Indianszone.com | Cleveland Indians News, indians Scores, Game Recaps & Commentary - <div>Indians INSIDER </div>It's safe to say Eric Wedge's job as manager has never been as shaky as it is right now. That's because the Indians have never started so poorly under Wedge when they were considered a contender at the start of the year. "That's not something I spend time on," Wedge said when asked about his job status. "I'm smart enough to recognize where we are as a ballclub. "My entire energy goes in finding a way to help these guys get back on track. That takes all the energy I have. So I don't spend time thinking about that. I know it comes with the territory." The Indians , at 11-21, entered Monday night's game with the worst record in the big leagues. "I'm the manager," Wedge said. "It is my fault. I'm not out there playing, but I'm the manager of this team and I'm responsible for it." The Indians , in last place in the AL Central, went 8-14 in April. They lost seven of their first 10 games in May. "There is no other way I can say it except for I take full responsibility for the club," Wedge said. "You've got to do it now more [than] at any time. When they're doing well, you stay out of the way. You have to take full responsibility when things aren't going well and they're not." The Tribe's starting rotation has the third-highest ERA in the AL at 5.55. The bullpen has the second-highest ERA at 6.34. The offense ranks ninth in batting average (.264) and is tied for the third-most strikeouts (259) in the AL. "The bottom line is we're a better club than what we're showing," Wedge said. "That has to be a direct reflection on me. There's no other way around it. "I've got thick skin. I've got broad shoulders. It comes with the territory of being a major-league manager. I believe in these guys, but we've got to do better." Tough choice: Wedge has always resisted suggestions to move leadoff hitter Grady Sizemore down in the order to take advantage of his power. But with the Indians and Sizemore slumping at the same time, Wedge is considering it. "Right now, we have to consider everything," he said. "I don't want you just to isolate on that, but we are considering everything. "Just giving you that answer right now is probably more than I've ever done [on the subject of dropping Sizemore in the lineup]. There's nothing we haven't walked through or looked at internally or externally." Sign here: The Indians will watch right-hander Luis Vizcaino throw one more time today before deciding if he'll join the Indians or get sent to the minors. The Indians signed right-hander Blaine Neal and sent him to Columbus. Neal, who has not pitched in the big leagues since 2005, saved 26 games for Class AAA Toledo last year. Manny reaction: Chicago designated hitter Jim Thome, on former Indians teammate Manny Ramirez testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug: "I was shocked. My wife called me and told me." Injuries: Lonnie Soloff, Indians head athletic trainer, said designated hitter Travis Hafner (right shoulder) will start a rehab assignment Friday, probably in Columbus. Here are some more injury updates: pitcher Jake Westbrook (right elbow) threw two-thirds of an inning in an extended spring training game Monday and could be back in the Tribe's rotation by late June. Pitcher Joe Smith (right shoulder) is still 10 to 14 days away from going on a rehab assignment. Pitcher Scott Lewis (left forearm) had a setback recently when he tried to throw off the mound. He's back to playing catch at 60 feet. Slip of the tongue: Indians TV play-by-play voice Matt Underwood used an expletive on the air May 4 in Toronto, but his absence from the booth this past weekend was not because of a suspension, SportsTime Ohio President Jim Liberatore said. Liberatore said Underwood having been off for the series against Detroit was part of 10 scheduled in-season vacation days. "The two are not related," Liberatore said. "We handled the matter internally. He was not suspended." Underwood used the expletive as the broadcast faded into a break. He said he was reacting to the antics of a hockey player's goal celebration shown on an off-set TV. "It was unintentional, but I also realize that it was inappropriate," Underwood said. "I apologize to anybody who was offended. I'll say to our listeners and viewers the same thing I said to my bosses: I'll do everything I can to make sure it doesn't happen again." Finally: The White Sox added lefty Jimmy Gobble to the bullpen and optioned Jose Contreras to Class AAA Charlotte, N.C. Contreras volunteered to go to the minors so he could start after being put in the White Sox's bullpen. Plain Dealer reporter Dennis Manoloff contributed to this story. To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: phoynes@plaind.com, 216-999-5158

Indians INSIDER

It's safe to say Eric Wedge's job as manager has never been as shaky as it is right now. That's because the Indians have never started so poorly under Wedge when they were considered a contender at the start of the year.

"That's not something I spend time on," Wedge said when asked about his job status. "I'm smart enough to recognize where we are as a ballclub.

"My entire energy goes in finding a way to help these guys get back on track. That takes all the energy I have. So I don't spend time thinking about that. I know it comes with the territory."

The Indians , at 11-21, entered Monday night's game with the worst record in the big leagues.

"I'm the manager," Wedge said. "It is my fault. I'm not out there playing, but I'm the manager of this team and I'm responsible for it."

The Indians , in last place in the AL Central, went 8-14 in April. They lost seven of their first 10 games in May.

"There is no other way I can say it except for I take full responsibility for the club," Wedge said. "You've got to do it now more [than] at any time. When they're doing well, you stay out of the way. You have to take full responsibility when things aren't going well and they're not."

The Tribe's starting rotation has the third-highest ERA in the AL at 5.55. The bullpen has the second-highest ERA at 6.34. The offense ranks ninth in batting average (.264) and is tied for the third-most strikeouts (259) in the AL.

"The bottom line is we're a better club than what we're showing," Wedge said. "That has to be a direct reflection on me. There's no other way around it.

"I've got thick skin. I've got broad shoulders. It comes with the territory of being a major-league manager. I believe in these guys, but we've got to do better."

Tough choice: Wedge has always resisted suggestions to move leadoff hitter Grady Sizemore down in the order to take advantage of his power. But with the Indians and Sizemore slumping at the same time, Wedge is considering it.

"Right now, we have to consider everything," he said. "I don't want you just to isolate on that, but we are considering everything.

"Just giving you that answer right now is probably more than I've ever done [on the subject of dropping Sizemore in the lineup]. There's nothing we haven't walked through or looked at internally or externally."

Sign here: The Indians will watch right-hander Luis Vizcaino throw one more time today before deciding if he'll join the Indians or get sent to the minors.

The Indians signed right-hander Blaine Neal and sent him to Columbus. Neal, who has not pitched in the big leagues since 2005, saved 26 games for Class AAA Toledo last year.

Manny reaction: Chicago designated hitter Jim Thome, on former Indians teammate Manny Ramirez testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug: "I was shocked. My wife called me and told me."

Injuries: Lonnie Soloff, Indians head athletic trainer, said designated hitter Travis Hafner (right shoulder) will start a rehab assignment Friday, probably in Columbus.

Here are some more injury updates: pitcher Jake Westbrook (right elbow) threw two-thirds of an inning in an extended spring training game Monday and could be back in the Tribe's rotation by late June. Pitcher Joe Smith (right shoulder) is still 10 to 14 days away from going on a rehab assignment. Pitcher Scott Lewis (left forearm) had a setback recently when he tried to throw off the mound. He's back to playing catch at 60 feet.

Slip of the tongue: Indians TV play-by-play voice Matt Underwood used an expletive on the air May 4 in Toronto, but his absence from the booth this past weekend was not because of a suspension, SportsTime Ohio President Jim Liberatore said.

Liberatore said Underwood having been off for the series against Detroit was part of 10 scheduled in-season vacation days.

"The two are not related," Liberatore said. "We handled the matter internally. He was not suspended."

Underwood used the expletive as the broadcast faded into a break. He said he was reacting to the antics of a hockey player's goal celebration shown on an off-set TV.

"It was unintentional, but I also realize that it was inappropriate," Underwood said. "I apologize to anybody who was offended. I'll say to our listeners and viewers the same thing I said to my bosses: I'll do everything I can to make sure it doesn't happen again."

Finally: The White Sox added lefty Jimmy Gobble to the bullpen and optioned Jose Contreras to Class AAA Charlotte, N.C. Contreras volunteered to go to the minors so he could start after being put in the White Sox's bullpen.

Plain Dealer reporter Dennis Manoloff contributed to this story.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: phoynes@plaind.com, 216-999-5158