It's time to make a move

The Indians began the weekend 171/2 games out of first place.
There's still hope, though -- they were only 161/2 games behind in the wild card.
(Note to self -- work on translating sarcasm into print.)
And, finally, manager Eric Wedge has run out of patience.
"My frustration level is off the map," Wedge said to reporters after Thursday's 10-4 loss to the Yankees.
"It's about one one-hundreth of what you're seeing. I've yelled. I've talked. I've reasoned. I've taken about every approach I can take."
For instance, Wedge has disciplined shortstop Jhonny Peralta, whom the manager felt wasn't hustling to first on ground balls. But that lasted only a couple of games and Peralta was back in the lineup. Granted, he's been hitting better but he still makes too many errors on routine plays.
The Indians also released pitcher Jason Johnson, who was cut loose June 20 with a 3-8 record and 5.96 ERA. Johnson's performance had to come as a complete shock to Indians executives, considering his career numbers prior to this season: 52 wins, 86 losses and an ERA of 4.86.
(Note to self -- Better use of sarcasm.)
Problem at third basesymptomatic of team
But Wedge has also been slow to do anything about Aaron Boone, who leads all major league third basemen with 14 errors and is hitting just .255. Wedge seems too intent on sticking with Boone because of his leadership in the clubhouse when Ramon Vazquez or Andy Marte could be inserted into the lineup the second half of the season.
"We're damn close to making some adjustments," Wedge said Thursday night. "That's not a threat, that's just a fact."
Well, what are you waiting for? It's not like the Indians are going to get back in playoff race.
Yes, I know they played awfully well after the All-Star Game last year, but there's a couple of not-so-subtle differences between 2005 and this summer:
*One, the Indians were 11 games out of first at the break last year (and 11 games back vs. 171/2 games is a significant amount);
*Two, there's not just one team, not just two, but three teams, to leapfrog in the standings. The Indians will have to play much better against their Central Division rivals in the second half. They were 18-18 before the All-Star break and .500 baseball the rest of the way isn't going to get the job done.
Failure to takeresponsibility
More from Wedge: "There are no excuses. I don't care if 100 mph wind comes blowing at you when you're hitting, that's your responsibility. If you made an out, you made an out. I've heard things this season that I think are pathetic."
Excuses have been a part of baseball since Abner Doubleday laid out the first diamond in the 19th century. "The sun was in my eyes" or complaining about the umpire's strike zone have come from the lips of every ball player.
Still, Wedge has a point. Fans of a professional baseball team, even one with a paltry $56 million salary, should expect batters to run out grounders and make better than average attempts to catch a ball.
Wedge said the Indians' disappointing first half is because of a combination of things. He said some players may feel they're more secure than they really are, while others don't have the same clubhouse presence they once did.
The one thing Wedge is tired of is excuses.
"We're all in this together. We all have to take the responsibility. That's the way it works."
If a move is to be made,make it now
OK, fine.
What we have here is a team that can't make fundamental plays, can't move runners and won't hold itself accountable. The manager admits he's frustrated and out of ideas to motivate the players.
There's one move left to make.
You can't fire the team. You can, however, bring in a new manager for the second half of the season and get an early start on 2007.
Rob Todor is sports editor of The Vindicator. Write to him at todor@vindy.com.