Former GM says Tribe will be OK

CLEVELAND (AP) -- John Hart still loves talking about the Cleveland Indians.
The club's former general manager was back at Jacobs Field on Friday night as the Texas Rangers opened a three-game series with the Indians, who Hart helped transform from an AL doormat into a perennial power in the 1990s.
"Not much has changed here," Hart said as he walked into the Rangers' dugout.
Truthfully, a lot is different since Hart left, but he still has fond memories of his time in Cleveland.
"I love this ballpark," he said while holding court with reporters. "It's always bittersweet coming back. Last year was tough."
This was Hart's second trip back to Cleveland since leaving the Indians after the 2001 season.
Hart left the Indians following a 10-year tenure as GM that included six AL Central titles and two trips to the World Series. While he was turning the Indians around, Hart envisioned tough days were ahead.
They've arrived, but Hart doesn't think they'll stay around for too long.
Right direction
"The Indians are headed in the right direction," Hart said.
Hart speaks frequently with current Indians general manager Mark Shapiro, his protege while in Cleveland. Hart is convinced Shapiro will get the Indians back on track.
Shapiro began rebuilding his team a year ago by trading some big-name players for prospects, and Hart thinks Shapiro hit a few home runs.
"Mark did a great job last year with the acquisitions," he said. "It may not look like it to many fans, but in baseball circles it was viewed as some great moves. Now the tough part is to sift through what they have."
Hart said the Indians need not worry about Shapiro growing impatient with his team.
"Mark is committed to doing it," Hart said. "The tough thing now is dealing with the fans' expectations and the media."
Plenty of good seats
While the Indians struggle, Cleveland fans are finding new places to spend their time.
Through 12 home games, attendance at Jacobs Field is down 101,382 from a year ago, an average of 8,282 per game.
Part of that can be blamed on Cleveland's 7-20 start, including a 3-9 mark at home. The cold weather hasn't helped, either. But it's strange to see so many empty seats.
Even opposing players have noticed.
"It's different," said Angels third baseman Troy Glaus. "My first three or four years, it didn't matter if it was 20 degrees, snowing, a Tuesday night and we were 30 games out, there were 40,000 people here. It's very different."
Cleveland 500
Texas first baseman Rafael Palmeiro arrived in Cleveland poised to possibly join two exclusive lists.
Palmeiro needs two home runs to become the 19th player to hit 500 in his career. If he manages to connect while he's at Jacobs Field, the 38-year-old would join Babe Ruth (1929) and Ted Williams (1960) as players who have reached the milestone in Cleveland.
Ruth hit No. 500 at League Park off Indians pitcher Willis Hudlin and Williams hit his off Wynn Hawkins at Municipal Stadium.
Baselines
Indians manager Eric Wedge had OF Matt Lawton batting in the leadoff spot for Friday's game.
Lawton, who has been a slump all season, has hit in the second, third, fifth and sixth spots this season. Wedge has had 25 different lineups in 28 games.
"Every year in the minors we would go through this," Wedge said. "But it's usually not to this extreme on the major league level. It's a good things to have your lineup solidified as soon as possible. We hope at some point to do that."
LHP Cliff Lee threw his first bullpen session at extended spring training without pain on Friday. Lee has been on the 60-day disabled list since spring training with an abdominal strain. The Indians expect him to be pitching at Triple-A Buffalo by mid-June.