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October 20, 2007
BY KEVIN McNAMARA
Journal Sports Writer
BOSTON – Cleveland manager Eric Wedge has handled his duties with the media quite smoothly this October. In fact, one reporter asked Saturday night how he keeps his cool under such pressure situations. Wedge simply said the confidence he owns in his team is what keeps him calm.
''I really believe in being even keel. I know I keep saying that word, but I get as excited as the next guy,'' said Wedge. ''What you see from me is somebody that really believes in his players and has a great deal of confidence in his players, and I love the way we play the game, and I trust that. I don't question that. I trust that, I count on that, and because of that I come to the ballpark and I watch them play.
''I get involved when I need to, otherwise I stay the heck out of the way.”
Game Six heroes
The Indians have secured some of their biggest victories in Game Sixes over the years. Cleveland has twice won a Game Six on the way to the World Series. In both 1997 and `95, the Indians clinched a spot in the Series by winning the American League pennant in the sixth game.
The Red Sox, meanwhile, had won five straight elimination games entering last night. The five would include Game 6 of the ALCS in 2003 against the Yankees, three more knockout games in `04 against the Yankees and Thursday night’s Game 5 in Cleveland.
Getting used to it
There aren’t many more odd ballparks in baseball than Fenway Park but the Indians say they have no problems adjusting to the major’s oldest park.
''Every ballpark has its nuances,'' said Wedge, ''and obviously there's a lot of tradition here, but our kids have really done a good job of getting beyond that. You need to learn each and every ballpark for the angles and exactly what it's all about and how to play the game. But you really have to work hard to separate from that.''
Advantage, Sox
The Indians and Red Sox finished tied with 96 wins but the Red Sox won the season series to earn home field last night.
''Everybody wants to play at home,'' said Wedge. ''I mean, nobody is going to say, yeah, we'd rather play on the road. Everybody wants to play at home. But the ability to play on the road like you do at home, I think we can do that and have proven that we can do that. I think that's something that's important.”
Help us, Travis
The Indians were hoping for a little sign of life from designated hitter Travis Hafner. The team’s third hitter is on quite a downward spiral. In Game 4, Hafner went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts, three versus Tim Wakefield’s knuckleball. In the 7-1 loss in Game 5, Hafner was 0-for-4 again with two strikeouts. Hafner is batting .158 (3-for-19) in the ALCS and .200 (7-for-35) in the postseason.
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