Category: Cleveland Indians (Page 93 of 96)

It’s really amazing to me how well the bullpen and starting pitching have been so far this season. If the hitting was just average, this team would be right there with the White Sox. Even last night, in a win, they left 13 men on base. I have never witnessed an entire team hitting slump (except Belliard) for this long…but then again, being a Cleveland sports fan, nothing surprises me much anymore…anybody want to ride motorcycles in a parking lot with me tonight?

“If you’re waiting for me to make a major change in the team, you can keep waiting. That major change is not coming now; it’s not coming at 40 games; it’s not coming probably at 80 games.”

These are the words of Mark Shapiro responding to questions about the Indians’ slow start and the feeling by some that changes need to be made to the roster. The article points out that Ronnie Belliard and Aaron Boone (hitting .123) are the only two players with double-digit RBI while “core” players like Victor Martinez and Travis Hafner haven’t produced the power numbers expected of them.

Shapiro has faith in the roster he’s constructed and believes this team will start hitting, and at this point I agree. Were guys like Martinez, Pronk, Casey Blake and Coco Crisp one-year wonders last year? Well, it’s highly doubtful that all of them were but sure, a couple of the guys may have overachieved last season. Shapiro even admitted in the article that while he thinks the offense will turn around, the “jury is still out” on several guys on the roster.

As to whom he may be referring to, I’m sure Boone, Blake and Ben Broussard are, as Shapiro put it, being evaluated but I think it’ll take more than 25 games to make Shapiro change his mind about Victor, Hafner and Crisp. Though, admittedly, Coco is on a shorter leash than Martinez and Hafner.

Travis Hafner went deep for the second-straight day Sunday but it wasn’t enough as the Indians lost to the Royals 6-5. Hafner’s two-run shot in the sixth sparked a five-run rally with the other three runs crossing the plate on Grady Sizemore’s homer four batters later. Scott Elarton again struggled, giving up five runs in six innings, though only three of those runs were earned. The ice-cold Aaron Boone, meanwhile, sat out his second-consecutive game with Jose Hernandez getting the start at third. Let’s hope the time off does him some good.

Just when it was starting to look really ugly for the Tribe, the pathetic Royals limped into town. C.C. Sabathia celebrated his new contract by combining on a 3-hit shutout, and the offense woke up for six runs. Boone went hitless again, so Wedge will have to address that situation soon. C.C. on the other hand looks awesome. Hopefully the Tribe can sweep the Royals and get the season back on track.

Okay, enough is enough. In last night’s pathetic display of baseball that is becoming all too common in this town, the Tigers, in the 8th inning, INTENTIONALLY walked the winning run to first base in order to face the worst hitting third baseman in baseball, Aaron Boone. Boone, obviously not bothered by this utter lack of respect for his hitting ability, then cooperated by striking out on 4 pitches. Look, either this guy is still injured or he’s totally lost it. It’s not like he was ever that great a hitter in the first place — he has a career .266 B.A. — but he’s downright killing this team now. Last night he left another five men on base as he went 0-4 with 3 K’s. It’s time to sit this guy and let him either get healthy or figure out what’s wrong with his swing. Again, I am not quite sure if Wedge and this front office, or most fans in this city, for that matter, understand this simple fact: although it’s early, THESE GAMES STILL COUNT.