We feel it is well established by now that the Cleveland Indians are offensively challenged. They rank 11th in the American League in runs scored per game at 3.92, almost a half run below the league average of 4.37.
They are second last in on base percentage, 11th in slugging percentage, and 13th in OPS, ahead of just the Tigers and Mariners.
The pitching staff has dropped to 5th in ERA, springing a few leaks as Zach Plesac went down with an injury and whoever has pitched in the 4th and 5th spots in the rotation have not been effective.
We have pointed out the team has just two hitters over 800 in OPS, Jose Ramirez and Franmil Reyes, and the latter is out for perhaps two months with an oblique strain.
What maybe even worse is that Terry Francona and his staff have given 11 hitters with an OPS under 700 (the league average is 709 over 50 plate appearances.
We have complained and wondered why some of those players keep getting opportunities. Some of them haven’t performed up to league average for over two seasons.
There is a simple and yet, troubling reason why the front office hasn’t made a lot of changes. There isn’t exactly anyone at AAA Columbus who is banging down the door to get a big league shot.
Obviously, Owen Miller earned a shot by hitting .406 in 64 at bats, and yet he has struggled with the Tribe, getting just four hits in 32 at bats (.125).
Bradley Zimmer received the call last week, and after a tough start to the season, had rebounded to hit .267 with a 780 OPS. He has fanned 26 times in 75 appearances at the dish, but his defense and speed are tools needed for the big club.
Daniel Johnson was thought to be the closest to be ready at AAA to open the season, but he entered play on Monday batting just .197 and striking out 33 times in 87 plate appearances. He has walked 10 times and has a 720 OPS.
The Tribe’s #1 position prospect, Nolan Jones, has had problems in his first taste of AAA action. He’s hitting just .189 with a single home run thus far, and although he leads the Clippers with 16 walks, he too has had contact problems, whiffing a team high 39 times in 91 plate appearances.
Oscar Mercado, who had success with the Tribe in ’19, is hitting .170 with no homers and five runs batted in. His OPS is just 490.
The people’s choice from spring training, slugging first baseman Bobby Bradley, does lead the Clippers in homers with 7 and is tied for the team lead in RBIs with 17. He’s also hitting just .170 with only seven walks and still is having contact issues, fanning 30 times in 94 times at the plate.
The best hitter (besides Miller) at Columbus is 33-year-old veteran catcher Ryan Lavarnway, who is hitting .283 with six dingers and a 955 OPS. Young infielder Ernie Clement, only 25, has missed some time with injuries, but is hitting .353 with 7 doubles in 34 at bats. He was the 27th man in Sunday’s doubleheader, so is he getting close to a shot in the bigs?
Without alternatives in AAA, it is tough to move on from the players who have been with the team all season, even though they aren’t producing.
If someone could emerge in the minor leagues soon, there are opportunities awaiting them in Cleveland. Our bet is the front office is waiting for the same thing.
Cleveland Sports Perspective 