Cleveland Indians: 4 four things learned from the first Twins series

The Cleveland Indians had a soul-crushing series against the Minnesota Twins this past weekend and this is the four things we learned.

The Cleveland Indians showed up to the four-game series against the Minnesota Twins but apparently forgot to bring their bats with them. The four games saw the Indians keep the Twins in check offensively all series long, forcing them to average only 2.5 runs a game. Yet the Indians only mustered one run a game in response on dismal hitting.

At least the pitching looked good. That’s a good indication the team can get back on track. Yet, you can’t win games when you don’t score.

Putting up one run a game isn’t how you win long term. The Indians are now 5-5 and are about to enter a series with the Cincinnati Reds. The team can’t afford to keep losing games in this shortened season. So hopefully the Indians learned something in their series against the Twins.

These are the four things that we know about the Indians following their series with the Minnesota Twins.

The offense is in a slump

It’d be easy to blame the offensive slumps on the Indians soon-to-be-$200-million man in Francisco Lindor but frankly, he doesn’t deserve the soul brunt of the blame. A lot of it, yes, but not all of it. The entire offense is in a slump, but Carlos Sanatana, Domingo Santana, Franmil Reyes, and Jordan Luplow deserves a bulk of the blame with Lindor. Those men were seen as key contributors in spring/summer training and none of them, besides Lindor, are currently hitting over .200. Yes, it’s the start of the season, but this isn’t a 162 game season. Players can ill-afford a slump of any kind.

The pitching is fantastic

The Minnesota Twins are supposed to be world-beaters offensively, yet against the Tribe’s pitching, they only averaged 2.5 runs a game throughout their four-game series. The Indians pitching has usually been the team’s strength. It’s always been the offense that has struggled. Yet, with a proposed $200 million player in Lindor, you’d think the team could provide four runs a game.

Francisco Lindor is still failing to live up to his form

When you want a ten-year contract, worth up to $200-$300 million, you don’t get to slump and not be taken to task. If you’re going to demand all-time great money, you better start hitting like an all-time great talent. Hopefully, Lindor can turn it around, for his sake and the teams.

If the Indians make the post-season, Jose Rameriz is your clear cut AL MVP.

Give this man the AL MVP if the Indians go to the post-season because he’s carrying the offense on his own it feels like. Rameriz, Bradley Zimmer, and Cesar Hernandez have been your three most consistent offensive forces. Lindor deserves a nod, as well, since he does lead the team in RBI’s at the moment but it’s Rameriz who’s performing well with every at-bat.