The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Hitting woes aren’t going away
The 8,914 fans who sat stone-faced in chilly Progresive Field for the home opener April 5 sounded a lot like the cardboard cutouts that witnessed games last season, and no wonder.
The Indians’ batters gave the patrons little reason to cheer. It is amazing most of them stuck around to the bitter, predictable end, hoping for an unlikely miracle, after a sacrifice fly by Whit Merrifield pushed the Kansas City lead to 3-0 in the top of the seventh inning. The Royals did not score again. They didn’t have to because the Indians didn’t score at all.
A single by Amed Rosario in the second inning, a double by Franmil Reyes in the fourth and a single by Jose Ramirez in the ninth accounted for all the Indians’ hits.
There were some loud linedrive outs, but so what?
Another quality start, this one by Logan Allen, was wasted.
The same thing happened to Shane Bieber on opening day in Detroit when the Indians lost, 3-2, and Zach Plesac on April 3 when they lost, 5-2.
“We did hit some balls hard, and I don’t ever want to talk down our offense, because that’s not what we’re here for,” Manager Terry Francona said after the game. “But we’re going to have to string some hits together.”
The Indians’ best chance to make the game close, ironically, was snuffed out by one of Francona’s favorite human beings.
Cesar Hernandez walked to start the ninth inning. Ramirez hit a line drive single to right. The dozing fans awakened and chanted “Jose, Jose, Jose Jose, Joseeee.”
Eddie Rosario stepped to the plate and hit the ball just inside the firstbase line. Royals first baseman and ex-Indian Carlos Santana made a diving stop. He stood and gunned
the ball to shortstop Nicky Lopez to cut down Ramirez at second base and then Lopez fired it back to pitcher Jesse Hahn covering first to complete the double play. Reyes grounded out to Hahn to end the game.
“Santana making that play, that was obviously the big play of the game,” Francona said. “If that ball scoots by, we’re in business.”
The problem with the current lineup is there are going to be more frustrating
days like this one until center fielders Oscar Mercado and/or Bradley Zimmer get straightened out in Columbus. We’ll see how long the Indians remain patient with Jake Bauers at first base before recalling Bobby Bradley from Columbus. Josh Naylor is playing right field because there is no one else.
The Indians as a team are batting .205. They have collected 26 hits in four games, and 10 of them were from the 9-2
thumping of the Tigers on April 4.
Reyes takes exception to the notion that issues for the Indians run deeper than the misfortune of hitting screaming liners right where the outfielder is standing.
“We’ve been having very good at-bats since Day 1,” Reyes said on Zoom after the game. “I trust my teammates. I trust myself. I trust my pitching. The pitchers are doing a very good job.
“When everybody starts hitting and those balls start dropping, we’re going to be good.”
Allen needed only 24 pitches to get through the third, fourth and fifth innings. Triston McKenzie followed him and struck out five batters in 3 1/3 innings.
That’s fine. The pitchers will carry the Tribe as long as they can.
But most fans go to the ballpark to watch good hitting. The way the Indians hit the ball, social distancing at Progressive Field won’t be an issue this season.