Tribe looking up ... at Tigers; Trades likely in second half

Bob Wickman and Ben Broussard could be on their way out.
CLEVELAND (AP) -- Fourth place and 181/2 games back in the AL Central is not where the Cleveland Indians expected to find themselves at the All-Star break.
"We can't make any excuses about it. Everybody knows we were pretty bad," first baseman Ben Broussard said. "We didn't deserve to win a lot of games."
The Indians were labeled contenders entering the season after winning 93 games and just missing the playoffs a year ago.
But with their worst record at the break (40-47) since 2003 and Detroit and Chicago the two best teams in the majors, the Indians have little hope of catching anyone. That makes it likely that they'll trade some veterans and take a look at some young prospects over the last 21/2 months of the season.
Closer Bob Wickman, who signed a one-year contract in the off-season, would seem to be the most obvious candidate for a trade. He's 1-4 with a 4.50 ERA, but has 13 saves in 16 chances.
Other candidates are Broussard, who is hitting .330 but has been lackluster in the field, and Todd Hollandsworth, a veteran outfielder who could come in handy during a pennant run.
Options
Prospect Ryan Garko and catcher Victor Martinez could split time at first if Broussard is traded. If Wickman is dealt, hard-throwing Fausto Carmona would be the favorite to take over the closer role.
Despite a rough outing Sunday in which he took the loss against Baltimore, Carmona has helped hold up a shaky bullpen. Manager Eric Wedge has pointed to him and fellow rookies Rafael Perez and Edward Mujica as one of the bright spots of the first half.
"The bullpen is an area that is constantly evolving, but these kids have provided some stability while at the same time bringing a little youthful energy to the mix," Wedge said.
Carmona, a 22-year-old right-hander who made three starts before being moved to the bullpen, has struck out 31 in 392/3 innings. Left-hander Perez, 23, called up from Double-A Akron, has a 2.25 ERA in nine outings while Mujica, 22, has worked eight scoreless innings without issuing a walk.
Mujica is on an exceptional roll. The right-hander from Venezuela has not allowed an earned run all year, covering a combined 462/3 innings at Akron, Triple-A Buffalo and Cleveland.
Coming soon
Another prospect due to appear in Cleveland soon is third baseman Andy Marte. Acquired in a trade with Boston for Coco Crisp, Marte is hitting .271 with 13 homers and 40 RBIs at Buffalo. With Aaron Boone still struggling in the last year of his contract, the Indians need to know if Marte will be ready to take over the position in 2007.
The first half hasn't passed without a couple success stories in the Indians clubhouse -- namely Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner.
Sizemore is an All-Star in his second season and the 23-year-old's 15 home runs, six triples and 25 doubles have the leadoff man looking like the Indians' future No. 3 hitter.
"He's a middle-of-the order talent and probably will end up there," Wedge said. "But he's filled a need at the top and done a great job."
Hafner, whose record five grand slams before the break weren't impressive enough to help make him an All-Star, is among the league leaders in home runs, RBIs, batting average and runs scored.
Sizemore and Hafner haven't been enough to carry the inconsistent Indians, who after starting 6-1 played .500 ball through May, then fell apart in June, going 9-17.
"We'd hit and we wouldn't pitch. We'd pitch and we wouldn't hit. We'd hit and pitch and we wouldn't play defense," right-hander Jake Westbrook said. "That was the frustrating part of it."
Wedge, who has started to lose patience with his underachieving club, said he wanted every player to rest for three days and reflect on his individual play.
"If this isn't a wake-up call to them, I don't know what would be," he said.
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