Factory Of Sadness
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Cleveland Indians: No one to rely on out of the bullpen

By Ric McElroy

BALTIMORE, MD - MAY 22: A Cleveland Indians cap and glove are shown on the field before a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on May 22, 2014 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - MAY 22: A Cleveland Indians cap and glove are shown on the field before a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles on May 22, 2014 at Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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The Voice of the Fan does not like how there is no one that can be relied upon in the bullpen.

The play of the Cleveland Indians continue to make you ask the question: What is the front office thinking with this consistently poor bullpen?

They have basically tied manager Terry Francona’s hands with the poor pitching and personnel that populate the bullpen. He must stick with his starters longer than usual because there is no one he can trust in the bullpen.

The Tribe’s bullpen has gotten so bad that the front office is even signing castoffs from other teams as there isn’t a serviceable arm in the minors. The latest to join was left-handed reliever, Oliver Perez.

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Cleveland chose to let Joe Smith and Bryan Shaw go this past offseason and failed to sign anyone to take their roles. Had that been done perhaps the bullpen wouldn’t be in the situation it currently is facing.

The A.L. Central is so weak that even the Indians occupy first place with a record just over .500 at 30-27. The offense has at times put up runs but not to the point where Cleveland has been able to pull out wins consistently enough.

It will take a better effort than what is presently brought to the ballpark.

One example of making a better effort is hitting with men in scoring position. Cleveland can’t leave the bases loaded or two men on with less than two outs.

In addition, from an individual standpoint, why is Jason Kipnis still starting? He needs to pick it up as he is hitting below the Mendoza line at .196 and his defense is questionable, to say the least.

Speaking of bad defense, it was because of Kipnis the Minnesota Twins scored three runs following a mishandled double play ball on Saturday. Cleveland could not even trade him this past offseason. Now we are seeing why.

Still, the offense can only do so much as Cleveland’ pitching needs to do its job late in games. The bullpen is a fire sale. When the Indians signed Perez, a journeyman who has come close to playing for half the teams in MLB, they had to have known they’ve got trouble.

Next: Tribe trade rumors: New relievers linked

Perez is a pitcher that is trying to use deception to get batters out. Why do you think he’s moved around so much? Let’s all hope things get straightened around.

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