Random Thoughts Aug19'07

Thoughts On The Tribe

Up The Middle
If he hits, I would play Asdrubal Cabrera at shortstop and move Jhonny Peralta to second. Peralta has limited range for a shortstop but an above average bat. Cabrera has a reputation as having an above average glove for a shortstop. It makes sense to have the stronger middle infielder at shortstop instead of second.

Of course, the Indians probably won’t consider such a move in the middle of a pennant race. They also don’t want to offend Peralta. Such is the business of pro sports today – where we have to worry about a player’s psyche. It’s not enough to make a seven figure annual salary. We also can’t hurt their feelings.

However, look for such a move prior to the start of the 2008 season. It makes too much sense not to.

The other option is to move Casey Blake to second (alla Jeff Kent). Blake might be a good enough athlete to pull it off. However, with the scenario, you are asking two players to play new positions – Peralta at third and Blake at second. That might be too much movement.

Of course this is all based on the belief that Cabrera is the real deal defensively as we’ve been led to believe. As for Josh Barfield, he simply has to hit to get back in the picture. His 2007 season to date has been less than stellar. The good news is he’s young. The bad news is his confidence can’t be too high right now.

#3 Hole
Speaking of hurt feelings, Eric Wedge finally moved Grady Sizemore out of the #1 hole and stuck him third. I say “stuck him third” because with Hafner’s sub par year, the Indians’ line up has been unproductive for some time. They currently have no one to plug into that hole. Sizemore strikes out too much to be a true #3 hitter. Martinez is their best hitter right now, but they have him covering the cleanup spot.

We were concerned when the Tribe committed $14 million a year to a DH. Hopefully, this is a one-year slump for Hafner. The Indians can’t afford their highest paid player under-performing. It hurts them on the field, causing shockwaves with the rest of the line-up, and it puts a huge rip in the team’s pocketbook.

In The Clutch
As a team, the Tribe has underachieved offensively in the clutch this season. That’s not a bulletin. Most of the starters have worse batting averages with runners in scoring position than they do otherwise.

This is, for the most part, the same group that wilted down the stretch in 2005. The excuse we were given that year was that they were “young.” So they were given a pass by most fans and media.

What’s the excuse this time around if they don’t reach the post-season?

Granted, management hasn’t done much to help, but the players are the ones who swing the bats, throw the pitches and catch the ball. Many of these players have been given long-term financial security.

It’s time they deliver. Otherwise, they will get a reputation as players who put up decent numbers but can’t close the deal when it counts most.

You can come to your own conclusion as to what that means.

Wedge
Finally, Eric Wedge’s move not to bunt Peralta in the bottom of the eighth inning, in a tie game against Detroit with a runner on second and no one out earlier in the week, was simply a mistake.

That situation cried for a bunt.

First, Peralta is not a contact hitter. He strikes out too much – meaning he doesn’t handle the bat well enough to be expected to move the runner over on his own.

Secondly, Peralta wasn’t swinging the bat well at the time – another reason why green-lighting him made no sense.

Third, it’s the safe/right play in that situation at home. You get the bunt down and put a runner on third with one out and force the Tigers to play the infield in – making the next hitter much more dangerous.

And please don’t tell me it would not have mattered because the next two hitters after Peralta struck out. With a runner on third and one out, that changes the pitch selection, as well as possibly forcing the opposing manager (Jim Leyland) to walk the next two hitters to load the bases to set up the force.

And if the excuse is Peralta is not a good bunter – then have him work at it! Perhaps if he continues to fail at it and hears enough boos, he’ll work harder at it and get better at doing it.

Wedge had a meltdown. There’s no other way to explain it. And this team can’t afford that from their manager during a pennant race. I hope he has a coach or two around him with enough guts to give their two cents in that situation. If they all agreed that was the right move at the time - having Peralta swing away - then the Indians are in more trouble than we think.

I’m all for thinking out of the box – in fact, I’m a huge proponent of it. But that wasn’t the time for it.

Lions vs. Browns
I'll make this short and sweet.

The defense should be in the middle of the pack in the league - much like a year ago.

The first half against the Lions was brutal to watch - comical at times with the offense's inability to even gets plays off in time and false starts.

Dorsey showed why he's the second best quarterback currently on this roster.

We won't mention the other quarterbacks. We've covered that ad nauseum in past posts.