Since the Indians season began to go down the drain club officials have done some very uncharacteristic things. Start with the fact that they have already begun to make wholesale roster changes, and minor league callups. These moves have come far sooner than in any year since Eric Wedge became manager. They moved their No.4 starter, Aaron Laffey, to the bullpen, not because he was failing as a starter, but because the bullpen was so bad. That, again, is pretty much unprecedented since Wedge became manager. Usually, when a pitcher is pitching well in the rotation, he stays in the rotation.

It's clear the Indians are grasping at straws trying to figure out how to get the team winning again. Getting swept in a three-game series at home by Detroit, a series in which the Indians only scored three runs, adds a further sense of urgency to everyone running the team.

In the midst of all that, however, there have been some curious decisions by Wedge, relating to who is and isn't in the starting lineup. Outfieldre Matt LaPorta, for example, didn't get one at bat in any of the three games against Detroit. That's the same Matt LaPorta about whom Wedge said, "We brought him here to play,'' when LaPorta was recalled from Columbus.

Going into Monday night's game LaPorta had sat out four of the Indians' last five games, which makes no sense at all. As one of the Indians' top prospects, LaPorta needs to be playing every day, not sitting on the bench for a last place team with the worst record in the major leagues. If LaPorta isn't going to be in the Indians' lineup every day - which he should be - then he needs to be sent back to Columbus, where he can continue to develop by getting consistent playing time every day.

The way the Indians are currently using, or not using LaPorta, isn't helping him or them.