Going into the weekend wrap around series against the Tigers, we heard many fans of the Cleveland Indians saying the worst the Tribe could do was split the series.
Apparently, anything less than that and these people thought the Indians would be out of the race.
Terry Francona’s bunch lost three out of four contests, yet they are just 3-1/2 games out of the top spot in the AL Central, with 73 games remaining. There is almost three months left in the season, so if the Tribe can make up one game a month, they would be right there for the division lead.
We understand that Cleveland fans panic where at all possible, but a quick check of the American League standing show the Orioles 4-1/2 games behind the Red Sox in the Eastern Division, and the Yankees five games back.
Do you think either of those teams think they are facing long odds to make the post-season? Of course not.
That isn’t to say the Indians’ front office should be feeling good about the ballclub either. The pitching staff needs bolstering, particularly needing an innings eater to give some rest to a bullpen that has been worked hard thus far.
Right now, Francona and pitching coach Mickey Calloway have two starting pitchers that have trouble completing six innings, and another spot in the rotation that is currently unoccupied, at least until Zack McAllister returns from his finger injury.
Ubaldo Jimenez is the ultimate “five and fly” guy these days. For the most part, he has been okay, keeping his team in the game most of the time, but when the fifth inning ends, he is usually around 100 pitches. And when he starts to get fatigued, he starts walking batters, so the manager has to get him out of there.
Francona and Calloway are also being careful with lefty Scott Kazmir, removing him from the game when he gets near 100 pitches. Since, Kazmir spent the last couple of years on baseball’s scrap heap, that’s probably not a bad idea.
GM Chris Antonetti is looking for a good starter, according to reports, looking at the Cubs’ Matt Garza and supposedly the Brewers’ Yovani Gallardo.
The latter is having an off-year in 2013 (7-8. 4.85 ERA), but won 13, 14, 17 and 16 games in the four years prior with ERAs under 4.00 in a hitter’s park.
Garza has gone 5-1 in ’13 with an ERA of 3.22, but has a plus fastball. He’s had some arm problems, and is only 62-62 for his career, despite outstanding stuff.
Another guy to look at is the Cubs’ Jeff Samardzija, who is 5-8 with a 3.54 ERA. To us, he could be a guy like Doug Fister is for the Tigers. He blossomed once he left a losing organization.
The former Notre Dame wide receiver (he was Brady Quinn’s favorite target) throws in the high 90 MPH range and averages a strikeout per inning on the season. Away from Wrigley Field, he has a 2.71 ERA.
The price tag for Samardzija might be a little higher than it would be for Garza, who will be a free agent at the end of the year, but he’s only 28 years old and can’t be a free agent until 2016.
He would be #1 on our wish list if the Cubs make him available.
Another starter is needed pretty quick to aid this beleaguered staff. Hopefully, Antonetti doesn’t have to wait until the deadline to make a move.
Until then, relax Tribe fans. There’s a lot of baseball left to be played.
MW
Cleveland Sports Perspective 