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Rather than discussing the fact that the Indians are currently in the midst of their longest losing streak since 1931 (making history!), I figured I would have a more forward looking thought on the 22-year old kid who continues to be the only spark amongst the entire big league club. 

Now with 89 at-bats, Michael Brantley continues to hit at a line of .337/.385/.371 with seven runs scored.  In last night’s loss, he – as a leadoff hitter – recorded two of the five runs batted in thanks to a clutch broken-bat single with two on.  The pitch he hit was recorded at 101 MPH from the arm of Detroits Justin Verlander, one of the better pitchers in the game today.  He also recorded his fourth stolen base of the season.  Alas, the runs scored off of Brantley’s bat were more than the Indians had scored off of Verlander over the course of the entire 2009 season (per AP).

Conventional wisdom says that a pitcher that throws with the same hand as that of the hitter, the pitcher has the advantage.  Yet, the left-handed Michael Brantley is hitting .550/.609/.650 against lefties through his brief career in the bigs. 

From a management persepective, it’s good to see the team handling Brantley’s position-playing well.  Despite the Grady Sizemore injury, the Eric Wedge continues to slot Brantley in at left field as this appears to be his long-term spot with the team. 

I know that things look very dismal right now, but an outfield of Brantley, a healthy Grady Sizemore and Shin-Soo Choo (who is quietly approaching a 20-20 season with an OPS just shy of .900), looks pretty darn good.  All of that talk regarding the “lack of power” in the corner is quickly alleviated by a centerfielder that can rake with the best of them when not doing so with a wonky elbow.  You have all three outfielders that could easily steal 20 bases at the top of the lineup, providing that much-desired (for lack of better term) “scrappy” lineup that just manufactures runs.

Anything outside of a sophomore slump will be a solid start to the 2010 season.  Assuming nothing outlandish happens between now and next April, a lineup of Brantley, Asdrubal Cabrera, Sizemore and Choo may very well be your one-through-four; something that would bring on zero complaints from most fans.

Of course, the only catch will be having a pitching staff that holds up their end of the bargain.  But for now, I’ll enjoy watching Brantley, regardless of what history this team continues to make in their losing ways.

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(AP Photo/Paul Battaglia)