The Indians are scuffling coming out of the All Star break, going just 6-6 in the twelve games played since the Mid-Summer Classic in San Francisco. We remain just 1-1/2 games behind the Tigers in the Central Division, and since the Mariners and Twins are struggling as well, they’ve increased their lead in the Wild Card to three over the Mariners. However, look who’s charging…The Yankees have closed to within 4-1/2 games of the Tribe in their effort to make the post season yet again.
Last night, the team wasted a very good outing by C.C. Sabathia, losing to Boston 1-0. The big lefty allowed just one run in seven innings, and that was on a flyball to left that should have been caught by Ben Francisco, but instead was a two out single by Mike Lowell. The Tribe had opportunities, but Grady Sizemore was thrown out at third on a grounder to short in the first, and in the fourth after Ryan Garko led off with a double, Jhonny Peralta swung at the first pitch and grounded to short, not moving the runner. These are the lack of fundamentals that drive fans crazy, and costs the ballclub in close games. Of course, most of the fans at Fenway Park West, I mean Jacobs Field, blame Eric Wedge for this. But, both Sizemore and Peralta know better.
The truth is the Tribe hasn’t hit since the break. Outside of the red hot Garko, Victor Martinez, and Franklin Gutierrez, the offense is not producing. Check out these stats since July 13th:
Grady Sizemore 12 for 51
Travis Hafner 10 for 45
Josh Barfield 8 for 39
Ben Francisco 2 for 16
Casey Blake 12 for 49
Jhonny Peralta 12 for 42, but just one extra base hit
Trot Nixon 7 for 25, but just one extra base hit
Since the starting pitching is on a downward turn, it’s more important than ever that the hitting produces. That becomes problematic when 2/3’s of the line up isn’t hitting. And when you aren’t hitting, you can’t run yourselves out of potential rallies, either. Based on track records, some of these guys will get hot, but Nixon hasn’t hit since the middle of May, and Hafner has been in a funk since May 1st. When Eric Wedge goes to his bench to rest one of his infielders, he gets a worse hitter in Mike Rouse, so there’s no relief there.
With two more against Boston and Minnesota coming in, the Indians have five more games against teams with very good pitching. Again, the pressure on Sabathia and Carmona to pitch great is increasing, and it gets even worse with the lack of runs being scored. If the Tribe can start winning again, they could put the Twins out of the mix after this weekend.
KM
Cleveland Sports Perspective 