Factory Lines: Indians Attendance Woes, Danny Duffy, Carlos Carrasco, Johnny Manziel, Ohio State Recruiting

Sep 22, 2014; Cleveland, OH, USA; Kansas City Royals shortstop Alcides Escobar (2) tags out Cleveland Indians right fielder Tyler Holt (62) at second base during the fourth inning at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

After adding that suspended game to the win column, The Cleveland Indians could’ve been 2.0 games behind the Royals for the final Wild Card berth following last night, but instead the  Tribe was shut out for six innings by Danny Duffy. Kansas City’s bullpen slammed the door in the final three innings en route to a 2-0 win. To top it all off, the Indians attendance problems are worse than ever.

Duffy (9-11, 2.32) had missed his last two starts with a sore shoulder, but it was hard to tell, as Indian batters were determined to make him look like Greg Maddux.

This includes some David Blaine-type magicianery when Duffy got out of a no-out, bases loaded jam in bottom of the first.  Duffy got Carlos Santana to pop up to shallow center, Yan Gomes fanned, and Mike Aviles hit a Duffy curve to right for the third out.

Santana and Gomes are the heart of this order, and the Indians never recovered. The Tribe now trails KC by 3 1/2 games, with five to play. A little help is also needed form the Mariners, as Seattle is just 2.0 games behind KC for the second Wild Card berth.

• What can you say about Carlos Carrasco other than he gave his team a shot to win. He tossed 7 1/3 innings, and allowed two earned runs. As dominant as Kluber and Carrasco have been in the second half, at some point, the offense has to help.

• The bottom of the order has been about as exciting as watching wine ferment. The Tribe’s 7-9 hitters went 1-for-11 in the loss with five strikeouts, compared to one walk. This part of the batting order hasn’t been good all season, but the reality of postseason hopes disappeared with J.B. Schuck batting in a critical spot in the bottom of the 9th.

• Even if the Indians don’t get to the postseason, this week is pretty darn important. The Tribe is playing meaningful games, at homes, in the final week of the season. And how many fans showed up? 10, 458. Embarrassing.

MLB.comn Tribe scribe Jordan Bastian was really annoyed by gate, and took his friendly rant to Twitter:

What conclusions can you draw about the sorry attendance stat other than Cleveland fans don’t care about baseball to actually show up? I’m surrounded by corn in the southwest Ohio. I couldn’t go. I only attended one game this year, but  shelled out the couple hundred bucks for MLB Ticket so I can watch the Wahoos.

The television rations were probably very good, traditionally they have been the past couple years with the Tribe fielding competitive clubs. But 10,000 fans? Ugh.

Cleveland Browns

• The name of the illegal play with Johnny Manziel lining up at wideout? The “Dawg Pound Special,” via ESPN.

• ESPN Cleveland’s Tony Grossi is encouraged by the Browns heading into the Bye Week–and he’s right. Despite being 1-2, this is the most fun the Browns have been since Phil Savage thought Derek Anderosn was a franchise quarterback in 2007.

"“They score” Their 74 points rank 10th in the league in scoring. That’s their best point total through the first three games since they scored 82 in 2007 – their last good offensive team. And the offense has accounted for all the points except for a Pick 6 by Tashaun Gipson.”"

• The Padres are selling  Manziel jerseys for $81.75. For that low price, you have have a  Johnny Football baseball jersey, of a team he’s never played for, in a sport he’ll never play professionally.

Ohio State Buckeyes

The Scarlet and Gray will host a big-time quarterback recruit this Saturday, with Torrance Gibson taking his official visit, via the O-Zone.

With his Cincinnati ties, one would think Urban Meyer recruits the Cincinnati area better than his predecessor, Jim Tressel. While Meyer’s sample size is smaller than Tressel’s, the two-time national championship winning coach is only having slightly more success in the region–for now, via the FOS.