by Paul Hoynes, Plain Dealer Reporter , Plain Dealer

Now he's in Boston, heading for the postseason, and he can only shake his head at what has happened to the organization he once said he never wanted to leave.

"It's pretty sad," said Martinez before Friday night's game. "It's pretty sad the way things ended up."

On Wednesday, the Indians announced that manager Eric Wedge and his coaching staff were fired, but would finish the season. After Boston's 3-0 victory Thursday night, Martinez visited the Tribe's clubhouse and spent a couple of hours talking to Wedge and his old coaches.

"Like I say," Martinez said, "it's not their fault. It's a lot easier to blame one guy instead of 25 guys."

Martinez believes the Indians were good enough to win the AL Central for the past couple of years, but owner Larry Dolan decided he couldn't keep the team together.

"The owners give whatever they give to them [the manager and coaches] and they have to go out and compete," Martinez said. "If you want to really compete in the big leagues, you have to put a good team together. A team like we got [in Cleveland].

"They didn't want to keep it together. That's their thinking. That's their own stuff."

Martinez said the Indians , Wedge and his fired coaches made him a better player.

"All I can say is 'thanks' to Wedgie, the coaching staff and the Cleveland Indians ," Martinez said.

In Boston, Martinez already is being called a leader on the Red Sox. Some reporters feel he's their most valuable player.

"Wedgie got on me a lot," Martinez said. "It was just for me to get better. I appreciate that a lot. I appreciate all the things he did for me.

"I used to lob the ball to third base after a strikeout. He told me: 'Throw the ball. Those little things are going to help you get better.'

"He made me a better player, but not only myself. He was a manager who made sure he got everybody ready to play the game. That's big. He lets the players take care of the things in the clubhouse. When he needed to talk, he talked.

"Sometimes it's hard to hear the truth. But he's a guy who is going to tell you the truth. It's on you if you're going to take it or not."

The Indians traded Martinez to Boston on July 31 for Justin Masterson and minor-league pitchers Nick Hagadone and Bryan Price.

Martinez went into Friday's game hitting .335 (68-for-203) with 12 doubles, seven homers and 36 RBI since the trade. He's hitting .302 (175-for-580) with 33 doubles, 22 homers and 103 RBI overall.

Future manager? John Farrell, Boston's pitching coach, had little to say about possibly becoming the Indians' next manager.

"I'm obviously committed to the Red Sox," said Farrell, in his third season with Boston. "My whole focus is to prepare for the postseason. We've got three games left here from a pitching standpoint to get some things in order."

Farrell has deep Cleveland roots.

He pitched for the Indians from 1987 through 1990 and again in 1995. He was their farm director from 2001 through 2006 and still lives in Westlake.

"Out of respect for the entire Indians organization - and I've got a lot of friends on that staff, who are unfortunately in the situation they're in - that's all I'll have to say."

Farrell has a clause in his contract that prevents him from managing outside Boston until after the 2010 season. Perhaps that could be negotiated away, but as Farrell said, "Right now the focus is where it is."

Finally: Shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera missed his third straight start because of a strained right hamstring. . . . Pitcher Jake Westbrook (right elbow) will report to Goodyear, Ariz., on Oct. 18 to begin a three-week throwing program. He could pitch winter ball in Puerto Rico.

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

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