Indians Confidential

If there was ever any doubt that something is wrong with C.C. Sabathia, Wednesday night’s awful outing against the Tigers at Progressive Field for sure proved it.  Sabathia was beaten badly again by a Tigers team that came in limping, as he allowed 9 runs on 8 hits in 4+ innings and also walked five as the Tigers slammed the Indians 13-2 in what has to go down as their worse loss in quite sometime.

In four starts, Sabathia has allowed 27 earned runs, 32 hits, and his ERA is now at a staggering 13.50.  He basically looks like a former Cy Young award winner who is now out there pitching batting practice.  The crushing blow, which seemed to be coming in just a matter of time, took place with the Tigers already up 5-1, as Edgar Renteria took a C.C. offering 400 feet for a grand slam that mercifully ended Sabathia’s night with the Indians down 9-1.

Issues also continue for this defending AL Central champion team on offense, as they allowed Armando Galarraga, who was making his first start as a Tiger and just his second in the Majors to look like he was unhittable.  He allowed a solo homer to David Dellucci in the second inning, but then didn’t allow a baserunner till the 7th as he went on to give up just two runs on one hit, striking out six and not walking a batter.

There was also the brain fart of the night, when already scrambling to get out of the 7-run fifth inning, Casey Blake went to home in an attempt to get Marcus Thames of the Tigers at the plate.  Not realizing that it was not a force out, catcher Victor Martinez simply stepped on the plate, thinking Thames was out, only to realize after a short yell session at the ump it was not a force out.  Again, no focus whatsoever right now from players who should be leading by example.

There are problems every which way you look, from starting pitching that is only getting batters out once in awhile, an offense that at one point in the 9th inning Wednesday night with 7 players hitting under .250, and a bullpen that is already beaten up, overused, and can’t seem to get many players out.

The homestand comes to a end on Thursday, as Fausto Carmona, who also struggled in his last start, going for the Indians vs Justin Verlander (0-2) for the Tigers at 7:05 pm.  The homestand to date has seen the Indians go 1-5, and now they sit at 5-10 on the year.  They were 8-7 last year after 15 games.  Yes, it’s officially time to hit the panic button.