The tug-o-war between Indian fans holding onto dear hope of a 2008 postseason and ones eager to make the necessary changes for 2009 is becoming lopsided. With an onslaught of injuries added to a club that was not going anywhere anyway, it appears the promising season has come to an abrupt end.  Jarad Regano is ready to talk about the future, and lays out the five things he thinks the team should do this season to help improve the team going forward.

Management Should Plan for 2010, Not 2009

The tug-o-war between Indian fans holding onto dear hope of a 2008 postseason and ones eager to make the necessary changes for 2009 is becoming lopsided. With an onslaught of injuries added to a club that was not going anywhere anyway, it appears the promising season has come to an abrupt end. Not many of us were thinking that by the 4^th of July, we would be talking about positioning ourselves for the future.

What's done is done, though, and the statute of limitations have run out on whom is to blame for where we are at this stage. Borrowing a line from Mark McGwire, I am here to talk about the future.

The good news is that the Indians have a possible #1 starter and one of the best players in baseball locked up through 2014 and 2012, respectively. In addition, they have several other good arms that should help provide an above average rotation for years to come.

The bad news is, well, everything else. There is very little to get excited about offensively, the bullpen is a mess, and the farm system is below average. Mark Shapiro would feel the heat big time if he took the Indians through another rebuild. This team is not in the same state as it was in 2003; but to maximize long-term success, he should focus on 2010.

Here is what Shapiro should do:

1. Trade C.C... for the best package of prospects

It is common knowledge that the Indians are looking for major league ready talent in return for Sabathia. This should not be management's #1 concern. If there is an offer that gives higher ceiling, Double-A players in return- that should be the route they take. This team needs long-term impact offensive players. Any team in a pennant is not going to give up this caliber of player. You may get a major leaguer. Not a difference maker, though. You CAN get that kind of player if he is a few years away. But he may not help in 2009. And fans may be angry. Shapiro just needs to make sure he trades for Brandon Phillips, and not Andy Marte.

2. Figure out Something with Victor

Victor is only signed through 2010, which would leave him here for only one year of contention. The Indians need to either extend him to add to the "new core" of Fausto and Grady, or deal him once he is healthy and producing.

3. Ditto for Cliff Lee

Cliff Lee will probably start the All-Star game this year for the American League. A year ago you would have traded him for Boof Bonser. If they Indians buy his 2008 turnaround, they need to reward him past the 2010 contract he currently is controlled through. If not, they would be able to get a really nice package in return- either now or in the offseason. The bottom line: be proactive. Either option would be better than waiting. Like Victor, sitting on its hands will not help the Indians front office.

4. Fix the Farm

After the John Hart Era, Shapiro and Company vowed to never put themselves in the same boat as they did in the '90's. By using the farm as simply a means to acquire rent-a-players, the well ran dry when the Indians ended the decade with one of the worst systems in baseball. That's a big no-no for a small market team. Not from a lack of attention this time around, we are headed in the same direction. Through poor drafts and poorer player evaluation, the system is weak. While the draft is somewhat of a crapshoot, there has been much more crap than not. And the picks that have panned out have panned out in other systems. This cannot happen here. Something needs to change.

5. No More Dellucci's

I understand the philosophy; I really do. You can afford to make $3 million dollar mistakes, but not $10 million dollar mistakes. The problem is that we are really bad at picking $3 million dollar players. The choices are hurting us is several ways. The money spent is still big enough to "matter", so we have to watch Jason Johnson still pitch in June and David Dellucci for almost two years now. They make too much to eat the contract, even though they do not cripple the long-term finances of the team. This hurts not only the team on the field, but equally or more qualified prospects cannot gain experience. If we can't take the jump to higher quality free agents, just play a youngster.

The Indians are still in a situation to have an extended period of success. I think they are at a crossroads now though. Taking an approach as they did in 2002 with the infamous "Rebuild on the Fly" would be counterproductive, if not a complete monkey wrench in the long-term plan for the organization.