This was posted yesterday

I'm still smiling

:)

[Renew Deal]

2. They couldn't wait until next week?

:shrug:

[jakefrep]

3. They should have done it at the All-Star break, frankly.

[joeybee12]

5. Well, they've stunk it up this year, but the owners were pretty clear

they weren't serious about this year after their fire sale in the middle of the season.

[Auggie]

6. They were hemorrhaging money...

small market syndrome and an owner without deep pockets.

The Wedge firing is a marketing ploy to underscore major rebuilding is in the works. The needed a sacrifice for the fans and Wedge, with the coaching staff, were it.

Am I happy? I'm elated. I hated the guy.

[joeybee12]

7. Do you know how what they spent this year compares to 2007

when they were actually good?

[Auggie]

8. A very interesting question and a very surprising answer...

2009 opening day payroll was $81,579,166
2008 opening day payroll was $78,970,066
2007 opening day payroll was $61,673,267

LINK: http://content.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/salaries/totalpayroll.aspx?year=2007

Go figure...

[joeybee12]

9. Oh my...

...that makes no sense in today's money-driven baseball world.

[Capt. America]

10. Kerry Wood 2 years, 10 million. Fools.