In the site's article about last night's 4-1 loss to Chicago, they named Grady Sizemore as Cleveland's "Player of the Game." Sizemore went 0-for-4, but apparently earned the designation by driving in the Tribe's only run. Pretty meager stats, but what's an editor to do these days? The Indians' bats are as silent as a Charlie Chaplin film.
And so it goes in this strange odyssey that is the 2008 season.
Last night it was four hits, one run, and yet another wasted outing by a Cleveland starter. Once again it was C.C. Sabathia, who surrendered only two runs -- both on solo home runs -- in seven innings while striking out eight. The score looked worse because Jensen Lewis blew up in two innings of relief.The problem with writing a column like this, during seasons like this, is that there's little to say that readers don't already know. Pitching's great. Defense is OK. Hitting stinks. Next?
However, some ominous signs are developing. Jhonny Peralta's on-again, off-again career is apparently in an off-again season. He went .292 with 24 home runs and 78 RBIs in 2005, dropped .257-13-68 in '06, rebounded to .270-21-72 last year, and so far is stumbling along at .225-8-15.
But hey, he should be really good next year.
Travis Hafner has been struggling for so long that it might be time to face facts. Either something's wrong, or he just can't hit like he used to. That's rather hard to fathom after the numbers he put up from 2004 to 2006, when he averaged 34 homers and 111 RBIs while batting over .300 each season. Given that track record, Eric Wedge has to wait for him to try to work out of it -- but how long can Wedge afford to wait?
Peralta and Hafner are symbolic of what ails the entire lineup. There may be no quick fixes, other than to bring Shin-Soo Choo up from Buffalo when he's ready and see if he can team with Ben Francisco to pump some life into the offense. Barring that, GM Mark Shapiro will have to consider a trade or two to overhaul what has become a shockingly anemic attack.
"I know coming up soon we're going to explode," said Sabathia after the game. Well, that was nice of him. Of course, he might also want to add that if "we" don't, "we" can all expect to see him in another uniform next season. It can't be satisfying to lose as many games as Sabathia has over the years because of no run support.
The hitters have to get it done. That's what they're paid to do -- millions of dollars a year, at that. Wedge and the coaching staff can only do so much. It's up to the guys in uniform.
5 comments:
Its a long season, a marathon not a sprint. The tribe's bats have been silent and C.C. has gotten off to a rough start. That being said they are only 2.5 games out of first place in the Central. I have a feeling as long as they stay in the hunt the bats will come around along with C.C. Throw in the start Cliff Lee has had and they will be there at the end. Go Tribe!!!!!!
Long season in danger of getting longer, if you ask me. Everybody thought the bats were rolling in late April and early May. But that turned out to be a tease. Our scouts should know what other team's scouts know, and other team's scouts have figured out the weaknesses in the Tribe lineup. That includes Hafner. Here's hoping they can turn it around, though.
That could be but they came on last year. In my defence my knowledge of baseball is pretty much limited to the starting lineup of the Pittsburgh Pirates of the early 90's.
Common sense would seem to say that the Indians will start hitting. But I'm starting to wonder. It's almost June, after all. Great pitching overcomes a lot but failure is contagious in baseball. Sooner or later if the Indians don't start hitting the pitching will go downhill also. After a while the pressure of having to carry the team gets to you. Somethings got to give.
Even if this team stays in the hunt for the Central Division crown, does anyone reasonably expect them to compete for the AL title? And if they can't win it all, then they'd be better off trading CC now and acquiring some prospects. Hey, if CC's your man, get him back through free agency (right!).
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