Tribe Should Pull the Plug on Andy Marte

We've seen enough of Andy Marte. How long will the Indians prolong this agonizing audition? Please, get him out of the lineup.

The Indians released him once already. In spring training they "designated him for assignment." When no other team picked him up, the Indians re-signed him and sent him to Columbus. But this bad penny wound up with the varsity again and has been in the daily lineup for over a month contributing nothing.

Marte is only 26 but he has been in pro ball for nine years. He signed with Atlanta in 2001 when he was 17 years old in the Dominican Republic. The Braves nursed him along in their farm system for five years until they saw the light. They traded him to Boston in December, 2005, but Marte never even put on a Red Sox uniform. A month later the Red Sox peddled him to Cleveland in the Coco Crisp deal. The Indians also got Kelly Shoppach and Randy Newsom but Marte was the key guy, the player the Indians coveted, the third baseman of the future.

Marte has been in the Indians' organization for four years now and it is obvious that his future is no longer ahead of him. It's behind him.

By the way, the deal wasn't much better for Boston. Coco Crisp is on the DL again after being dealt by the Red Sox this off season to the Royals. His shoulders are shot. He's an outfielder who can't throw the ball from me to you and he's a singles hitter who can only DH.

Grady Sizemore also has arm problems. On his best day he never had a good arm. Now he can't throw at all. But at least he has power so he could stick around as a DH or a first baseman.

On the other hand, Matt Laporta has improved and probably will make it. He was overmatched earlier this season but after being recalled from Columbus he's starting to look like a big leaguer at the plate.

As for the Browns. Thankfully, the Gerard Lawson experiment as a kick returner is over. Lawson, number 30, is a decent DB, but my goodness, he doesn't have a clue about returning kicks.

Eric Mangini is trying to find the backup for kick returner Josh Cribbs, which is a legitimate need because it is a high risk position, but I don't think there's a legitimate candidate on the roster. Several different players tried it this past Saturday against the hapless Lions and none had the feel for it.

As play-by-plan man Jim Donovan said in reference to Cribbs on Saturday night's telecast, "Extend his contract." On the other hand, keep in mind that kick returners have short careers.

I'm considering including my high school football rankings here, but I haven't made up my mind. Let me know how you feel about that. E-mail me at this address - coughlinunplugged@gmail.com.