The 2009 Cleveland Indians Evaluation Thus Far

In this young 2009 MLB season, we have learned a few things, both good and bad, about this years Indians team.  Feel free to add comments on things I may have forgotten.

Good Things

Travis Hafner looks like he is back.  Hafner had injury issues but is off to a very solid 2009 campaign.

Kerry Wood is throwing in the mid to high 90’s.  Wood is throwing straight gas.  The Indians need to start getting leads for Wood to get any saves.

Grady Sizemore is still clutch.  Sizemore isn’t anywhere near his normal batting average yet, but he is getting the hits when Cleveland needs them.

Trevor Crowe has not looked out of place on the big team.  I hope they have the guts to keep him around and nix David DeLucci from rejoining.

Matt LaPorta is tearing up minor league pitchers.  I still think he is going to have an impact in Cleveland by years end.

Victor Martinez is among the league leaders in batting average.  Using him at first base to keep his bat in the lineup is a great move so far.

Bad Things

• The starting pitching has been horrible.  Only a handful of staters have gotten past the fifth so far.  A better effort is needed across the board.
• The bullpen has been horible.  Whether appearing in a blowout victory, a blowout loss, or a close game, The Tribe has shown fans perhaps the worst bullpen (minus Kerry Wood) in the bigs so far.
• Eric Wedge needs to stir things up.  I’m not sure he is this type of manager.  Wedge needs to start shaking things up for better consistency or he will be looking for a job by September.
• Lack of leadership.  Who is the Albert Belle on this years team?  It seems like nobody wants the leadership role and the team needs leadership.  Hopefully someone steps up soon and provides the spark needed.
• We only have four more games with New York.  Those games are May 29, 30, 31, and June 1 in Cleveland.  June 1 is Cody Ransom bobblehead night, first 5000 Indians fans get a souveneir bobblehead of Ransom (kidding).

Consistency is what isn’t there yet.  No consistency from the pitchers.  Other than Victor Martinez and Travis Hafner, no consistency from the hitters.  No consistency from the middle relievers, at all.