AMERICAN LEAGUE Report: Wedge will manage Tribe

The 34-year-old beat out interim manager Joel Skinner and Fredi Gonzalez.
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Eric Wedge, despite no experience managing in the big leagues, is expected to be named manager of the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday, according to a published report.
The Plain Dealer reported today that its team sources, who requested anonymity, said general manager Mark Shapiro is prepared to hire Wedge, 34, instead of either of two other candidates interviewed last week -- interim Indians manager Joel Skinner and Fredi Gonzalez, who managed Atlanta's Triple-A affiliate.
Shapiro would not confirm Wedge's hiring, the newspaper reported. He planned to inform the three candidates of his final decision today.
If hired, Wedge would be the youngest manager in the big leagues, guiding one of baseball's youngest teams.
"I'm guardedly optimistic," Wedge told The Plain Dealer.
Skinner started the year as the Indians' third base coach and became interim manager July 11 when Charlie Manuel was fired.
Steady climb
When Shapiro was the Indians' minor league director, he gave Wedge his first managerial job, sending him to the Columbus, Ga., Class A team.
He has steadily climbed the organization's ladder ever since. Wedge managed the last two years at Class AAA Buffalo, the Indians' top farm club. The Sporting News named him minor-league Manager of the Year for leading the Bisons to a 87-57 record this season. Wedge's five-year record as a manager in the Indians' minor-league system is 391-315.
Anaheim pitching coach Bud Black reportedly was Shapiro's No. 1 candidate when the regular season ended. Black withdrew from consideration before the start of the World Series.
Wedge was Boston's third-round draft pick in 1989 after helping Wichita State win the NCAA championship. Knee injuries cut his big-league career short. He hit .233 with five homers and 12 RBI in 39 games with Boston and Colorado.