Which route should I take this time after another loss and a sweep at the hands of the Oakland Athletics?
Should I discuss how after another uninspiring outing, Justin Masterson continues to be unimpressive while catching about 2% of the heat Ubaldo Jimenez does, despite the fact that they have been essentially the same exact pitcher most of the season?
Masterson couldn’t get out of the fifth inning, giving up eight runs on eight hits, including three home runs to an A’s team that is 12th out of 14 AL teams in runs, 13th in batting average, 13th in on base percentage, and 12th in OPS.
“Without a doubt I’m just as perplexed as anybody,” said Masterson. “I feel good. Then I look up and I’m not where I want to be.”
We’ve seen way too many starts like this from Masterson this season. He was supposed to be the ace, the work horse, the stopper on this team. Instead, he has spent the season searching for his mechanics and pitching like a middle of the rotation guy.
Should I go in on Shin-Soo Choo, who is the master of driving in runs with groundouts to second or when the Indians are trailing by seven runs?
I’ve watched Choo closely during this horrific run. I have come to the conclusion that he is playing like a guy who cannot wait to get out of town. And if you don’t think that his agent Scott Boras, who controls the game of baseball for his players and certain teams that fall under his spell (hello Detroit Tigers, Los Angeles Angels, Texas Rangers), is going to force a Choo trade this winter, than you are fooling yourself. He is as good as gone – the Tribe has no choice – and he is acting like it.
Yes, he drove in three runs yesterday, but his RBIs of late seem to arrive when the game is easily in the bag for the opponent.
Should I talk about how Tony Sipp went from an extremely reliable, late inning lefty a year and a half ago to a guy who has become a walk machine gas can?
Sipp faced six batters in the seventh – he walked four of them. It was just another in a long line of subpar performances from Sipp, who Manager Manny Acta flat out cannot use in key situations (not that there are many these days). In his last 16 appearances, the Indians have lost 15. Then again, as a team, the Indians are 5-27 in their last 32 games.
Should I talk about how the Indians continue to look completely asleep and look like a team that cannot wait for the season to be over, but unfortunately have a month of games still to play?
You can see it in the players faces. You can hear it in their voices. The losses are killing their spirit. Again, can you really blame them?
I love Acta, the person. I really truly feel for him. This debacle is far from his fault. He is bringing a water pistol to a machine gun fight. I just cannot see how he can make it through this.
“I’ve never been through a month like this anywhere,” Acta said. “Not in Washington, the minor leagues or winter ball, either as a coach or a manager.”
Should I talk about how nobody is coming out to see this team because of the complete and utter distrust of the front office and ownership?
Yesterday’s attendance was again listed at 14,500, but we all know there wasn’t even close to that number actually in the park. It was a gorgeous day for baseball, but with schools back in session and a listless team short on talent on the field, the walk up crowds just won’t be there. I know I am beating a dead horse, but even if there are significant changes made this offseason, nobody is going to show up in 2013 either.
Seriously, I beg you, find me something, anything, even the smallest morsel of good news or positives that we can talk about with this team. It is darn near impossible.
I’m going to try.
You could say that they scored seven runs on 10 hits yesterday. Great. They also went 3-14 with runners and allowed 12 runs and 13 hits.
You could say that they never gave up on this one, despite trailing 10-3 after six innings. Then again, they put themselves in a 6-1 in the fourth inning before the 10-3 sixth inning deficit.
Hey here’s a positive, Matt LaPorta got a day off. But Casey Kotchman and his .234 batting average and the season-long slumping Carlos Santana were the first baseman and DH yesterday. They combined for one hit.
Remember only July 7th when Lou Marson was hitting .297 and we all thought he should get more playing time? Since then he has gone 10-62 ( .161).
See, this is really hard….
Ah, forget it… I give up.
Want more good news? The AL West’s top dog, the Texas Rangers arrive for a series this weekend at Progressive Field. The Indians have lost 15 of 16. Things aren’t going to get better any time soon.
“We’re ready to put this month away,” Second baseman Jason Kipnis said. “I’m not saying the new month will automatically bring new stuff — we’ve still got a lot of work to do. But I think this month, we’re ready to be done with it and wash our hands clean of it.”
Amen.
