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The Indians already had their hands full with the Boston Red Sox. Now they’ll have the media and questions about Paul Byrd’s HGH to contend with as Game 7 looms.

In what can only be considered conspicuous timing despite the newsworthiness of the San Francisco Chronicle’s revelation that Byrd spent thousands on HGH, the Indians must find a way to top the Red Sox while problems with their pitching staff continue to mount. Why now? The story couldn’t wait until tomorrow? Or perhaps the story was ready sooner?

Update: According to FOXSports.com, Byrd acknowledged use of HGH to combat a tumor on his pituitary gland and states MLB was aware of his usage.

On the field, the Indians look lost. C.C. Sabathia and Fausto Carmona can’t seem to find the strike zone and Cleveland clearly appears rattled. The bullpen looks worn out. Perez isn’t trusting his stuff. Borowski is and always be a question mark in the ninth inning despite his ability to close out games.

Travis Hafner has barely put the ball in play and the defense has shown signs of shakiness. In all, it appears the Red Sox have made adjustments and now the Indians stubbornly stick to the plan despite being outscored 19-3 the past two games.

Tonight’s Game 7 will be all about adjustments. The Indians should count on a decent effort from Jake Westbrook, but should also count on him to get knocked around a bit as his groundballs have a tendency to find holes every so often. Of most concern for the Tribe will be how far they can ride Westbrook and get the game into the hands of the bullpen’s backend of Betancourt and Borowski.

On offense, Cleveland needs a spark. They’ve barely threatened against seeing Beckett and Schilling which again supports the theory that the Red Sox have adjustments and the Indians haven’t. After two duds in Games 5 and 6, the Indians should show up for Game 7. The problem being the Red Sox have already arrived.

Popularity: 72% [?]

Many Cleveland fans track the Indians decline back to the day Jim Thome left for Philadelphia. Others bemoan Manny Ramirez’s departure as the catalyst for the downfall. Most, including myself, look to blame a penny-pinching owner failing to load up on talent in the name of fiscal responsibility.

But for all of the misery Tribe fans have inflicted on themselves over the past few seasons, at some point acknowledging and appreciating the presence of Travis Hafner as a world-class slugger needs to become part of the Indians fans mindset and shouldn’t cloud the fans view of club management.

Yesterday Hafner blasted his sixth grand slam of the year in a 13-0 rout of the Kansas City Royals. The blast tied Don Mattingly’s major league record for grand slams in a season and pushed his season numbers up to .302/35/104. With six weeks left in the season, Hafner approaches team records for a DH.

At $2.7 million - Hafner must be considered a bargain compared to other major league sluggers. The Indians hold a club option for 2008 at $4.75 million and have secured a middle-of-the-lineup bat for the next three years at a number much less than the annual salary of say - David Ortiz ($12.5 million starting in 2007) or Manny Ramirez ($19 million in 2006).

For all the things going wrong in 2006 with the Cleveland Indians, this is an example of something done right.

Popularity: 12% [?]

Mark Shapiro should be careful. After sending another fan favorite due for a payday out of town, Shapiro’s transactions look less like a GM reloading for another run at another AL Central title and more like a desperate GM following owner’s orders to dump payroll. For all the talk about improving the ballclub and coveting prospects, the Indians have essentially traded an All-Star for a guy they gave up three seasons ago.

Similar to the Coco Crisp, Ronnie Belliard stood on the cusp of a nice pay raise as his contract set to expire at the end of the season. And similar to the Crisp deal, Belliard was traded away to a ballclub with deeper pockets, this time to the St. Louis Cardinals. In return, the Indians received a very similar player in Hector Luna with fewer pending contractual needs.

The transactional nature of the Indians fails the organization in one key area - fan support. At some point the Indians front office needs to realize you can’t five-year plan yourself into the World Series. Filling the seats might have something to do with having ballplayers fans would pay to see. Journeymen like Aaron Boone, Casey Blake, and Todd Hollandsworth might sound good in a boardroom, look good on a balance sheet, and fill a gap in the locker room. But fans come to see stars and exciting baseball. And while the Tribe has a few in Travis Hafner, Grady Sizemore, and Victor Martinez, each day the Indians look more like a aimless corporation than a ballclub. Each player being treated like a widget that can be replaced with an similarly effective yet cheaper version. Sure, winning bumps attendance. But so does having an attachment to the ballclub and its players.

Tribe fans cheered a homerun by former Indians first baseman Ben Broussard Saturday night. Despite the fact manager Eric Wedge kept Broussard in the doghouse for most of the season, Tribe fans appreciated his play. Less appreciated, however, is the questionable management direction put forth by Larry Dolan and his crew of cost-cutting accountants. Somewhere the model for the Indians turned upside down - the fans not coming to see the team has nothing to do with the product put on the field. Do you buy a car because the next version will be better.

No, and it shows in the standings and the ever increasing empty seats.

Popularity: 21% [?]

Take one glance at the MLB standings and you’ll see that only the Cubs, Pirates, and Royals are the only teams further out of first place than the Cleveland Indians. Sure an argument can be made that the Indians play in the top-heavy AL Central with Detroit and Chicago - but those franchises have hardly been considered world-beaters until two seasons ago.

The last two months of 2005 appear to be nothing more than a fluke, a decent ballclub getting hot and climbing the standings only to return to form for the last week of the season. For the Indians to salvage anything from 2006, serious changes need to be made throughout the organization.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Mark Shapiro has to be wondering if he’s made a huge mistake. If not for the 11 runs a game the Indians have plated for Paul Byrd, the free-agent signee might be 0-7 with a 6.52 ERA. Well, the 6.52 ERA is correct, but somehow the right-hander has managed to win four games despite one of the highest regular pitcher ERAs in all of baseball. $7 million dollars doesnt get you much more than losing three-of-four to the lowly Royals.

Popularity: 10% [?]

USA Today uses its Spring Training preview to introduce Indians fans to Jason Michaels. The outfielder Cleveland acquired in the offseason to replace Coco Crisp in the No. 2 spot in the batting order and left field talks about his game, his style, and approach to getting on base. Michaels relishes the chance to play everyday - an opportunity he feels Philadelphia didn’t provide during his tenure with the Phillies.

Popularity: 43% [?]

The Coco Crisp trade rumors have reached a boiling point, apparently set to flame by the Boston Red Sox. In a report on Cleveland.com, a Boston reporter suggested the Red Sox leaked the conversations to the media in order to force the Indians hand.

The proposed deal sends Crisp to the Red Sox for pitcher Guillermo Mota and third baseman Andy Marte. Another variation includes David Riske and Josh Bard for pitching prospect Manny Delcarmen.

The Indians are in an awkward position. This trade, in the short-term, provides little to improve the team in 2006. By trading Crisp, a hole in left field needs filled. Current rumors have the Indians trading Mota or another bullpen arm such as Arthur Rhodes or David Riske to the Phillies for center fielder Jason Michaels. Without knowing much about Michaels, its hard to suggest he’s on the verge of stardom like Crisp.

Marte, however, is the right-handed power hitter Shapiro has been unable to land in the free agent market. With Boone a question mark at third (Boone and the Indians hold a mutual option for 2007), Marte fits in nicely with long-term plans.

The trade talks leave the Indians in a public relations neverland - not quite completely committed to making a run at the World Series in 2006 but also unwilling to sacrifice the future for a fleeting swing at the title. Also at play, though, is the Red Sox’s very obvious desire to land Crisp. Perhaps Indians’ GM Mark Shapiro feels he can the Beantowners to overpay.

Shapiro stands close to the precipice on this deal. Indians fans could easily see the move as another example of owner Larry Dolan unwilling to pony up the cash to keep a talented fan favorite. And with the White Sox outclassing the Indians in the offseason market, perhaps Tribe management sees a better opportunity in 2007.

Popularity: 19% [?]

Have you noticed a trend in sports when it comes to trade rumors? Rescue an up-and-coming star from woebegone locales such as Cleveland and Detroit for the bright lights and big city life of Boston, New York and/or Los Angeles. Trade your stars and in return, we’ll send back a payroll flexible almost-ready Major League prospect. Really…do them and yourself favor ? Manage your small-time budget and give your players what they really want — the love, adulation, and constant scrutiny that comes with playing in the ‘big leagues’.

The standing rumor has outfielder Coco Crisp packing his bags for Boston. In return, the Indians will receive third-base prospect Andy Marte or a pitching prospect.

Popularity: 10% [?]

Anyone outside of New York and not a Yankees fan rooting for New York to win the AL Wild Card is either certifiably insane or a front-runner. Both should have you committed.

Mired in a September-long slump, Ben Broussard shook off the doldrums and delivered two HRs, single-handedly bringing the Indians to life and keeping the Tribe one game up in the Wild Card standings with a 5-2 win over Oakland.

The low-budget, high-energy Cleveland Indians have come a long way in 2005 and need players like Broussard to come alive down the stretch. The lineup, while potent, has momentary lapses where scoring runs seems to be a chore. If guys like Broussard can pick up the team and carry them through a ballgame or two, the postseason could be a real possibility.

Popularity: 10% [?]

The Indians got a feel for just how far they are away from wild-card contention (does anyone really believe they can catch the White Sox?) after Boston finished off a three-game sweep of the Tribe last night with a 5-4 win — one run. Other than Tuesday night’s Sabathia debacle, the Indians played the Red Sox to the wire. But in each instance, a glaring difference in role players blinded any long-term optimism held by Cleveland fans.

In critical clutch situations, the role players failed to deliver. Jose Hernandez struck out looking twice. Alex Cora flew out to right with a strange uppercut swing in the eighth with runners on second and third. Sure, these guys might give Wedge options off the bench, but really how good are these options? Terry Francona went to his bench and found John Olerud. Olerud delivered a game-tying homerun in the sixth and another big single in the eighth. Wedge goes to his bench and get’s struck-out-looking with bases loaded and one out.

Sure, the Red Sox have the deep pockets the Indians lack. But, a quick glance at the offensive pieces Shapiro added in the offseason (including Boone, who was essentially added for this season) and here’s what the Indians have received: Jose Hernandez (.226, 1 HR, 14 RBI), Alex Cora (.221, 1 HR, 8 RBI) and Aaron Boone (.200, 7 HR, 24 RBI). Not exactly Lou Merloni-type numbers. Wedge can’t feel too confident going to his bench.

Shapiro wised up last year when he realized his off-season solutions to the bullpen problem weren’t working. To his credit, he waited for Bob Howry and Bob Wickman to heal, traded for Arthur Rhodes, and signed Scott Sauerbeck. This year, the Indians are painfully close to being a 90-win ballclub. The fans know it, but don’t believe management will make the extra move. Surely that must be worth a few million dollars to the organization.

Popularity: 10% [?]