Tribe notes: First-half highlights difficult to find
Chris Assenheimer | The Chronicle-Telegram
CLEVELAND — It was a first half to forget for the Indians, who a year removed from winning their first Central Division title since 2001, find themselves in last place,
12 games under .500 at 41-53.
Along the way to the disastrous 94-game spell, Cleveland lost its closer Joe Borowski and its ace CC Sabathia, who is now trying to help the Milwaukee Brewers qualify for the postseason.
“There have been a lot of trials in the first half,” said Indians manager Eric Wedge, whose club endured injuries to key players — Victor Martinez, Travis Hafner, Jake Westbrook and Fausto Carmona — along with performance issues from a number of areas on the club. “You’re not going to lose three of your starting pitchers, your closer, your 2-3-4 hole hitters and a couple guys in the bullpen and expect to be the team you thought you’d be.”
There have been some bright spots.
Highlighting the first half have been the performances of starting pitcher Cliff Lee and center fielder Grady Sizemore, both of whom will represent the Indians in the All-Star Game at Yankee Stadium.
Lee, a candidate to start for the American League, is producing a Cy Young-caliber season, owning a 12-2 record and 2.31 ERA.
Sizemore, the AL leader with 23 home runs, is on pace to hit 40 homers and steal 36 bases, which would make him the second player in Indians history — Joe Carter in 1987 — to hit 30 homers and steal 30 bases in a season. He is the only player in the big leagues with 20 homers and 20 steals.
Similar production from those two, as well as potential contributions from others, including a wealth of young players that are expected to litter Cleveland’s roster in the second half, have Wedge believing his club can finish the year strong.
“It’s just about making sure our baseball translates,” he said. “We feel like if everybody does their job we can win ballgames, regardless of who we have on the field.”
No glory for Goot
With a single in his first at-bat in the second inning Saturday, outfielder Franklin Gutierrez snapped an 0-for-32 skid. Prior to singling in his first at-bat in the third inning Sunday, Gutierrez had just three hits in his last 45 at-bats.
This was supposed to be a breakout season for the 25-year-old Gutierrez, who will head to the break hitting just .216 with three homers and 18 RBIs in 75 games.
First step
Carmona (left hip strain) will make his first rehab appearance for Single-A Lake County today against Asheville. The right-hander is expected to start and pitch two innings.
Carmona (4-2, 3.10) will require at least two rehab outings before rejoining the rotation, possibly by the end of the month.
Next up
The Indians return from the break to begin a six-game west coast road swing to Seattle and Los Angeles.
Cleveland opens a three-game set with the Mariners on Friday (10:10 p.m.), with Aaron Laffey
(5-5, 3.45) starting against Felix Hernandez (6-6, 2.95). Jeremy Sowers (0-5, 7.51) will start the second game Saturday (3:55), while Seattle counters with Jarrod Washburn (4-8, 4.83).
Lee is the scheduled starter in the series finale Sunday (4:10), with the Mariners going with Carlos Silva (4-11, 5.59).
Wedge altered the order of the rotation to give Lee extra time off, with the left-hander expected to pitch on short rest in the All-Star Game on Tuesday.
The last two pitchers in the rotation — Paul Byrd (3-10, 5.47) and Matt Ginter (1-0, 0.00) — are expected to pitch in the first two games of the series in Los Angeles, with Ginter filling in until Carmona is ready to leave the disabled list.
Roundin’ third
The Indians entered Sunday owning a 12-game home winning streak against Tampa Bay, the longest in the majors against another club. Over the last 50 years, Cleveland has won 12 straight home games against an opponent only one other time — from 1994-97 against the Tigers.
• Channel 8 will not televise its previously scheduled Indians-Mariners game on Saturday, which means it will not be shown locally.
Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.
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Filed by Chris Assenheimer | The Chronicle-Telegram July 14th, 2008 in Sports. Popularity: 6% |
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