CLEVELAND — Indians manager Eric Wedge held a team meeting for the first time since ace CC Sabathia was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday, and it took place in the home clubhouse by design.
“I wanted to make sure everyone, including the (disabled list) guys, was in that room, because we are a family and we’re in this together,” said Wedge, who indicated that he was the only speaker prior to Cleveland’s first home game since June 29. “Once CC was traded, I think it was a little hazy there for a while. The guys did their best to separate but it was there.
“I understand it with CC, but that’s over with, and now we move on and play baseball.”
The Indians haven’t been playing well lately, entering the series opener with Tampa Bay on Thursday night riding a 10-game losing streak and with the white flag at full staff.
“It’s about execution and performance,” Wedge said. “It’s not about the work and attitude, because that’s there. As bad as it seems, we’re not that far off. We’re going to put a winning streak together. It’s going to happen.”
If it does, it will come too late, with the Indians out of contention, trailing the first-place White Sox by 16 games and owning the American League’s second-worst record through Wednesday.
Wedge was asked if his team could have overcome injuries to key players and stayed in the race if it weren’t for a poor performance from the bullpen, which along with the offense, ranks at the bottom of the AL.
“If everybody was doing their job, we could’ve overcome the injuries,” Wedge said. “You can’t put it all on the bullpen.”

Pronk’s prognosis

Travis Hafner met with the media prior to Thursday’s game, saying his ailing right shoulder was getting stronger and that he could begin swinging a bat within the next two weeks.
Hafner has been on the disabled list for over a month yet has still not begun baseball activities.
“It’s been a really slow process,” said Hafner, who will undergo another battery of strength tests next week. “It is what it is. Being healthy is always my main goal. That’s what makes this so frustrating. It’s kind of a weird injury, but right now, we’re in a good spot with the rehab.”

Comeback trail

Disabled right-hander Fausto Carmona (left hip strain) pitched a simulated game Thursday at Progressive Field.
If all went well, the next step is a minor league rehab assignment, which could come before the All-Star break for the right-hander, who has been on the injured list since May 24.

Making moves

The Indians orchestrated a number of transactions Thursday, the most notable of which was releasing former closer Joe Borowski.
Borowski and fellow reliever Rick Bauer were designated for assignment last Friday, with Bauer opting for free agency.
Cleveland also did business with the Pirates, trading Triple-A Buffalo infielder Ryan Mulhern (.250, 7 HRs, 26 RBIs in 58 games) and Bison pitcher Dan Reichert (1-3, 4.40 ERA in eight starts) for cash, while signing RHP Bryan Bullington off waivers from Pittsburgh.
Bullington, 27, was the first overall pick in the 2002 draft out of Ball State University, going
4-6 with a 5.52 ERA in 15 starts for Triple-A Indianapolis.

Roundin’ third

Grady Sizemore entered Thursday as the only player in the majors with 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases. It is the fourth consecutive season he has accomplished as much, two times more than any other active big leaguer.
l Jhonny Peralta entered Thursday hitting .338 (24-for-70) with 12 doubles three homers and 15 RBIs in 17 games since June 20, to raise his average from .227 to .252.
l The Indians agreed to terms with third-round draft choice Cord Phelps, an infielder from Stanford University. He will report to Class A Mahoning Valley after rehabbing an ankle injury in Winter Haven, Fla.
Contact Chris Assenheimer
at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. 

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