The Suns agreed to shop Shaquille O'Neal to the Cavs. The Cavs didn't give up a starter or even a good player for him. I wonder what is the idea? O'Neal is at the end of his career, is slow, isn't a shooter, can't guard guys like Dwayne Wade, and has one year left on his contract (which the Cavs must take) at 21 million dollars.

At least he is physical, and the Cavs do need some brutal punishers on the court.

...........

The Cleveland Indians are one of the two worst teams in the bigs. No wonder, playing five triple-A players every game. Their bullpen wouldn't be a good one for a double-A team. You can blame a lot of it on their injuries, but Hafner and Sizemore are back and fit. The starting rotation is troubled and gives up early runs. The batters don't support the best pitcher, Cliff Lee, when he takes the mound.

Eric Wedge, the Manager, is done. I would like to see the GM, Mark Shapiro, go, too. He is most of the problem. Wedge has done everything he can with the players who are not producing. But Wedge doesn't hire the players, Shapiro does that.

The owner should give them the rest of the season to straighten it out. The season is over anyway.

Then after September, if they don't turn the team around, fire them all, Shapiro, Wedge, the coaches, the trainers and maybe some of the players.

I would immediately trade Ryan Garko, who can hit but can't run the bases because of his bulk. The team has Martinez playing first half the time and Mark DeRosa takes the base when Martinez is catching.

I would also offer the new pitcher, David Huff, a multi-year contract. He is a great find!

Josh Barfield should be traded or sent down to the minors. He doesn't hit.

Then I would give the players a test: Make them bunt and make them run the bases. If they can't, trade them.

And I would talk to Pedro Martinez and Tom Glavine about trying out as starters or long men in the bullpen. I know Martinez has his demands down to three million a year, so he is available. Glavine says he won't throw this year and he will be 43 next year, but look at Randy Johnson. He is old enough to have granchildren and still makes batters' heads spin.