Lay Off Dellucci For Now

The Tribe returns home this evening for a seven game home stand against the Oakland A’s, Boston Red Sox, and Detroit Tigers.  A key home stand this early in the year, indeed.  Hopefully, the bats get going, and the burden that has been placed on the starting pitching will be lessened.  The twelve hits gathered by Cleveland hitters in the last game of the Angel series is a good sign.  Perhaps some of the hitters are getting back in the groove.

As usual, the fans are starting to develop some whipping boys because of the team’s so-so start, although 4-5 after nine games isn’t bad.  Some of the criticism is merited, much of it is not.  The main target for people is the leftfield platoon of David Dellucci and Jason Michaels, and it is amazing that much of the vitriol is reserved for Dellucci.  Sure, he isn’t batting .300, but he is drawing walks.  His on-base percentage is .474, meaning he is getting on in almost half of his at bats.  More importantly, it means he is not making outs in those plate appearances.

Meanwhile, Jason Michaels is hitting .095 and has walked just twice.  Granted, he’s hit in tough luck so far, but the bottom line is he is contributing nothing at the plate.  It has been written on the DiaTribe that it is Michaels who is keeping Ben Francisco and Andy Marte out of the lineup, and I agree.  A left field platoon of Casey Blake and Dellucci with Marte at third couldn’t give the team less production than it is getting now.  The Indians need to find out if Andy Marte can be a contributor at the major league level.

There is another reason to give Marte a chance is his defense.  Yes, he made a ton of errors in spring training.  However, he has always been rated as an above average defender at the position.  Blake had a good season with the glove last season, but remember, the Indians signed Aaron Boone a few years ago for a reason.  Blake made over 20 errors at third base in 2004, and he has been an adventure at the hot corner so far in 2008. 

Another recurring problem for the offense is the strike out.  Cleveland ranks third in the AL in whiffing this season, behind Boston and Oakland, each of who have played one extra game.  Travis Hafner has struck out 11 times this year, followed by Grady Sizemore with 10.  The only Indians who have walked more than they have fanned are Dellucci and Ryan Garko.  Striking out does not allow a team to drive in runs even when making an out.  The Tribe could have added on during their ninth inning rally against the Angels on Monday, but Sizemore struck out with the bases loaded.  An extra run could have given Joe Borowski a bigger cushion.

The Cleveland attack has had problems so far this year, but one of those problems isn’t really David Dellucci.  We would all like him to hit .400 with 35 HR’s this year, but at least for now, he’s been fairly productive.  If you want to complain about Michaels, or the fact that Franklin Gutierrez has one hit since opening day, then fine.  There are other troubles right now than the veteran outfielder.

KM