Sizemore hopes for Tribe turnaround

The first-time All-Star didn't expect the Indians to struggle so much.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
PITTSBURGH -- Halfway through his second full season in the majors, first-time All-Star Grady Sizemore says he now appreciates just how special the Tribe's late-summer run was in 2005.
"It was my first year so I was just going day-to-day," the Indians' 23-year-old center fielder said Monday. "[Now] you look back and you realize how special that run was.
"Coming into this year, we thought we had that momentum to carry with us, but it's a new year. You can't expect it to happen, you've got to make it happen."
So far, the Indians have floundered. At 40-47, the Indians are 181/2 games behind the first-place Tigers, 161/2 behind the wild-card leading White Sox and seven behind the third-place Twins.
"It's tough," Sizemore said of the first half. "The talent is there -- we have a good team but we just haven't put it together. We've been up and down, on the losing end of a lot of close games.
"Hopefully, we can turn it around in the second half," said Sizemore who described the last three months as being "very frustrating. Winning makes this game a lot easier. It's one of those things where you've got to find a way to crawl out of that hole."
Inconsistent Indians
Sizemore blamed the Tribe's start on inconsistency.
"You have a good game one day and turn around and lose that momentum, that concentration the next day," Sizemore said.
Sizemore says he's hoping team management sticks with the current players.
"We feel confident these guys can do it," Sizemore said. "We felt it at the beginning of the year and we feel it now."
And he's hoping manager Eric Wedge, an AL All-Star coach, remains at the helm.
"I love playing for Wedge, he's a great guy and he's passionate about the game," he said. "He's one of those guys who you want to battle for every day."
Sizemore said Pirates outfielder Jason Bay is an inspiration. Bay was an All-Star last year in Detroit, but didn't play. Tonight, he's batting cleanup for the National League.
"Jason is a good friend of mine. We played together in minors a little bit and we work out together in the off-season," Sizemore said. "I'm happy for him. He's having a great year and it shows what is capable if you go out there every day and play hard."
Cleveland's most eligible bachelor is spending time in Pittsburgh with his parents and brother.
"They're ecstatic; they're loving it all," Sizemore said. "Dad's had a grin on his face for about a week now."
Enjoying the moment
Former Indian slugger Jim Thome is soaking in every moment of his fifth All-Star appearance.
'I'm going to sit back and really enjoy this because you never know when it's going to happen again," the White Sox designated hitter said. "In baseball, things can happen in mysterious ways and I'm really happy to be here.
"I know there are a lot of first-year guys, but for me this is really, really neat, especially after what I went through a year ago."
After the 2002 season where he set the Indians' home-run record with 52, Thome left the Indians by signing a free-agent contract with the Phillies.
Last winter, he was traded to the White Sox for Aaron Rowand. So far, he has 30 home runs and 77 RBIs in his return to the American League.
A veteran of both leagues, Thome says he has no idea why the American League has dominated recent interleague play, the World Series and the past nine All-Star Games.
"I really see no difference," Thome said. "Maybe it's the [designated hitter] but then you go to the National League parks and you lose the DH.
"I've been in both leagues and the comparison is that there is not much difference," Thome said.
williams@vindy.com