The Cleveland Indians aren't the same team that should be contending for a World Series crown. Looking at this team in general, you would think that it would be a last place team or even a team that should be much better than this. Sure, the season is early and that's not going to be disputed, but if it's not addressed, it will hamper this team all season long. For the record, they will be lucky to get in the post-season if they continue to play at the rate they are going.
For the record, I had the Indians winning it all this year. I would love to see this happen and it would be in my opinion baseball's worst nightmare come to life. If however the Cleveland Indians fail this year to even make the playoffs, then quite honestly it's going to be even longer because as you probably all ready know, they have a history of being cheap. Do not expect CC Sabathia to stay with them at the end of the season and will be with another team. Given how this decade has been to them and how the Indians owner has been very cheap, it would be no surprise if it happens this way. Before the season even began, you would think that this team would do well and only one aspect has been very sharp and that's the pitching. The offense on the other hand has just been embarrassing to watch.
I'm going to look at both aspects of the team with the hitting and of course the pitching. It's going to be a pretty fair statement.
Hitting: I would seriously love to question the effort put in this team when it comes to hitting. Seriously, how do you explain the lack of hitting on a ball club that wasn't bad at hitting last year? It makes no sense whatsoever. When you have the majority of your line up hitting below .250, something's seriously wrong with this team. At this moment, the team is hitting the worst in the American League and doesn't look to be changing anytime soon. Where is the effort from the Cleveland offense and why can't they seem to hit anything? If this isn't corrected soon, this season will be a lost cause.
Pitching: As much as I can question the hitting, the pitching has been very solid for the most part. In particular, if you look at the starting rotation, they have kept the games close. From top to bottom the pitchers have become solid and starting to be the leaders of this team. The bullpen however has been a bit shaky and you have to wonder what is going on in general. CC, Carmona, Laffey, Byrd, and Lee for the most part as a whole have become potentially a fabulous five rotation and could all win at least 10 games.
Analysis: This seems to be a bipolar team and that's not good. If you're not hitting, then how in the world do you expect to win any games at all because great pitching can only do so much. If it means a trade needs to happen, so be it but the question is what do you get in return that can justify the move? This season is now or never because it may be even longer before this franchise sees a World Series title in their future.
