The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Impatience at the plate sinking Indians
The Indians lost RBI, lost leaders and lost heroes when they decided to trim payroll in the offseason, and the numbers reflect that.
The Indians were 6-20 when scoring three or fewer runs heading into their game with the Rays on May 24. They scored two or fewer runs 19 times in their first 49 games.
A lack of players able to come up with a clutch hit is definitely a problem for the Tribe, which began the night eight games behind the Twins in the A.L. Central.
There is no lack of players that want to be heroes, and that’s part of the problem, too.
“We get in modes sometimes where we try to hit everything instead of being disciplined enough where you take part of the plate,” manager Terry Francona said. “It’s hard to swing at a change-up in and a cutter away. We have to be more disciplined. It’s hard enough to hit, let alone when you’re trying cover everything.”
The Indians were swept by the A’s in a three-game series and lost the series opener to the Rays.
The four-game losing streak is their longest of the season. They scored four, three and two runs in those four losses.
Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis, who reached base safely in 18 straight games heading into the May 24 game with Tampa Bay, said some young players are swinging at bad pitches trying to ignite a rally. The Indians, 2524, are not a big strikeout team, however; they are 18th in the Major League with 435 strikeouts.
The Rays, 29-18, have struck out 447 times while playing two fewer games.
“We have a lot of guys trying to get the hit the team needs,” Kipnis said. “When you have an offense that’s struggling and younger guys that are struggling, you want to break the dam down and open the floodgates for the offense.
“You almost forget to make sure it’s a strike and make sure it’s a good pitch. Where it’s pitched might be a low and away slider. Even if you’re thinking take a good swing and hit it where it’s pitched, what you should be thinking is ‘It’s a ball and I shouldn’t even be swinging at this.’ That’s what you’re seeing happen a lot.”
But young players aren’t the only ones struggling. Kipnis, despite his gameson-base streak, is hitting .216. Most baffling of all is Jose Ramirez hitting .196.
Ramirez isn’t confident at the plate, Francona said. It is maddening for Ramirez and the coaches. Ramirez is hitting .239 over the last 365 days. He has just 15 RBI this season. Ramirez has been working with hitting coaches Ty Van Burkleo and Victor Rodriguez to no avail.
“I saw Josey in the video room today,” Francona said. “Some of it’s simply confidence. Even for the good and great players, their confidence takes a hit. It’s easy to say ‘well, be confident.’ Sometimes getting the feel is hard. It’s easy for me to sit here and say ‘pick a side of the plate and pick one pitch.’
“When a guy’s throwing 95 and snapping off a breaking ball or changeup, it’s easier said than done. But that’s the way you build into having some success. Sometimes it turns around like that (Francona snapped his fingers). Sometimes you have to build into it. But that’s the best way to start, because these guys’ stuff is too good to try to hit everything.”
The Indians are impatient at the plate, and because they are the fans are getting impatient in the stands.
Reach Schudel at JSchudel@news-herald. com. On Twitter @JSProInsider