CLEVELAND (Ticker) -- The Cleveland Indians have fired manager Mike Hargrove, putting aside his unprecedented success over the last five years in favor of a "new atmosphere."

Hargrove has come under intense scrutiny in the last seven days after the Indians blew a 2-0 lead to the Boston Red Sox in the Division Series. Cleveland has reached the World Series twice in the last five years but remains in search of its first world title since 1948.

"There is a need for a new energy, a new voice coming from the clubhouse," general manager John Hart said. "We are not looking at this change bringing us three more wins but this change will bring us a new atmosphere.

"It will give us a new atmosphere and allow us to continue to sustain the level of excellence we have achieved over the last five years. Just as we share in the success we have achieved, we share in the failure of failing to accomplish the ultimate goal."

Cleveland appeared on the evrge of blowing Boston out of the series when starter Dave Burba suffered a forearm injury and had to leave Game Three after four innings. Hargrove turned to Jaret Wright, who was tagged for four runs in two-plus innings.

Hargrove turned to Game One starter Bartolo Colon for Game Four and his ace, pitching on three days rest for the first time in his career, failed to retire any of the five batters he faced in the second inning and was charged with six runs and seven hits.

His team was hammered, 23-7, in Game Four and shut down over the final six innings by Pedro Martinez in a 12-8 loss in the decisive Game Five.

"Our collapse against Boston did not make the final call," Hart added. "We have met internally over the last week and made the decision yesterday, last night that it was the right move.

"As difficult as it was, it was made with the best interest of the ballclub in mind."

Hargrove has been among the most successful managers in baseball over the last eight years, winning 721 games and the last five Central Division titles.

Just seven wins shy of Lou Boudreau's record for most wins by a Cleveland manager, Hargrove had a contract that ran through the 2000 season with a club option for 2001. His 8 1/2-year tenure was the third-longest in the majors behind Minnesota's Tom Kelly and Atlanta's Bobby Cox and the longest by an Indians manager since Boudreau (1942-50).

Cleveland won 100 games in 1995 and advanced to its first World Series since 1954, but lost to the Atlanta Braves in six games. The Tribe went 99-62 the following season but lost in the Division Series and finished 86-75 in 1997, losing in seven games to the Florida Marlins in the World Series.

In 1998, the Indians went 89-73 and reached the ALCS, where they lost in six games to the New York Yankees, who went on to win their 24th world title.