Is it football season yet? The Indians seem to be in an inexorable regression where each night is a contest to outdo the embarrassing woes of the previous game. They have completely squandered a light schedule coming out of the All Star break but it’s how they have squandered that has been so soul-crushing.
Last night, on the heels of a 5 error, no-hitter by Ervin Santana, the Tribe was humiliated at home by last place Kansas City. Carlos Carrasco came completely unglued. He gave up 7 runs in just over 3 innings pitched. However, he didn’t exit because of poor performance. Carrasco threw right at the head of Billy Butler immediately after a Melky Cabrera grand slam put the game out of reach. Cabrera stood there and admired his bomb but Carrasco completely lost it – you can’t throw at someone above the shoulders and Carlos was rightly ejected immediately and criticized by Tribe media, including Rick Manning.
The benches cleared but nothing particularly riveting happened – as is typically the case with these situations in baseball. The purpose pitch was the focus of the post game media exchanges. Carrasco offered up a laughable explanation, “I wasn’t throwing at his head,” he said. “It was just a fastball that got away. I know it looks bad after the home run, but there’s nothing I can do.”
As he was leaving the field, Carrasco was heated and jawing at the Royals bench. I assumed it was intended for Melky but apparently the jawing was with Jeff Francoeur. Carlos has always been somewhat of a hothead and mental midget. He is certainly in a funk now as his strong first half has spiraled into a disaster, coming completely off the rails over the past month.
The Indians season is threatening to do the same. As the trade deadline approaches, the offense is at their worst and most embarrassing. While the Royals piled up run after run, the Indians were blanked for the second straight game – this time by Jeff Francis. On the bright side, at least they managed to get a few hits in this one.
Newcomer Kosuke Fukudome immediately acclimated himself well going 0 for 4 with a strikeout. Fukudome will continue play right field on a regular basis until Shin-Soo Choo returns (hopefully by mid-August).
The Indians come back tonight with Justin Masterson. The Royals will counter with Felipe Paulino. Masterson has been a hard-luck loser all year. Paulino is 1-8 this year with a 4.54 ERA – the Tribe has to get a piece and get back on track off this guy, right? They’ll have to or else your Cleveland Indians will be at .500 for the season.
