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Who are you & What have you done with our Tribe?

Posted on: June 2, 2008 9:25 am
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The Cleveland Indians play well in odd number years lately. 

  • 2004: 80-82
  • 2005: 93-69
  • 2006: 78-84
  • 2007: 96-66
  • 2008: 25-31

I don't get it.  That lineup hasn't been much different over the past few years, but seems to be getting worse.  Once the Royals took a 1-0 lead, I knew the Tribe was going to lose.  Every single player cannot hit.  It's amazing how good the same team could look last year and how bad they can look this year.

I read Terry Pluto yesterday in the Plain Dealer and he mentioned the two trades that have killed the Indians:  Getting rid of Brandon Phillips and then trying to right their wrong by trading Kevin Kouzmanoff for Josh Barfield.  Even without the Barfield trade, an infield with Jhonny Peralta at 3B, Asdrubal Cabrera at SS, and Brandon Phillips at 2B would be a much better upgrade than what we have today.  Why is Jamey Carroll getting at-bats that Josh Barfield should be getting?

It's time for a drastic move, I'm afraid...

 

 

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Category: MLB
Tags: Asdrubal Cabrera, Brandon Phillips, Cleveland Indians, Kevin Kouzmanoff
 
Comments

Since: Apr 25, 2007
Posted on: June 2, 2008 4:57 pm
 

Who are you & What have you done with our Tribe?

I actually like Casey Blake a lot.  He should be our utilityman though.  Casey can play anywhere pretty well, he just can't play in one place very well!

Since: Oct 19, 2007
Posted on: June 2, 2008 1:25 pm
 

Who are you & What have you done with our Tribe?

I hadn't really thought about the every other year thing, but you're clearly right.  I hope this blog doesn't doom their 2008 season!  I don't think Peralta hits quite well enough to play third.  I take it your not a Blake fan.

This year, the starting pitching has been excellent, the relief pitching poor to mediocre, and the hitting terrible.  In the good odd years the starting pitching was very good, closer scary but generally reliable, other relief good, and hitting just enough.  Just enough that is until the late September series against Texas and Chicago in 2005 when the tribe didn't hit and missed the playoffs.  Just enough in 2007 until they couldn't score and win one game to go to the World Series.  How frustrating. 

They are probably going to have to trade from their strength to acquire some hitting.  It makes me nervous that they will probably weaken their pitching depth and quality.  Let's hope in the end they don't wind up with a team that can't hit or pitch.  lol

 



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