Tribe Questions

 

The Cleveland Indians head to Minnesota for a four game series this weekend, and then go to Chicago for three more with the White Sox before coming home for a big three game set against the Yankees.  Our thoughts and prayers certainly go out to those people who lost loved ones in the bridge collapse in the Twin Cities.  As they head on the road, I have some questions about the Tribe heading into the last third of the season.

 

Will Asdrubal Cabrera be here soon?  At the very least, the infielder will be activated prior to September 1st to make him eligible for post season play.  After hitting over .300 at Akron, Cabrera was moved to Class AAA last week, and has played both SS and 2B at Buffalo.  It certainly seems like the Tribe is grooming him to take over the utility infield duties from Mike Rouse.  Since Cabrera is reported to be a slick glove, could Jhonny Peralta be moving to the hot corner sooner than later?  There is no question that if Cabrera can handle himself offensively at Buffalo, he could prove to be an alternative to Rouse and/or a slumping Josh Barfield.

 

Was Shoppach’s homer was worst thing to happen?  Remember June 26th when Shoppach hit a three run homer to cap a five run ninth to beat Oakland?  Since then, he has gone 1 for 26, seemingly trying to hit every pitch out of the yard.  Early in the season, the catcher was hitting pitches to right center with great success, getting his average into the .380 range, albeit in a part time role.  He needs to get back to that approach in the last two months to help strengthen the Tribe bench.

 

Should Hafner have bunted?  In Wednesday’s disheartening 9-6 loss to Texas, Travis Hafner came to the plate with a man on and one out with the Tribe trailing by three in the tenth inning.  The Rangers put on the shift, having 3B Ramon Vazquez playing almost behind second base.  Pronk showed bunt on the first pitch before eventually striking out.  He should have followed his instincts and laid one down.  I don’t advocate this on a regular basis, since Hafner is the Tribe’s best power hitter.

 

But in this situation, he should have taken what the Rangers were giving.  The Indians needed another baserunner to get the tying run to the plate.  Even if Pronk hits one seven miles, they would still be trailing 9-8.  My question is why wasn’t the entire coaching staff and Eric Wedge telling him to drop a bunt down or at least just shorten up his swing and take the ground ball single?  Those are the kind of things that get magnified in a pennant race.  The Tribe may not have come back to win, but the smart baseball play would have been to take the single in that situation.

 

Why Laffey against the Twins?  The Tribe could have started Aaron Laffey at home against the Rangers on Wednesday, giving the rookie a chance to make his first major league start against a non-contender.  It also would have given the entire rotation an extra day of rest, which might be needed at this time of the year.

 

However, going against Minnesota will allow the southpaw to go against a lighter hitting team whose best hitters (Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau) both hit left handed.  I guess we will see how this one works out tomorrow.

 

KM