Factory Of Sadness
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Cleveland Indians: This Is Rock Bottom

By Jamyson Frierson

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I have covered and watched the Cleveland Indians for numerous years now, and I can easily say, this is the worst I have seen a group of teammates play together. Que the 1991 team that lost a franchise record 105 games and looked like the worst team in MLB history. This is bad. They are in code red. Throw up the white flag– they surrender!

It has been another season of false hopes and promises implied by the organization. When the Indians signed Michael Bourn and Nick Swisher, there was a belief that the team was in a “win-now” mode and ready to challenge the Detroit Tigers for the AL Central crown.

That has been a distant dream and a repetitive nightmare instead.

We’ve been playing like (crap), there’s no way around it. It’s embarrassing. There’s no fight. People are worrying about their own things. Nobody is held accountable.

Michael Brantley, Jason Kipnis, Carlos Santana and Yan Gomes were expected to be the strong core of this team, while Bourn was supposed to add speed on the bases–and flash the leather out there in center field reminding Tribe fans of the glory days of Kenny Lofton.

Swisher was supposed to add his championship experience and veteran leadership along with a clutch bat that still had some power left in it. However, both have been disappointments, and fans have grown tired of the injuries and inconsistencies they show on a normal basis.

Jun 19, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians center fielder Michael Bourn (24) strikes out to end the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Progressive Field. The Rays won 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Santana hasn’t shown the consistency or power numbers that fans thought he would have after the Indians traded Casey Blake to the Los Angeles Dodgers for him. He still does that infamous toe-tap before he swings, and plays below average defense at first base. He has one of the best eyes in baseball, but it doesn’t score runs. At this point, Santana is the player that he is. A underachiever–with star potential–who doesn’t realize it. His .245 career batting average speaks for itself.

Brantley has shown flashes of his old self, but he has been battling a tight lower back for most of the season. Kipnis has been the most consistent, and has proved all year-long why he is a two-time All-Star. Since being moved to the lead-off spot in late April, Kipnis is batting .326 with six home runs and 38 RBI. He has also improved his defense as he has only committed four errors compared to six last season.

Brandon Moss is a completely different story. He has been the biggest disappointment of everybody in the lineup. He was supposed to be the power-bat the Indians were looking for, but he has come up short in every instance. It isn’t even all-or-nothing with him anymore. If an opposing pitcher throws him anything, whether up in the zone or in the dirt, he is likely to swing and strike out.

Gomes is still recovering from a sprained knee he suffered against the Detroit Tigers in the second home game of the season. The power numbers haven’t been there so far, and he has struggled to hit with RISP as most of the team has this season.

Rookies Giovanny Urshela and Francisco Lindor have shown a glimpse of what the future will be like for the Tribe. They have both shown above average defense and timely hitting. Lindor has even surprised fans with spurts of power. If the organization promoted them in the beginning of the season, who knows how good they would be by now.

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However, the most disappointing thing about this season– is how good the starting rotation has been. They are currently ranked 20th in the MLB with a 3.98 team ERA. But unfortunately– the Indians lineup cannot give them run support. They are ranked 16th in the MLB with .227 average with RISP. That is not going to get it done for a team’s rotation or bullpen.

Within the last five games including yesterday’s lost to the Kansas City Royals, the Indians have been outscored 34-9. The team just can’t hit. Corey Kluber is having another great season, but his record is deceiving at 5-11. Carlos Carrasco has had an up-and-down season and has the best record of the whole rotation at 10-8.

Danny Salazar is finally learning how to pitch instead of throw and he has the second best record at 8-6. That leaves Trevor Bauer. He still has first inning woes, and still shows instances of mental breakdowns at times–but once he settles down– he can be unhittable and is a strikeout machine. He is 8-7.

Jul 2, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Corey Kluber (28) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The rotation has been championship caliber all season long, but it will likely be wasted as the Indians are now 15 games out of first place in the division and further away from either Wildcard spot with each loss. They are 45-53 and have already started being sellers as the trading deadline looms closer.

There is still two months of baseball left and the season is practically over. Once again for the second year in a row, the Indians will miss the playoffs. Fans are left without an October again. When does somebody within the organization become accountable for the constant mistakes and nonchalant attitudes?

Why is Terry Francona continuously allowed to remain loyal to mediocre player’s and coaches and nothing is done about it? Will this team ever get it right? These are some of the questions that fans have been trying to find answers to for the last 15 years (besides the Francona question). They are yet to be answered and most likely will never be found out in their entirety.

A once prideful and proud franchise that sold out 455 straight home games is now at a crossroads. Where do they go from here? I think that question can be answered when the team is ran as a “baseball organization” instead of a “business.” Dollar dog nights and fireworks will only go so far among fans.They would trade 100 of those nights in order to have a fun,exciting, winning product on the field.

There is an unfortunate disconnect between the fans and the team, and until that major problem is solved, the organization will continue to struggle and there will be no end to the mediocrity. If a change of management and ownership becomes imminent, then so be it.

Next: Cleveland Indians Trade Rumors: Tribe Asks Miami Marlins About CF Marcell Ozuna

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