Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer

As we continue to preview this series which I think starts two weeks from next Thursday via Red Sox in the Cleveland Indians helping us do that from the it's it's hard for me.

Today candidates -- Cleveland plain dealer lefties they have because I hit it breaks my heart. It breaks my arm happy for this -- Terry -- that -- with the Cleveland plain dealer who reading hairy little an Akron beacon journal though. Who always beat -- that Germany.

Military you probably grew up reading -- on the -- outside now though.

Yeah let's go to -- very.

I'm doing while Michael are you.

I'll do or great you know I was I was trying to explain that dale -- a big deal you R Ohio and I've lost count I said last time I counted. -- 17 or 18 books what the number now.

While more than -- but as I explained to you're producer that all that matters is that. Your mother's my -- spectrum.

How about that. That's very -- oh I try to tell people. My mom is probably you know some people you say they're too nice she really is. Yeah -- two nights she is one of the night -- and Jerry can tell you one of the nicest people and I'd even say that it is if -- my --

Well now at best erupt that you. What you -- the mama but the -- on reasons stupid.

But then again there's I don't feel right and -- I -- I heard that joke Perot. -- it's.

Well but with a total joke or else you references in the sound silly and -- the Clinton yet -- respect that they've leader of major league history.

Let's -- Eric wedge was on the station's morning talking about -- ski any and many tried to say hey the -- got 45 saves you know I don't understand what the deal as. But I let the ERA and I would the other numbers and I know Eric's defending one of his guys and I respect that but I know why everybody's asking the question.

Well army it's. We've been watching -- step closer runner for awhile Bob Wickman -- is quite five it was up there are out. Ovals to run through letters for injury what he was saving interpreted -- can wear on you after awhile that you have -- well closer. But here's -- for you. Overall -- And won't want to three innings this year are Ottawa where I would not only that -- relate to prove I'm not saying anything other than.

didn't seem like I. If not -- I got after watching the guy right.

Not me I don't like to give up all round the next guy you know hit the ball the about the New Jersey without another ball -- up a couple of strike Juan. Sort it out there -- like you you know and you know waiting for the IRS office that body like with -- great that. Basically it means you know they've anabolic figure skating you know get 7182 you know whatever it up like a unique to say it now. You've got out we'll continue to get up now. But what I believe -- the -- would try to be -- that the bullpen begins with the alternate -- the other guys up. And -- a joke when the guy basically they greatly 5% which is right about where you want closure of the day. Like I'll keep an 85 like.

Terry you know you admitted and -- That you don't like the Indians before this series -- got the wrong way it because he had a problem or you thought the Indians might have a problem hitting and that's been. -- fame of of this team all year hasn't it that. Fans are really excited about the way they hit the caught.

Well they've they've struggled I mean after the Ulster -- penalties that were capital league Omar I mean in runs scored. But the big thing pitched very well and that's what -- the in the far they did it against -- Keeping it retreat on an immediate guidance position or 50 guys -- position -- real shocker pan correlated so the Yankees were much more flawed team that I expected but you know the Red Sox you guys on the for all the talk about Manny indyk -- all that all mean they only catch and that worries music albeit.

I was gonna say in the follow up to that is you just wrote that. You don't like him against the Red Sox either.

Now no but then again you know I don't like -- bigger threat -- 99 and you know I had a good feeling but first recovered -- true but don't bet on it but I. Why don't -- that you could he -- Ellen right.

Right here our audience in. You really have to -- you might not to be an ax murderer if if you're Democrat who can't -- Massachusetts -- thrown out. Having seen the Cleveland Indians much more than we have and having watched these two guys pitch much more than we have. Who had a better year sabathia are Carmona.

I really thank. Preceded overall they've handled the final numbers are with our moment because -- he'd done it mean to be sent out three times. The Pete Urlacher twice he really seemed city -- withdraw any other team's top pitcher a whole lot is maturity and the nice thing you've got to 90 game winners it's almost like when the Indians have to go back to like. It is people I've heard about the -- like who is better you know one point off -- problem notes I suspect that album both. And frankly -- and I thought more confidence in -- just because he's been around a little longer writing and hitters that hatred Ramon to throw that sinker in on -- that what you think happened. You break the bat in any -- look at stupid at the bat like 30 feet out there you've got -- into the ball's trip into the pitcher or even worse. You -- straight down and an extra toes I -- you'd like they try to -- record for guys audible out their feet.

You mentioned earlier Terry David Watson Indians your entire life -- a lot of managers from -- Garcia to Eric wedge. Where does wedge fit in and hidden in among the Indians managers that you've seen them what does he do that is special.

Hargrove because that he was of minor enemy brought the team out of the wilderness in Muncie central division titles well. For all the people thought it was an awful push but manager long but it. Pretty good but. What wedge does. Like it or not set up for it is a very kind of regiment that got you're 40 it will -- military academy. He didn't but he acts I think he can -- up for a bead truck driver. And I mean there's no nonsense there and he will -- our routine -- leaving keeping players in the comfort zone. And then his idea that. You don't think I can do it to. Get him either but -- kind of play what the role also upper -- keep the closer that -- pull -- the closer until he decided the whopper -- on the tape. They'll want to. Yankee stadium during game four I was fine with that starting Paul Byrd as he horrendous statistics. Pitching three days rest and hope -- really well but the numbers that I -- five guy pitching great interest in the playoffs. In the post season hopefully -- done -- 52. And if you think about it -- number one and number two starter like bring them back early in 49ers 52 it is the work real well. So I -- started but all your -- Kelly Shoppach can outlook Kelly Kelly don't it will at least except that all there are great defensive Katrina is I would've caught Victor Martinez that -- like mine are the first start of the -- But no Byrd drove the topic that they didn't course topic two doubles so. Some type of and it can get -- at the at all the players and at what point does right now.

I remember Mike Hargrove and John Hart is to have little tension between them. -- was a different kind of guy always thinking about the team waking up in the middle of the night write out notes Hargrove wasn't like that what's the relationship like between wedge -- Mark or Cairo.

They're closer than those two guys weren't if any -- when one of the things that -- told me when he hired -- I don't that I department manager of the security -- more about the IQ. And what is the guy he's like football coach with -- there literally eat away there -- the off season he looked at tape it's -- as -- to -- in all so there. You know I never thought what his -- any jeopardy whatsoever you buy it again bishop are hopefully now. You're the Indians believe what they're reporting second payroll well they have to do works for the stability. And you need to keep the same basic for people play saint at the injured and I go from era to prepare -- Which he has something from 1960 to 1994. At 34 years the Indians it by winning seasons you know closer like -- first place. There's 34 years at 18 managers after -- it just may not be the manager. I mean -- 34 years sample of that just kind of expect that. And -- spiral that. You looked at. A lot of organizations he likes a lot of that we want to -- that schuerholz and Bobby Cox and -- built on pitching in net cut nobody apparently thought. You know unless well actually had. So it helped club -- delegates or whatever he looked at stake here stick around here talking also -- in a three year extension and then not certainly paid off.

Grady Sizemore is deservedly so considered one of the young superstars in the game today. Overall how would you rate his season his power numbers were good batting average was awful little bit how do you think you played overall.

Well let that -- an -- percent to 390 though that's pretty good usually -- Yeah played an above average center field he played every single day. He played like a maniac every single any other of the play and game two against the Yankees were he struck out start to walk back to the bench as suddenly real at all as a catcher do you like it -- shot and it went about the first -- but -- actually panicked and made a -- throwing to first -- from the strike out. I mean run -- all the time. If anything you know it helped a great course and the -- don't buy it for a ball real EG racquet up. He was at least part a three sport star I'd go. I was increased safety -- an option quarterback in sometimes like baseball like that dislike you know people like want contact with the wall of the ground or something. Pete broke up a big double play. He's the guy that maybe he doesn't overwhelm me like when you -- see any editor or Big Papi that though it is the more you watch Horry scored appreciate. And I really think you know if I hadn't even in the late 20s he's the 2425 homers now. He's going to hit 30 to 35 in few years that he just physically getting better.

When Kenny Lofton for started playing for the Indians were still writing for the -- yes eternal in fact his second stint you might have still been writing for the Akron beacon journal what did you think when the Indians acquired him in did you think he was going to have the impact he's -- now on his third stint with the team.

Yeah I wanted to do it and it's kind of terroristic things off that they'll trot Trot Nixon but they'll hit a -- a trot to. You know physically -- body one. And they needed or outfielder that could do something to get in shape whatever and Kenny was sit over 300 without the you know he he and the wedding to have to follow him around. If I do that's what Kenny can be a little -- you put them equally well we're always enjoyed playing he get a lot of Texans what they were don't know -- can bring a good team pennant race Hewitt it would be out left in the tank you're gonna get for. Actually during the regular seat that he was pretty but not -- in part impact full he's going to play the nice thing is now that -- the outfield if he he played well there. PLC track and Riviera. Well they want from all average outfield too well above average entrance to speak and that really helped the pitching staff and such --

Terry this is such an interest in theories that's the case where you know our guys better than we do and the one the first one want to ask you about is John Farrell people. Who know him rave about him say he can do anything he wanted to a baseball what was your experience count.

Nobody was going to be a general manager a little little surprised it took the pitching coach drop because it seemed like he is going to front office area. Had been pitching coach college at local staters. And it is it is sharp sharp guy I mean if you look at the Indians. That people all over the place the -- embattled -- right Colorado which currently it is the opponent or there so. There are people scattered about that it was it. Really liked the job are Regina -- hank Peters our job art got our. Hired Mike Carlin. It's par all of our our number of these other people so they -- they really training and good people and Terrell and with a guy announced. Kind of pitching they got a baseball period. I would be surprised if you Biggio.

And have a governor ask about is Coco when he left Cleveland and looked like he was about to be arising star he hasn't been that here he surprise when you --

I am a little bit yeah I mean I know you deterred some but I thought they had better. Calm to meet. Or buddy bell -- in the early one note discussion about it keep -- come out and buddy bell who wrote in -- or seven that the team. Being later but he told the he can't throw -- that little blogger and you know. Which is I compliment from metallic -- what you -- a lot of people bought -- a pathetic it'll oh Patrick as. Frankly to get a fastball you know. It's a pretty your blog way to the other and it seemed like there are he's struggled let me that you need to keep -- it's consistent to not Indian a lot of double lot of energy played terrific what field I get by burning off -- you guys but I just thought he would be called to 300 hitter in the lineup because. He would be even more -- but that now that's not the case.

What's the key if the Cleveland indians' move on to the World Series what's the key to this series is at those first two guys. In the rotation is that the whole thing for them.

Not think anyone other got to pitch well what what look at -- that mobile thing that. You know these first two games -- VP wrote back to back one nothing game they have the -- flexibility here I'm not saying. And we want nothing bulked up back to back games like that people wanted to -- So that he get into that third force starters sent in with those Daisuke and whether it was field with a W were forced -- Looks like -- be when Wakefield who he had to hit it hit fairly well for the most a couple of years I think that column. Then -- beat basically you look at that one of those of that group for Wakefield in Daisuke and Paul Byrd. Let's put those guys come up seven innings one run Beckett went there. In either direction the other thing too it at Jacobs field is really more become more a pitcher's park -- argue that. Hitters park I've -- numbers this year but the previous over the previous three years the only American league park the gable was Omar Jacobs field would keep it. That -- I'm Patrick Alec Paul Byrd Westbrook a little better there are that he will want that player or some other places because -- audible to the Alex's in would come off like --

Terry before we let god I gotta ask you about that manages on -- the national media surprised by this phenomenon. You're an expert going back to the days of Cleveland stadium you know marriages last mosquitoes take over what where they come from what happened.

Canada all across Canada. -- don't really know for a fact the Canadian doesn't become their. And you'd -- That's the thing about New York I mean in in Cleveland they may think the club from New York and right so Oilers have games or whatever or not -- it. And -- like about this guy's let up at me. You if you watched some of the game one. The and the union to outplayed the Yankees for from beginning in game one year. Indians look at all the -- or -- Yankee after the game came to the it is one but all that mattered what a jobless got attacked I bought like -- plant that anybody else. You know gained three -- you wanted to you know immediate as -- for -- TV network on that point. He's Red Sox series at all well the world to gain for the Indians want but it just portrait all right well we're used to it their. I mean I'm sure at the -- cigarettes but they'll be some story about the ball off the I don't know -- called the silent threat but -- in -- in the public park or not.

Unless that -- I started out of wee -- we've been trying to hose down callers for two or three years. Regarding Roger Clemens I you don't it should now it's. It's funny my hot my aunt Cheryl in. In Akron goes crazy which he talks about the LeBron think she doesn't think it's a big deal did you think of the big deal the --

No I did not think I wrote did not think it was a big deal it was you know PR judgment but. We're not talking like dogs fighting being arrested all the other stuff with delegate -- coach fighting with a teammate talking about it.

It would just dumb to do that's all.

you have 22 we don't. Every year the kids at 17 everything he says that the on this quite silly humor on Perry duct tape different like you know -- and after -- And joked that he'd like -- one little corner rebellion and.

At -- you know what this here's one good that you can say about a he's not a bandwagon guy because. Ten years ago when he was looking and we was 12 years old does when the World Series --

Yeah you like the Yankees -- our -- and on the yard like the ball you know -- Michael Jordan but but that's -- It's a it's a great talker but I you know you would've thought that people on up to travel powers something completely the people like a lot here. The Orioles had insecure I rather rather department -- pouring in it's.

That would be that gas at that point. Terry we always appreciate it taken the time to John as we're looking forward to the series and we'll look forward to talk in the against sometimes him.

Look at Michael -- tomorrow I can tell -- that theater right. I opened their -- not to -- And keep -- right now Randall well there will be a delay and album it's it's it's Terry Terry Pluto from the Cleveland. Dealer