Paul Hoynes, Cleveland Plain Dealer

Red Sox and Cleveland Indians open up a four game series at Jacobs field tonight Jon Lester making his return to the Red Sox rotation we'll get Cleveland Indians point of view right now as we link up with Paul planes of the Cleveland plain dealer -- John Wallach and -- academy and Boston Dario.

Are you don't get all our. It sure are you do it that.

Well Paul -- the Cleveland Indians have undergone a resurgence after kind of a disappointing season a couple of years ago they seemed Abreu right back where the fans thought they'd.

You have -- pretty -- than it is integrate first. They started the consecutive little sluggish -- you know it just took three out of -- Texans. There are no other side -- played Boston this or cases.

Paul with with the opportunity needed to look back on last year where you look like they had built so much momentum at the end of 2000 and wives as Mark should borrower or anybody there are kind of put and it's probably some they want to move past but. Looking back on last year what what happened there to have such a disappointing season and never really got on track.

Well you know I think coach John. Part of that was just all the people on the all. In spring training you know people can win the World Series they're going to win that division you know nobody was going to touch him and I think the players bought into the and and -- when they started poorly they've really couldn't couldn't you know turn themselves why don't then. If you remember it in 90 week you'll they've won all those games majority of those 93 games in the second half. And it was a they have a great second half but it was not an amount about play unexpected second and I think that question they kept sit around its own social we we did last year. What more could go we'll pick on and they never got going and then 11 of the things they used to correct that this cures implement some veteran guys like Trot Nixon. And that David Dellucci is -- Boesky Aaron Fultz guys -- kind of into the post season. That it can you describe -- this season when when they are contender in. And that goal you know you can -- if you prepared we are bad want the season isn't over and I think that's what happened to enlist your pitchers. Got to a falcons could never get out of.

Well it as with all good teams in the American league here at the Red Sox the angels Detroit. Cleveland has gotten the pitching out of their starting rotation and the Red Sox going to catch two of the better pitchers in the American league this week it sabathia tomorrow -- Fausto Carmona in game three this series.

You know I mean you'll -- he's having a career year what. You know he's he's pretty well -- all quality quantity to note that Red Sox fans and everybody baseball Carmona. Is the biggest shock of -- awesome they've got a good look at it as a closer lectured -- and -- talked about it but when Loretta and David Big Papi. -- that you walk with walk sit -- he really was a basket case sin. You know keep keep credit he if Quebec in the rotation at the end of the year went when the ball as the starter. In you can still would've made the court coming out of spring training of course we was harder. So -- were. In -- gets off to a great start but he when becomes that still got sent down and then Westbrook got hurt. And he came back open you know he's a 12 game winner right so he's one of the best stories in baseball.

Paul you mentioned Joe browse Kia veteran closer who's come in and recorded a lot of saves although the numbers don't look impressive when you look at the ERA there's been some talk that. That the Indians would like to upgrade the bullpen I guess the only question is would they want someone to supplant -- key is the closer or are they looking more for. Someone who can set up and get to him what do you expect with eight days going here before. The trade deadline that the Indians will try to do.

Yeah I think -- try to get it qaeda to support pawelski eight. What about you know one of the reasons they packed off Gagne is god he's -- no trade clause and he he he he only wait wait that is if you get colds as the Indians. Were told that the set up with the optional Betancourt is set up kind velocity close in instead of let's say predicted Gagne is set up for house keep certain open in Gagne equals in the prepared better team with Betancourt in in in. Roster sort think if they can't they like to get another setup guys because a -- help that they've got. Is that true in the -- but I really afford me an open and the other guys just kind of hang -- routes so they could definitely use another article -- Betancourt in the late in the.

We talked about the disappointment last year Paul a couple of guys who have really turned it around this year and played closer their 2005 level. Then the level of last year are Peralta at short. And Victor Martinez who is not only improved with the bat also significantly defensively -- what sort of impact as he returned to form for those two young players have on this team.

Well you know you're used at all winners saying that -- you don't Johnny alternate between the route he was the most important player on well. And he has -- plate that are -- that is never going to be you'll Artest still. He's no good vehicle called for but he's gotten better and then I think it is -- hasn't proved it is also came in which catapulted ships. The -- you'll you'll overlook the principal in the Martinez's he's an MVP candidate to vote especially. -- there's been struggling all year. And that Martinez will carry this club is on pace drive in like a 128 -- you know he's hit 30 sit or he views these abilities you order in -- such obvious won't -- much better. It was not attract me anymore for the the opposition he can stop the run game he's not -- transport them responsible people down.

you talked a little bit about Trot Nixon in how he's kind of lent himself to the clubhouse atmosphere and not to let this team get too high or too low. I'm wondering if he's really had any impact otherwise I was just looking at his numbers hitting under 250 stolen hitting against lefties. As he really been a contributor on the field is a Red Sox fans haven't really got a long look at him since he left.

You know he hadn't started well here -- well you know two bit very and he can hit the wall I don't know it's. You know the back surgery just catching up to only get that this -- in December. And he's still not all the way and that it's obvious still not all the -- fact he went to a white -- It's become out of it a couple of almost for the all star break. -- he swung the bat better coming out of the break but he's you know he's. I think it is contribution has been more in the -- vote on the field which you.

Then also wanted to getting. Brief look at tonight's starting pitcher Jake Westbrook is a guy's had a lot of success in Cleveland Indians uniform just sign him to a long term contract but this year's kind of a lost year for himself for.

you know he pulled a jury -- they all week muscle he missed you missed almost two wants get a great spring. You know is pitching decently this report that -- important weaken mr. -- eight weeks. And he's still trying to -- Q was -- directed his weight back he's he's pitched better than his record indicates but. He's still you know he hasn't been that I that that they. You know that's one you'll 1415 games for the last three years and that's that been -- right now and that you'll have some concerns about west will. And Lee and -- we get the fact they're the rotation.

Beyond maybe trying to improve -- augment the bullpen -- any thoughts about what else they might be trying to do with the trade deadline. Everyone could use additional starting pitching but -- doesn't seem to be much of value beyond the likes of Steve Trachsel and -- journeyman guys who aren't much of an upgrade welts with the Indians like to do here in the next eight days.

Well don't be surprised -- hitter. -- they've they've talked to taxes Kenny Lofton. Pregnant for the third look at we're so waited to improve the corner outfield -- dellucci one of the free agency side -- under a deal -- you know went through -- there. -- hamstring and he needed surgery you know like talked about it for the good at a great fuel production -- like -- Nixon and as Franklin Gutierrez in left field Jason Michaels and has had a decent -- that he's put two guys. And that they've got they fought and France's cool attitude with -- generally -- you know he's cannot let little it's like they. If they could add you know maybe a quarter that maybe you'll not not a big time and maybe just the contributor but they that it might be the direction looked.

What do what is the union's payroll situation like coming Kenny in means afford to take on a big salary at this point.

Oh yet -- definitely and so the start of the season that would that would the lowest payroll in the AL central they were just under 50 6060 billion in the right Bausch Parlow the general managers say and it's not so much salary they have to take packets of players that have evolved. If you're gonna make the deal and it will people that are structure themselves in -- better -- pitchers and I don't think they want if those --

Both march pyro and a manager Eric wedge have been given contract extensions which. -- give some stability to the organization. How do you think the fact that these guys now have some security impacts the way they might approach the trade deadline in what they try to do -- Paul.

What thinking like this -- on this year and -- part it was always. You know that the ownership loss to the don't want him to -- with them I think he had maybe a couple questions about wedge that's what they waited to the all star break to look to expand -- On blood you know like they. This this is kind that you're they've been building towards I think it. It -- I think ownership has given them the pool so to make -- to take on salary and -- is -- and political force in. I don't look that has anything to do with the stability here I think -- has more to do with the nature of the opens situation they -- but -- they have a chance to get back to the post season.

I'm wondering Paul about the Cleveland it -- success at home I mean during the long sellout streak I'm not how many how many games and Roloson at one point.

ordered enough 55 straight.

55 straight sellouts for the Indians at home in. Bandit killer lineup with by arrogant Manny Ramirez Jim Thome go up and down that order Roberto Alomar they and they had all of this scale they all the great players up and down any means or almost impossible to beat at home. You look at the indians' home record now it's one of the two or three best in Major League Baseball do you think that is.

I don't illustrated that couldn't win -- own -- that there that are on the they were better under rolled -- about I don't look just moguls who earns and what they have they they have played better all they've they've had a lot of you know compared wins rested that wins which is more it'll. And a link to the past where would post quote we're just talking about there were always dangerous at all. Because they have so much power. In the lineup but it could come back at any time this team has extra leads the American league in home runs over a little bit like they had put. Hewitt -- they don't have as much talent as those teams in the night and only at an all start every position but. It's our -- at all I don't know being deprived they practically got snowed out April at all so it's a little it's an advantage or not.

Paul what what's the support been in an attendance you talked about that long streak in the mid 90s to the late 90s when their winning the central every year. Then they go through that painful re building. Process where they have losing records in the attendance dropped off I know that the Ohio economy has not been great downtown has had its share of of troubles and and it doesn't seem to be as. As lively -- place as it was ten years ago what's what's the fan approach after last season's disappointment.

Yet because you're definitely Russia on -- fans have been -- warm optimist club yet they finally started picking things -- the -- less smoke there's so you can chew on 25 to 30000 for a long time you know every every contender in baseball -- drawn a million. And a million or more experience and Altman and unions were still sit at six under 700000 -- I don't know I I still believe there's so -- resentment too well. To with a stolen and we were when -- ought to cloaked in Italy took a wanted to try to stay in contention and then people pick pick great -- all been I think. People -- still. It'll have the you know kind of at that they had -- out there that -- of the eight people the court well they all eight. For for for talent you know they're trying to to to about a shoestring logic. And you most like that there's still some lingering resentment from the have -- at bats all the news -- that the fans their communities said the economy. This year adequate when it's Google ask two sentences. The senses based -- the sense that it is in the port city in the United States it'll rank things you know the ten this year that it would. Detroit's they're about to pick report that you're so they've lost bloody industry a lot of population. Allow a lot of bit you know businesses have left the the city -- edit it at certain to an also he all the cancer that. There Iraq you know they're they're you know pitchers -- BM BA finals the prospect when he went. If you started a great ones in 9495 but the problems were leaving roddick child in the BK. Well we're stroke.

I'm last question -- in silicon alerted me to this during this morning before you came on. Please explain to me to contest it they hold in the press box with you ever. The -- for us Friday night arm is it just Friday don't let me explain this to me because I heard about this and I don't want to. Influence anyone one way or another so I'll let you exploited in your own words Paul what happens during Friday and at home games at Cleveland Indians yeah.

Well most hitters which is Saturday night complete the television at all and so it's called balk call letter now what exactly that it's kind of restrictions about Saturday do. -- soccer pro ball. Children -- group from the Akron beacon journal kind of a reliever it's a pool and but regional by even at the bottom of the -- community. And for a couple books -- In the you'd designated aiming at that particular inning out of it at or at least they're collecting money I can open -- noises and it's. I don't know what it what does -- you know what is it is like all. Like you know I just don't want to do it on rated good I'll tip of -- was -- it might hurt on a psychological game.

I'm just wondering maiden he gets on to -- now -- Red Sox going. You know -- does the hawk I'll like going to not knowing that we've got to have something else feel like a growl let me perfect for you don't growl as some might have we will sterner on tradition at Fenway and be fined Detroit so -- happening Cleveland this that the got to hear from -- lines of the Cleveland plain -- thank you very much free time