Casey

Blake

With Aaron Boone slated for third base next season, Blake will be switching positions anyway, to first or second base. First base isn’t much of a solution with Travis Hafner, Ben Broussard, and Josh Phelps on the club. Second base will be open since Ron Belliard isn’t expected to be retained, but Brandon Phillips looks ready to take over there. Blake has 24 homers and an 846 OPS. His value might never be higher, so we’d like to see the Indians give him up for pitching.

The Indians want to get some of their arbitration eligible players locked up beyond 2005. Jake Westbrook is another possibility for a two- or a three-year deal. Travis Hafner would be, but the team is a little concerned about his elbow.

Blake gets $2.25 million this year and $3.05 million in 2006. Cleveland’s 2007 option would cost between $3.75 million and $4.2 million, depending on what happens in 2006. If the option is not exercised, he would get a $100,000 buyout.

They would then sign a third baseman like Jose Hernandez or Greg Norton. It’s still more likely that they’ll leave Blake at third and sign a second baseman.

Blake is day-to-day, but manager Eric Wedge said he ''should be close to 100 percent by Tuesday.’'

Blake had some pain Tuesday night when he tried to escape from a double play. ''It didn’t feel too good after that,’' he said. ''But I didn’t want to say anything. And as the game went on, it got a little warmer. I kept stretching it all night.’' Keep Blake active but monitor the situation.

He needed a mental health day. Blake should be back in the Indians’ lineup tonight against Orioles’ left-hander Erik Bedard.

''He’s the starting third baseman without a doubt. There are only nine [third basemen] in the major leagues who are performing better,’' GM Mark Shapiro said. Blake’s 761 OPS isn’t overwhelming, but if AL-only leaguers miss out on Bill Mueller, Hank Blalock, Corey Koskie, Troy Glaus, or Eric Chavez, Blake’s the man.

Blake is 10-for-20 with two homers in the last six games. He also got hot in the second half of June, but that ended up not amounting to much. Maybe he’ll do better the rest of the way. He’ll need to if he wants the Indians to view him as a regular again in 2006. If Blake isn’t going to play third base, he should be a reserve.

Blake departed two innings after he was hit by a Seth McClung pitch. Consider him day-to-day.