One of Terry Francona’s best (and most famous) assets as a manager is his patience. Fans simply don’t understand this. As soon as a player has two hitless games, they are ready to try someone else.
It doesn’t work that way over the ups and downs of a 162 game, six month, Major League Baseball season.
Heck, right now, Francisco Lindor and Jose Ramirez are going through a down period. Lindor is 10 for 47 during the past two weeks, and Ramirez is 4 for 22 over the last week.
No one thinks they should be replaced or platooned, they are among the best players in the game.
Every player has ups and downs during the long season, and Francona understands that, and gives players who have performed for him in the past the benefit of the doubt.
And really, that’s the way it should be.
However, sometimes Francona’s famous patience develops into stubbornness. We are sure that’s a benefit for him in the clubhouse. Players want to know the manager has their backs, and aren’t going to go away from them at the first sign of trouble.
Jason Kipnis and Cody Allen are two players who should have Tito thinking that it might just be time to go in a different direction.
Both have been with the Indians since the day Francona accepted the managerial job in the fall of 2012, Kipnis coming up in 2011 and Allen in ’12.
Kipnis made his first All Star team in 2013, and he and Carlos Santana were the best offensive players on the roster. Allen led the team in appearances (yes, even more than Bryan Shaw!) as the primary set up man for Chris Perez.
Both were key players on the American League Championship team in 2016, Kipnis’ home run in Game 5 of the World Series, put away to contest that put the Tribe one game away from a world title.
Allen formed a tremendous back end of the bullpen duo with Andrew Miller, and saved six games in the post-season.
Unfortunately, Kipnis hasn’t been the same player since that World Series. He battled injuries in ’17, and hit just .232 (.291 OBP) with a 705 OPS a year ago, and this season, his number are worse, at .218 (although he is walking more–.307 OBP) and a 654 OPS.
Remember, he played the outfield in the ALDS because the Tribe was rolling with Jose Ramirez playing second, his natural position, and the combination of Yandy Diaz and Giovanny Urshela at third.
Why not give that a look again?
As for Allen, his strikeout rate is at a career low, his walk rate and home run rate are at a career high. He has pitched in over 67 games five consecutive years, and perhaps his arm is showing a little fatigue.
Francona leaned on him a lot early in the season when the bullpen was in shambles with Miller out. Perhaps that’s taken it toll too.
With Allen, there aren’t really alternatives. The only other right-handers in the ‘pen are Dan Otero and Adam Cimber, who struggles vs. left-handed hitters.
But maybe it’s time to give Allen a week to 10 days off, and see if an improvement occurs. After all, the Indians have all but put away the Central Division. Until then, Tito has Miller and Brad Hand to close, and he has used Hand in that role since coming over from San Diego.
Patience is a virtue. However, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.
That’s the fine line Terry Francona sits on these days. It’s probably not a comfortable seat.
MW
Cleveland Sports Perspective 