Will Ryan Garko's Base-Running Blunder Lead to His Triumphant Return?

Ryan Garko is having a Travis Hafner-like 2007 this year. He's quietly knocked in 50 runs this year, but because of a poor batting average and falling slugging percentage, Garko's year has been strongly criticized.

Deservedly so, as Garko has been the biggest culprit of the group of players that failed to step up their game while their core hitters, Hafner and Victor Martinez, are out with injuries.

Why the slump?

What could Garko possibly be doing wrong to be struggling for so long? He came out of the gates in 2008 firing, hitting .317 through April 22 with 11 RBI and 12 walks to only six strikeouts.

Is he simply just a glorified platoon hitter that shouldn't be playing against right-handed hitting?

No, one thing the Indians make sure of before they start a player full time is that he can hit both left-handers and right-handers. Last year, Garko had a better average against left-handers, but he had double the home runs against right-handers. 44 of his 61 RBI came against right-handers, a very lopsided split.

For the most part, those trends are continuing this year, only at a regressed rate. His batting average is higher against left-handers, but he is knocking in more runs against right-handers.

Yet his confidence is shot and it's taken at least three months to admit he's got a problem.

This was the tune Garko was singing to the reporters about a month ago.

"I'm confident in my approach and what I've been doing; I'm the same guy as before. My numbers are just a little different."

Just a little different?

Garko has obviously not been watching his numbers, kind of like the way he wasn't watching his groundball bounce foul as he stood in the batter's box.

What about that, Ryan, how do you explain that one?

"I made a big mistake right there; it’s the first time it's happened, and it will be the last."

You better hope it is the last time, considering that is rule No. 1 when you play under Eric Wedge, who's a big proponent of hustle and play your hardest. Garko did just the opposite.

So what? He wouldn't have been safe anyway.

It's the principle of the thing, especially for a guy who is stinking up the joint as much as he is.

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