The Offense is Bad

It has been a couple days as I have not been able to bring myself to talking about how bad this team looks offensively right now. We have lost six in a row (still only 4.5 out of first) and are just getting off scoring 4 runs in the series against the Chicago White Sox.

The latest loss came Thursday against Mark Buehrle. It must be really nice for an opposing pitcher to know they are facing the Indians; a drop in ERA is on the way. Aaron Laffey opposed Buehrle and pitched very well (7 IP, 2 ER, 6 K), but of course it was another start wasted by the bats.

Offensively in the game, Grady and Francisco provided the only hits with the only run coming on Grady’s double in the third. Hafner 0-4 (.216), Garko 0-2 (.245), Blake 0-3 (.224), Peralta 0-2 (.216), Cabrera 0-2 (.172).

Cabrera is apparently still playing because of his defense. The way he is hitting might be tolerable if he was playing brilliant defense at short-stop but he only plays there when Peralta needs a rest. Second base is not as premium a position that we can just give at-bats away. His glove isn’t so important that a struggling offense can continue to carry a .172/.272/.234 hitter. I’m not sure even Ozzie Smith would be playable if he hit like Cabrera is right now. Of course, the options we have available to replace Cabrera do not fill the Indians or their fans with a lot of confidence. However, we have to give Josh Barfield another shot.

As for the others who can’t hit. At what point to do the Indians have to seriously consider giving Michael Aubrey a shot? We probably are not there yet, but Garko and Hafner can not continue to hit like this without letting Aubrey see what he can do. Unfortunately, there does not appear to be any viable replacements for Casey Blake. Marte hasn’t proven he can hit and most of the available 3b (Inge, Fields, Crede – are they any better than Blake?) are unlikely to be traded within the division during the season. The Dodgers don’t seem to want to give Andy LaRoche a shot; maybe we could get a deal done there. Shin-Soo Choo should be up soon to play outfield. At which point the Indians should consider doing to David Dellucci what they did with Jason Michaels. I was high on Dellucci going into the season and even for a while during the year, but it is obvious he is not the same hitter he was a couple years ago and is a terrible right fielder.

At least Joe Borowski is coming back tonight!! Don’t have to worry about him blowing save opportunities if we never give the bullpen a lead. The way our interim-closers pitched made it feel like Joe never was on the DL.