A Bad Trip Shouldn't Worry Tribe Fans

 

Because of yesterday’s loss to the Oakland A’s, I’m sure there are many baseball fans in Cleveland a little down on their beloved Tribe.  The Indians were one pitch away from a split of the ten game trip, and another series win.  But, Eric Chavez singled and Milton Bradley homered to tie the game and then Russell Branyan, I mean Jack Cust belted a three run dinger to win the game.  However, it is not the end of the world.

 

First, the Indians are still 21-14 which computes to a .600 winning percentage.  If you win at that rate for the entire year, you will win 96 games.  Eric Wedge’s crew still has the third best record in the American League, just a game and a half behind the red hot Tigers in the Central Division.  They have that mark despite Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner not swinging the bat particularly well.  Outside of a week and a half in late April, Pronk has struggled, and Sizemore is drawing walks, but his average is hovering around the .250 mark.  After the first week of the season, the centerfielder is also not driving the ball.  Remember, he had over 80 extra base hits last season.

 

I was thinking after Nick Swisher popped up for the second out, that Joe Borowski is not as much like Bob Wickman as we thought.  Borowski gets a lot of 1-2-3 ninth innings.  Wicky was always giving up a hit, and then walking a guy before getting the last out.  Of course, two batters later, I was shaking my head.  Borowski now has an ERA of 9.00 for the season.  However, if not for yesterday’s game and the debacle at Yankee Stadium, the closer has pitched 13-2/3 frames and allowed just five runs, a 3.29 ERA.  I know you can’t eliminate those performances, but it shows how volatile a relievers’ ERA can be.

 

Now for the real story from yesterday’s game.  The next time the A’s and Tribe hook up, Bradley should wear a suit of armor up to the plate because he will get drilled by one of the Tribe hurlers.  The former Indian glared into the dugout after his game tying homer, showing up Wedge.  That’s a no-no.  He also hot dogged it around the bases.  I’m sure Bradley was very proud of himself after the dinger for sticking it to the team that dealt him, but you can’t stare into the dugout at the opposing team’s skipper without repercussions.  I’m sure Bradley will be all upset about getting nailed, but he shouldn’t be.  That’s baseball etiquette.

 

Apparently, the Tribe will try to get Jeremy Sowers straightened out by skipping his next turn in the rotation.  Sowers will not start until Saturday against the Reds at Jacobs Field.  Paul Byrd, C.C. Sabathia, and Fausto Carmona will hook up against Minnesota.  It was good to see Jason Davis dealt to Seattle since Mark Shapiro has made some nice deals with the Mariners.  They picked up Shin-Soo Choo for Ben Broussard, and dealt Eduardo Perez to pick up a decent prospect in Asdrubal Cabrera.  Another deal like those two wouldn’t be bad.

 

Hopefully the Tribe will start swinging the bats better this week as they start a home stand before heading to Detroit next week.  It would be nice to get a couple of laughers to protect the bullpen a little bit.  Those guys could use a little time off.

 

KM