Breakdown
The Indians recent play is cause for concern.
It's not just because of the team's streaky play. It's because the Tigers are better, and maybe the Twins will be better. If the Indians don't start improving, particularly on the road, they could be toast, and fast.
The problem with Cleveland has been the same for a number of years. It isn't that one or two guys go cold. It's as if the team gets a bug, and it spreads through the lineup.
Ryan Garko is struggling. Josh Barfield has been off a little at the plate. Casey Blake is coming off a 26-game hitting streak, but he doesn't drive in runs. Trot Nixon is swinging the bat like retirement is one double play ball away. Jason Michaels is Jason Michaels, and David Dellucci is hurt, but no one has noticed.
The biggest problem, though, is Travis Hafner. I really thought, going into this season, that Hafner was slump-proof. That's because since 2004, he had been.
The designated hitter slammed 75 homers over the past two seasons. He drove in 117 runs last year, when he was one of the five best hitters in the game.
This season, Hafner looks lost.
I get on Blake all the time for not hitting with runners in scoring position, but the fact is, Hafner is hurting the team more there than Casey ever could.
Hafner is hitting .194 with runners in scoring position, and .125 with two outs and RISP.
But perhaps what's most surprising is he's hitting .222 (2-9) with the bases loaded, a spot where he has thrived in his career. In fairness, that's probably not enough at-bats for a fair sample.
When Hafner didn't homer in Spring Training, most of us thought it was an abberation. But as of June 25, not only does he have just 10 homers, but he hasn't hit one in almost a month, when the Indians were in Kansas City.
Cleveland doesn't have enough hitters to overcome a Hafner off-year.
The Indians might as well be tied to Victor Martinez's back. It doesn't matter if he plays first or catcher -- the guy is having a great season.
If the Indians rebound, Martinez could qualify as an MVP candidate. It's not just that he has14 homers and a .314 batting average. It's that he comes through when the team needs him most.
His homer against the Nationals Saturday saved the Indians from a sweep. He has 62 RBIs and has a .403 RISP average. That's stunning.
The Indians may be their most effective with Martinez at first and Kelly Shoppach catching. Shoppach is showing he may be more than just a backup catcher. Any backup hitting .373 is earning his keep.
The same can't be said for utility infielder Mike Rouse. I had never even heard of the guy before he showed up in Spring Training, and now I know why.
He's a backup and in many ways inconsequential, so I don't want to lay into him. But Rouse has struggled to stay above a .100 batting average. You could bring Jeff Manto out of retirement and he'd hit better than that. As for his defense, he's OK, but no one will confuse him with Juan Castro any time soon.
So why is he on the roster? Only manager Eric Wedge knows for sure. And if the PD's Paul Hoynes is correct, Rouse won't be going anywhere.
The Indians have an eight-game homestand starting tonight against Oakland. We should have a better idea after its conclusion whether the Indians will contend for a title, or just attain (GM Mark Shapiro voice on) "an acceptable win total for this market."
One day I'd like to tell Shapiro just how insulting that phrase is, since you have to pay big money to see a team which takes satisfaction in mere decency. Until then, I'll sit and wait.