Last Tuesday a few of us asked Eric Wedge if LaPorta was earning his way to the big leagues, and Wedge was pretty steadfast that the Indians would get better only if the guys on the major league team at that point got better. He gave every indication that the team had no intention of bringing up LaPorta ? at least not soon.

Five days later, LaPorta was in the majors.

OK, then.

Sunday LaPorta was on the field against a pretty fair pitcher, Justin Verlander. Nice welcome. LaPorta struck out twice in four at-bats and left four on base. He had one classic at-bat when he fouled off a few pitches and worked the count to 3-and-2. Then the veteran froze the rookie with a breaking ball?on the outside corner. Strike three.

That was part of an inning when the Indians had the bases loaded with nobody out. Kelly Shoppach popped out, LaPorta struck out and Luis Valbuena grounded into a force. Which means Eric Wedge had two guys who were just called up hitting against a pretty good pitcher in the most crucial of situations.

Second-guess, anyone?

Ben Francisco, Ryan Garko, Jhonny Peralta and Josh Barfield could have pinch-hit ? but they didn't. Let's be honest though ? sending one of them up wouldn't have been like sending Gates Brown to the plate, right?

"We started (LaPorta and Valbuena) for a reason," Wedge said, adding: "They went up there and they competed." He also said: "If we were going pinch-hit for them right there we're not going to start them."

This is not to knock LaPorta, who probably should be up and playing ? heck, the Indians have to do something to try to salvage what has become a mess of a season. And if he's going to play, he may as well see if he can hit the best. It's just not the easiest way to start a big-league career.

When LaPorta was recalled, my immediate thought was that it was not good for Ben Francisco, who is hitting .239. It turned out not to be, as LaPorta played right and Shin-Soo Choo moved to left, with Francisco taking a seat.

The callup of Valbuena immediately struck me as not good for Jhonny Peralta, who is hitting .209 with 28 strikeouts in 86 at-bats. Valbuena at second moves Asdrubal Cabrera to short, which might move Peralta to third but not until Mark DeRosa does not hit. Cabrera and Valbuena give the Indians better middle defense, and if it works you wonder if Peralta's name will join Cliff Lee's on the trade-rumor mill.

I suppose there will be at-bats for everyone, but a year ago Peralta was a cleanup hitter and Francisco was the up-and-coming outfield. Not anymore. Not now at least.

Can this mess of a start of a season get any worse?

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