Welcome to Tribe Talk, a season-long look at the trials and tribulations of the Cleveland Indians from the views of the loyal Tribe fans here on Bleacher Report.
A few notes of change this week are that we would like to welcome new guests to the forum, Anthony Grethel and Scott Miles. We will also begin a couple new sections of questions. One will be a featured question to discuss a certain player, and the other is a fun question to stir some conversation.
To the rest of you Tribe members, if you have been involved in our discussions before, you will be back in the rotation. This community is growing and I would like to let others have their words in. Please feel free to leave any answers to the questions if you like, it is not just meant for this limited number. Each session of Tribe Talk is for all to chime in and spark conversation.
This week we will discuss the Indians first month of play and if we have any team MVP’s other than Cliff Lee or any disappointments to rant about. Also, Travis Hafner is the player of the week, and we will have some fun discussing our favorite characters from the classis Indians movie, Major League.
Without further ado, let's talk Tribe!
We have now reached the end of April and the Indians stand at 12-14 in second place behind the White Sox. Give us your opinion on where the team stands now as compared to where you saw them at the beginning of the season.
Nino Colla: Yeah, I'm surprised, and I will take 12-14 and a second place position right now. The way the team has played, it just hasn't been one full team where everything clicks. So, second place is fine with me. What is most frustrating about this record and the fact that they are in second place, is the fact that the Tigers got off to a bad start. That wasn't going to last forever, so it would have been nice to get some distance and build some ground while they were struggling. But, obviously that didn't happen.
Anthony Grethel: Even though we haven't fully made the jump from completely getting out of this slow start, I think over the past week and a half we have awoken our offense along with getting more consistency from the rotation. We had a great series against the Royals, and then what I believe to be a positive series against the Yankees.
Unfortunately, it seems that injuries will slow down the progression for the Tribe's quest to get back on to the pace they set from last year. Once Grady is 100% healthy, Westbrook is back in the rotation, and (yes, I said did say this) Joe Borowski can get his velocity back, I expect the Tribe to get into a flow at some point of the season that could very well exceed their success from last year.
Above all, the rotation is our key to success. C.C. needs to be on his game and back to Cy Young form, Fausto needs to get his mechanics down and get his sinker dropping, and Cliff Lee (bless his heart) just needs to help stay strong and keep away from any type of injury that spoiled his last season. With three potential aces, we arguably have the best rotation in the MLB.
Scott Miles: I'm not really surprised that we're in second place...however, I am EXTREMELY surprised at how we got here. Through the first month there's a lot of parity in the Central standings, but it's not really good parity as no one has established themselves as clear contenders.
Really the most disappointing thing is that the Indians - and the rest of the division - were unable to separate from the Tigers during their horrid start. But I really did not expect so many guys in the Tribe lineup to struggle this badly at the start of the season.
Michael Taylor: I guess I am ok with where they are in the standings, because it is early and the Tigers are behind us. Yet the way the Indians have played has been a little disconcerting. They do not look like a team that won 96 games and contended for a title, they have been inconsistent, and have lost to some rather favorable competition in Minnesota and Oakland. The offense has been stagnant as well with Sizemore, Hafner and others starting slow.
Though I remain optimistic because the Indians pitching other than CC's start and Borowski has been great. Who would have thought Cliff Lee would be 4-0 with a 0.28 ERA, or Jake Westbrook would throw four straight quality starts. I have liked how the bullpen has begun settling into their roles without Borowski. Kobayashi and Perez setting up Betancourt looks great and the long men of Jensen Lewis and Craig Breslow have been solid as well.
Once the offense gets going, this team will take off.
Cliff Lee is the obvious choice for team MVP for April, but other than him, who else has been worthy of being the Indians' MVP thus far.
Nino Colla: I can't name anyone. I went through position by position but I just can't do it. Like I'm going to say for a later question, everyone at some point in the season has done well. But no one besides Cliff has been there for the whole year. So, with that I guess I will pick Victor Martinez by default because without him, the offense struggled, and when he is in the lineup, it is just a much better team.
Anthony Grethel: Excluding Lee, I would have to give the Indians' MVP to Martinez by default.
Martinez is the only batter (over 10 AB's) who has a batting average of over .300. Victor has been able to contribute a team leading 27 hits and has only struck out three times, while his fielding abilities seemed to improve even more (specifically in pitch-calling).
Though Martinez has my vote for the Indians' MVP (as Cliff Lee void from the situation), he still has many things to improve. Victor has yet to have recorded his first home run to the season, and only 9 RBI's have been accounted in Martinez's name.
Ironically, Victor has also scored the least amount of runs for the Tribe (in at least 10 AB's) while his average is the highest.
Though I'm not trying to say that Martinez has had a bad start (by all accounts it's been very good), he still can improve his batting with getting more doubles, triples, and most of all... home runs.
To reflect on the whole team though, it's safe to say that we are going to need much more offensive play-making if we want to be given the opportunity to get back to the ALCS like last year.
Scott Miles: Victor Martinez, hands down. Right now he's hitting .365 and has been the only consistent threat in the lineup. Watching him hit the game-winner on Saturday - a fastball tailing away off the plate that he lined to left field - shows just how locked in he is. And he's doing it without any help in the lineup. I don't care that he doesn't have any home runs yet and hasn't displayed a lot of power - he is just a pure hitter.
Michael Taylor: A week ago, I would have said Ryan Garko, but he is currently in a terrible slump at the plate. He had been the only guy giving consistent great at-bats, but now I would have to go with Victor Martinez. He is not having any luck with the power stroke, but you can't deny his .365 batting average and having only struck out three times. He is the main source of production right now. Once he was back in the lineup, the offense started to click better.
He has also been great behind the plate once again. He has thrown out 6 of 12 base runners to date!
Who/What has been the biggest disappointment? What should be done?
Nino Colla: I can't pinpoint one person. Everyone at some point in the season has gotten the job done. So, I'll point the finger at the team and their consistency. What should be done about it? I have no clue, they just need to start hitting as a team. It is frustrating to see them all hit, but at different times. It will click, eventually. Also, I go back to the first question. The biggest disappointment is not putting more ground between themselves and the Tigers with their early struggles.
Anthony Grethel: To be honest, I would give my biggest disapproval rating to the entire batting order (not including Victor Martinez).
When your team only has one player above .300 in the lineup, you really have too many problems to just call out just one problem... Though I do think that Travis Hafner could be the easiest player to call out between the entire group.
Hafner has lead the team with 96 AB's and has only 21 hits. 3 home runs are satisfactory, but not good enough for being the trusted DH on a team who is competitive in the league. The 26 K's are just way too much for anyone, and he is going to need to adjust his game quickly to get back into hitting form.
Scott Miles: Travis Hafner has struck out 26 times in 25 games played and is batting a measly .219 right now. I have no idea what's happened to him in the last year, I really don't. All I know is that fastballs that he used to crank are now being swung on and missed or fouled back to the left side - maybe it's just a timing issue at the plate? I'm totally clueless.
Michael Taylor: I am going with team consistency. It seems that it has been all or nothing with most everyone on the team. Be it CC, Blake, Byrd or whoever, the team has been very inconsistent. When we they get great pitching, the offense is gone, when we get a great start, the bullpen blows it. Although that has pretty much ended as of late, thanks to Borowski's DL trip.
I am not sure what needs to be done, other than keep playing. This is a solid mix of veterans and young talent who have played together and won before. They know what needs to be done and will straighten it out. I expect May to be a much brighter month for the Tribe.
Player Debate of the Week: Travis Hafner
What is your opinion on Hafner and his continued struggles into this season. Do you see a light at the end of the tunnel or is he a fading star?
Nino Colla: I see a bum shoulder is what I see. Maybe it is better than it was a week ago, but it still is causing him to be overcautious about swinging at the outside pitch. The guy can't catch a break. I don't think he is a fluke, or a guy who just had a great year. He just has ran into some struggles and can't get himself right. He is still in the prime of his career, and I hope for his sake he gets it going here so he doesn't waste his best years.
Anthony Grethel: Hafner is a relatively young player who still has a lot to encounter in his major league career. Though I'm not completely sure that I'm seeing a light in the distance, I know that I am still in the tunnel and that eventually he'll reach the end of his slump eventually. I expect Hafner to be back on track by mid-June to July.
Scott Miles: Carrying on from the last question...isn't it time to drop him from the three-hole? Granted, no one else is really producing either, but maybe putting him fifth or sixth would relax him and get him on track. I know Wedge hasn't really changed the top of the order in about two or three years, but now may be the time.
Michael Taylor: I am beginning to worry a little. His swing is looking long and loopy. I am not sure if the shoulder has a lot to do with it, but watching him struggle to hit mistakes by a slow pitcher are more and more common. Instead of pounding these pitches as he used to, he is now just fouling them off.
He also looks off-balance when swinging and is leaning forward, which takes power away. I am confident that hitting coach Derek Shelton and Travis are working on this and he will straighten his swing out, but the shoulder problem makes me still weary of any return to past greatness.
If the Indians are to be a great team this year, Hafner is a big key to driving in runners. Without that power, there is no real big home run threat to scare you.
Fun Question of the Week
Who is your favorite player from the movie Major League?
Nino Colla: If you asked me this question a few months ago, I'd have told you "I never saw the movie." Which seems downright stupid for a fan of the Indians to say. However, I have now seen the movie, or most of it and my favorite player has to be Pedro Cerrano played by Dennis Haysbert. I'm a big fan of 24 and his work as President Palmer, and of course this isn't the only baseball movie Haysbert has played in. He did Cerrano well and I really got a chuckle out of his antics.
Anthony Grethel: Willie "Mays" Hayes.
Scott Miles: You expect me to pick only one? Really?
If you had to put a gun to my head, I'll say Dorn. "Even me?" "Even you, Dorn" gets me every time. Plus I love how stiff and uncomfortable he acts in the American Express card. And "Dorn" is just a great name.
Man, I really want to watch this movie again, even though I just saw it for the 912th time last week...
Michael Taylor: This is a tough question. This is one of the best baseball movies of all time. Each character in the movie has great qualities, but I am partial to Pedro Cerrano. I love the quirkiness of his religious beliefs and his superstitions that he thinks will make him be able to hit a curveball. One of my favorite scenes is when Eddie Harris and he argue over Jesus and Harris shouts "You trying to say Jesus Christ can't hit a curveball?"
Plus anything that announcer Harry Doyle says throughout the movie is just classic...JUST a bit outside!
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5 months ago
Scott, that is an excellent suggestion about Hafner. Maybe we should think of putting him behind Vic and moving Garko up to the third spot. I know Garko can handle it unlike Peralta.
from 5 months ago
Last year the Indians were able to survive a subpar season from Hafner and still have a great season. I don't think they can do it two consecutive years.
I would definitely have Garko or probably Victor in the 3-hole over Peralta. I'm relegated to the fact that Peralta is just a streaky hitter - he's either hot or cold - and you need to have consistency in the middle part of your order.
5 months ago
Great Work everybody...I enjoy reading through the responses each week. Lets hope Hafner and the offense get it going ASAP. The pitching can't allow any runs at this pace.
5 months ago
Wow! I really enjoyed reading everyone's inputs and I look forward to future inputs!
5 months ago
Here's a possible idea on why the Indians have been struggling.
The reason why the Tribe may have stumbled so hard : Joe Borowski.
-This isn't a bashing on Joe for blowing saves, but instead a thought about how when he was put on the DL it may have caused a ripple effect on the rest of the team.
Betancourt was forced into the closer position after becoming comfortable and successful as a middle relief guy instead, causing him to get out of is comfort zone.
Because of the lack of an extra arm in the bullpen, the starters might have been pressured to try and pitch an extra inning in games, thus effecting their pitches and efficiency.
from 5 months ago
Amen, I agree..
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