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I've been somewhat distraught about the Indians lately. Well, somewhat isn't the right word. I am distraught about the Indians. Between the Tribe, as a team, playing mendoza line baseball in May (.218 team BA in May), things aren't looking pretty good. With Jake Westbrook being put on the DL again, and it looks as though the probable starter with being Brian Siocum tonight, the Tribe pitching situation isn't looking much better. Yet, because the AL Central is the worse division in baseball, and the Tribe is still on 4.5 games out, we can't make a major deal (such as dealing CC) to finally get a bat. When the Tribe hits, it only seems to be a blowout like they did last night in their 13-9 victory over the Rangers. Yet, the Tribe cannot seem to drive in runs with men in scoring position. It says a lot about one's offense when one's cleanup hitter hasn't hit a homerun and its June 3rd. JUNE 3RD!! Yet, there seems to be no solution to the Tribe's hitting woahs.
Each week, though, Indians.com beat writer Anthony Castrovince answers mail from fans. This week, he's answered a few questions about the Tribe's struggles lately. Sometimes I agree with him, other times, I don't. But, I'm going to try to answer this week's questions my own way. Maybe I can get some ideas out about how to make some positive change on this team to finally get them hitting.
With the Tribe offense needing a shot in the arm and the ever-changing roster order, isn't it time to move Grady Sizemore from the leadoff spot? At this point, what could it possibly hurt to try?
Isn't it time to move him to the cleanup spot? With 11 hrs and 30 rbis, he needs to be there. Will it happen? Not a chance. Wedgie is as stubborn as a mule. Just like he loves the leftie-righty bullpen matchups, he loves Grady in the leadoff spot. Yet, him constantly hitting solo homeruns and being stranded on base isn't going to help the Tribe offense. My suggestion would be to send down Asdrubal Cabrera. He's not hitting and he needs to work on adjusting his swing on a big league level. He hit last year because the big league pitchers didn't know how to pitch to him. Now that the pitchers have, he's making nothing but ugly swings and trying to pull the ball when he's truly a contact hitter. My suggestion would be to give Josh Barfield another chance. True, he's only hitting around .260 in Buffalo, but if given the proper motivation to try again, he might hit. We have enough defensive depth in the middle infield with Jamey Carroll that it gives Asdrubal the time to go back to Buffalo to fix his swing. I think if we insert Barfield or Dellucci in the leadoff spot and have them switch off from the 1 or 2 hole, we might get more production out of the top end of the lineup. Then, if you get Francisco-Sizemore-Martinez in the 3-4-5 slot, the Tribe might actually score some runs. Will this happen though: not a chance. Just something to think about, though.
Do the Indians have a team psychologist? I could use an appointment, with the way games have been going lately. But more materially, it seems like the persistence of the Indians' offensive struggles must be primarily mental. It's gone on too long and is affecting too many talented players for it to be anything else.
I don't really know it they're talented or not. Last year's offensive outburst could be a fluke. It could not be. But I think Pronk could use a psychologist. I don't know if the injuries are in his head or not because he hasn't been hitting since 2006.
How many more games will have to slide through the Indians' fingers before they do what they did in 2006 and start to gear up for next season and make some trades?
Until the Indians are 10+ games back, don't expect a trade. Our biggest trade bait, CC Sabathia, has struggled this year (though, he's done better lately but not many wins because of the Tribe bats.). If the Indians do make a trade, it'll be for a bat and not rebuilding purposes. As long as the Indians are not in the cellar before the All Star break, the Tribe is not going to be rebuilding.
You know, I didn't think I was going to miss Trot Nixon, but he kept the team loose. Now I don't see any of that veteran presence that doesn't let things get too high when you're winning or too low when you're not. These guys are not having fun. Who are the leaders on this team?
Trot Nixon is a bum. Thank God he's gone.
As for the leaders of this team, I think there are a few silent leaders on the team, leading by example. Their names are Cliff Lee and Grady Sizemore. Yet, despite this, I have to agree that someone needs to step up and play the important clubhouse role of being a leader in terms of morale. I could possibly see Victor Martinez or David Dellucci stepping into that role, but that has yet to happen. Where's Kenny Lofton when we need him?
What are the chances that us Indians fans will never have to see Andy Marte again when Travis Hafner gets off the disabled list, now that Shin-Soo Choo is back? Please tell me what I want to hear.
With the way Pronk's hitting, who knows. I for one and for giving Marte another chance. Give him a week straight playing 3rd and see what he can do consistently. I think the reason why no one is hitting it because they're all concerned about whether they're gonna keep their spot on the roster come tomorrow. I think that's the reason why Garko isn't hitting. I've never been one for platooning, though.
Also, I think if we get rid of Marte, he might turn into a Brian Giles type player. And we all know that story...
What's with Ryan Garko's new batting stance this year? Is there any particular reason he dips to the ground on a majority of his swings? Maybe he is practicing for the limbo party taking place at the end of June, because it certainly is not helping out his average.
He's swinging for the fence, plain and simple. I also think Peralta and Cabrera have that problem too. Once they start hitting for contact, rather than for the fence, the swing will correct itself.
Watching this hitting is awful. The batters have no plan, put themselves in bad counts and have poor overall at-bats. Something is not being communicated. Isn't it time for Derek Shelton's job to be on the line?
*Starts singing "Hit the Road, Jack".*
Bye bye, Shelton. Good riddance.
Each week, though, Indians.com beat writer Anthony Castrovince answers mail from fans. This week, he's answered a few questions about the Tribe's struggles lately. Sometimes I agree with him, other times, I don't. But, I'm going to try to answer this week's questions my own way. Maybe I can get some ideas out about how to make some positive change on this team to finally get them hitting.
With the Tribe offense needing a shot in the arm and the ever-changing roster order, isn't it time to move Grady Sizemore from the leadoff spot? At this point, what could it possibly hurt to try?
Isn't it time to move him to the cleanup spot? With 11 hrs and 30 rbis, he needs to be there. Will it happen? Not a chance. Wedgie is as stubborn as a mule. Just like he loves the leftie-righty bullpen matchups, he loves Grady in the leadoff spot. Yet, him constantly hitting solo homeruns and being stranded on base isn't going to help the Tribe offense. My suggestion would be to send down Asdrubal Cabrera. He's not hitting and he needs to work on adjusting his swing on a big league level. He hit last year because the big league pitchers didn't know how to pitch to him. Now that the pitchers have, he's making nothing but ugly swings and trying to pull the ball when he's truly a contact hitter. My suggestion would be to give Josh Barfield another chance. True, he's only hitting around .260 in Buffalo, but if given the proper motivation to try again, he might hit. We have enough defensive depth in the middle infield with Jamey Carroll that it gives Asdrubal the time to go back to Buffalo to fix his swing. I think if we insert Barfield or Dellucci in the leadoff spot and have them switch off from the 1 or 2 hole, we might get more production out of the top end of the lineup. Then, if you get Francisco-Sizemore-Martinez in the 3-4-5 slot, the Tribe might actually score some runs. Will this happen though: not a chance. Just something to think about, though.
Do the Indians have a team psychologist? I could use an appointment, with the way games have been going lately. But more materially, it seems like the persistence of the Indians' offensive struggles must be primarily mental. It's gone on too long and is affecting too many talented players for it to be anything else.
I don't really know it they're talented or not. Last year's offensive outburst could be a fluke. It could not be. But I think Pronk could use a psychologist. I don't know if the injuries are in his head or not because he hasn't been hitting since 2006.
How many more games will have to slide through the Indians' fingers before they do what they did in 2006 and start to gear up for next season and make some trades?
Until the Indians are 10+ games back, don't expect a trade. Our biggest trade bait, CC Sabathia, has struggled this year (though, he's done better lately but not many wins because of the Tribe bats.). If the Indians do make a trade, it'll be for a bat and not rebuilding purposes. As long as the Indians are not in the cellar before the All Star break, the Tribe is not going to be rebuilding.
You know, I didn't think I was going to miss Trot Nixon, but he kept the team loose. Now I don't see any of that veteran presence that doesn't let things get too high when you're winning or too low when you're not. These guys are not having fun. Who are the leaders on this team?
Trot Nixon is a bum. Thank God he's gone.
As for the leaders of this team, I think there are a few silent leaders on the team, leading by example. Their names are Cliff Lee and Grady Sizemore. Yet, despite this, I have to agree that someone needs to step up and play the important clubhouse role of being a leader in terms of morale. I could possibly see Victor Martinez or David Dellucci stepping into that role, but that has yet to happen. Where's Kenny Lofton when we need him?
What are the chances that us Indians fans will never have to see Andy Marte again when Travis Hafner gets off the disabled list, now that Shin-Soo Choo is back? Please tell me what I want to hear.
With the way Pronk's hitting, who knows. I for one and for giving Marte another chance. Give him a week straight playing 3rd and see what he can do consistently. I think the reason why no one is hitting it because they're all concerned about whether they're gonna keep their spot on the roster come tomorrow. I think that's the reason why Garko isn't hitting. I've never been one for platooning, though.
Also, I think if we get rid of Marte, he might turn into a Brian Giles type player. And we all know that story...
What's with Ryan Garko's new batting stance this year? Is there any particular reason he dips to the ground on a majority of his swings? Maybe he is practicing for the limbo party taking place at the end of June, because it certainly is not helping out his average.
He's swinging for the fence, plain and simple. I also think Peralta and Cabrera have that problem too. Once they start hitting for contact, rather than for the fence, the swing will correct itself.
Watching this hitting is awful. The batters have no plan, put themselves in bad counts and have poor overall at-bats. Something is not being communicated. Isn't it time for Derek Shelton's job to be on the line?
*Starts singing "Hit the Road, Jack".*
Bye bye, Shelton. Good riddance.
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