Indians Confidential

The hitting woes continued again on Tuesday night at Progressive Field, as the Tribe was outdone by the Mariners 7-2. The team pounded out eight hits, three doubles (two by Grady Sizemore) and five singles. They also only drew one walk, something that this team last season was doing well that they are not in 2008. Overall the numbers are drab - 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position, and eight men left on base. Ugh.

There’s no question that 27 games in, the lack of offense, other than a small spurt here and there, has been the biggest letdown of the team to date. Again as you look up and down the lineup, players that are being counted on as producers in the lineup are stressing, and in the meantime not getting it done.

The most glaring has to be Travis Hafner, who continues to look like a fish out of water at the plate. Is this a long-term thing? After all, despite the fact that he says you can’t look at last seasons struggles and compare them for him to this year - why not? First the deal was that once he got signed long-term, he’d be fine. That didn’t do it. Then it was just get him into 2008 and he’d be better. So far, that’s not the case. Wedge alluded it to two nights ago that Hafner and Ryan Garko simply needed to start hitting, but two days later, it has yet to happen.

Where does the blame in terms of Derek Shelton, hitting coach fall in? A few years back there was a revolt when the team was not hitting, and eventually it then led to the dismissal of then hitting coach Eddie Murray. While Shelton can’t get up there and hit himself, one has to wonder why there has yet to be any heat piled on him for the lack of production at the plate.

Tonight vs Jarrod Washburn, a pitcher who is struggling for Seattle at 1-3, the team has yet another chance to start turning things around. Right now they are pressing at the plate, swinging at too many first pitches, and not coming up with any clutch hits. No better time to start turning all that around. Now is a question of if they will.