Cleveland Indians in Last after Trouncing: How Low Can You Go?

The Indians have hit rock bottom, literally.  One game up on the Tigers for last place, and they gave away their cushion without even a whimper on Wednesday evening.  They’ve reached the cellar.  No place left to go but up, and it was Detroit that put them there.

In a 13-2 blowout, the Indians held a lead of 1-0 after the end of the first.  That was as pretty as things would be all evening.

Sabathia even pitched a good first, making it look like maybe, just maybe, he’d figured out whatever is keeping him from throwing strikes.

Since this is a three-game series, whoever wins two or more will have the unique distinction of leaving this set of games out of the basement of the American League Central.  I guess that is something, but for the two preseason favorites in the division, it would be a hollow victory.

To Detroit’s credit, they started the season God-awful and are improving.  To Cleveland’s detriment, they started off bad and have degenerated.

Wednesday marked one of the first evenings in the city of Cleveland that even closely resembled baseball weather.  Let’s hope the Indians start resembling a baseball team; otherwise we’re in for a long, LONG summer.

C.C. Sabathia, Cleveland’s ace, looked like he should be sent to Double A.  His stat line of nine runs on eight hits, five walks, and one strikeout through FOUR innings certainly made the average Cleveland sports fan want to switch to the Cav’s/Detroit game.

He wasn’t the only bad pitcher for the Tribe, though.

Four relievers came in.  Each gave up at least one run, with the exception of newly called up Craig Breslow.  17 hits, 13 runs, and five pitchers?  YIKES!

Then there’s the offense, or lack thereof.  Two runs on three hits.  That won’t get it done either, even in a close one.

Not only was this embarrassing, but the Indians’ fans witnessed their third grand slam of the season, and all three are at the expense of the Tribe.  The third one registered this particular evening was courtesy of Edgar Renteria.

David Dellucci homered in the first for the Tribe.  Ryan Garko drove in the only other run in the seventh.

The Tigers scored at least one run in every inning, but the first and the seventh were highlighted by a seven-run fifth inning.

For the season, only two Indians’ hitters are batting over .300.  Five hitters are under .200.  Those are some pretty pathetic offensive numbers.

On the pitching side of things, two pitchers ERAs are over 10, and it’s the closer and the ace.  Five more pitchers have ERAs over 5.00. Four have an ERA under 3.00, and that is only because Breslow, a recent call up, is figured in.

The Cleveland Indians and the Detroit Tigers play the second of their three-game set on Thursday evening.  Jason Verlander takes the hill for the Tigers.  Fausto Carmona goes for the Tribe.