The Offensive Problem Cannot Be Solved By One Player

There is no question that the offense has been awful since the All-Star break. The most runs scored in a game during that span is 8, which came in the first game after the break. Their record since the break is 5-9, even though the pitching has been great for the most part.

I originally thought that rock bottom for the offense was being no-hit by Ervin Santana on Wednesday, but last night’s performance wasn’t much better. The Indians lost 12-0 in a game that saw Carlos Carrasco lose his cool after a Melky Cabrera grand-slam and throw at the head of Billy Butler. This was absolutely inexcusable and Carrasco was ejected, which left the bullpen with no time to warm up. Not a smart move by Carlos, and certainly not something that will improve his popularity among his teammates.

The Indians recently acquired Kosuke Fukodome in a trade with the Cubs, but he is not someone who can be a savior to the offense. He is a hitter who can get on base, but someone still needs to drive him in. Fukodome does not hit for power, but he will certainly provide a reliable presence in the lineup until Choo returns.

There is also talk that the Indians are talking with San Diego about Ryan Ludwick, who is also an outfielder. He is hitting .238 on the year with 11 home runs and 62 RBI. He could also provide a strong presence in the lineup, but he is not someone who could single-handedly change the offensive production.

If the Indians want to contend for the playoffs, everyone in the lineup is going to have to carry their own weight. Guys like Carlos Santana, Matt LaPorta, Lonnie Chisenhall, and Jason Kipnis will have to start producing more and take the weight off of Hafner, Brantley, and Asdrubal. This is especially important for Chisenhall and Kipnis if they want to remain in the lineup for the long haul.