Yes, it does matter if the Indians make the playoffs; no excuse to miss postseason – Let’s Talk Tribe
https://www.cleveland.com/tribe/2020/09/...talk-tribe.htmlBy Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer
ABOUT THE TRIBE
A week ago, the Indians were not only headed to the postseason, but battling for first place in the Central Division. But we didn’t know they were starting what became an eight-game losing streak.
I’m still having a hard time understanding how a team with baseball’s best starting rotation can lose eight games in a row, the franchise’s longest skid since 2012. The Tribe still seems likely make the playoffs. Heading into the weekend, they had nine games left and their magic number was six.
Consider that 16 of 30 teams will be in the playoffs thanks to the new expanded format designed for this truncated 60-game season. So barely making it is not a grand achievement.
But missing it with this pitching staff would be an embarrassment.
The Indians need to continue to build their streak of having winning seasons ever since 2013. If they make the playoffs this season, it will be their fifth appearances in eight years.
I don’t know how much weight to give this seemingly blink-of-an-eye season. But I do expect this team to not simply fold and decide it’s time to go home.
ABOUT SHANE BIEBER
Assuming the Indians do make the playoffs, they will be facing an opponent in a best-of-3 first-round series. Having Shane Bieber start the first game should give the Indians confidence against any team.
Since coming to the majors early in the 2018 season, Shane Bieber has a 34-14 record with a 3.36 ERA. The ERA is a little deceiving because it was 4.55 in his rookie season. Over the last two seasons covering 44 starts, it’s 2.88.
This season, Bieber should be the Cy Young winner. He is 8-1 with a 1.74 ERA. He is averaging 11 strikeouts and 1.8 walks per nine innings. I’m stopping with the stats right now and moving to a bigger point.
“Everyone would like to have Bieber opening up the postseason," said acting manager Sandy Alomar.
He’d like to finish strong so they can clinch a spot with a few days left in the season. That would allow Alomar to line up his starters.
Consider a best-of-3 series. Bieber takes the ball first. Zach Plesac should be the No. 2 starter. Then the Indians can turn to Carlos Carrasco for Game 3.
Plesac has been remarkable this season. After throwing 7 2/3 scoreless innings in Detroit Friday, his ERA is 1.85. In 48 2/3 innings, he has struck out 50 and walked four.
I know the Indians have scored two or fewer runs in 23 games this season. No other offense has been that futile in 2020. But I still want to see what this team can do in the playoffs with this pitching staff.
ABOUT CARLOS CARRASCO
A year ago, Carlos “Cookie” Carrasco was the American League’s Comeback Player of the Year. He bounced back from leukemia to pitch 15 innings in relief last September.
When this season opened, the Tribe wasn’t sure what to expect from Carrasco. They thought he could help in relief, but wondered if he’d have the stamina to remain one of the the American League’s best starting pitchers.
What the last few years have shown is Carrasco is one tough cookie. He has a 2-4 record this season, but that’s primarily because of a lack of run support. Carrasco’s ERA is 3.27. That his best since 2014, when he split the season between the bullpen and the rotation.
In his last four starts, Carrasco has a 1.80 ERA. That came after making a slight adjustment in his delivery and also going back to using his fastball more often.
Bieber and Carrasco have emerged as the leaders of the pitching staff. They are terrific role models for Triston McKenzie, Plesac and other young starters who are coming in through the farm system.
That’s part of the reason I want the Indians to make the playoffs: The 33-year-old Carrasco deserves a chance to pitch in the postseason.
ABOUT CARLOS SANTANA
If the Indians are to be a surprise team, they need Carlos Santana stop trying to pull everything and level out his uppercut swing. Santana has lost the swing that helped him because an All-Star in 2019, batting .281 (.911 OPS) with 34 HR and 93 RBI.
The 34-year-old Santana has been getting worse as the season progresses. He batted .240 in July, .210 in August and .170 in September. On the season, Santana is batting .194 (.671 OPS) with 5 HR and 23 RBI. He has only four doubles in 220 plate appearances. Yes, he leads the American League in drawing walks, but his job is to drive in runs and hit for extra bases.
We are seeing the Santana with a high leg kick and an undisciplined swing leading to a lot of soft fly balls and pokey grounders. It pains me to write this because Santana is one of my favorite players on the team. But he has been perhaps the most disappointing player this season.
ABOUT THE CLEVINGER TRADE
A lot of fans are upset because the players the Indians received in the Mike Clevinger trade have basically done nothing since coming to Cleveland. Clevinger is 2-1 with a 3.00 ERA in three starts for the Padres.
While Josh Naylor should not be expected to transform the Tribe’s lineup, the Indians believed the 23-year-old outfielder would hit with regular duty. But Naylor is 7-for-42 (.167) since the trade. He has one extra-base hit (a double) and two RBI. Naylor batted .253 (.720 OPS) in 317 career plate appearances with the Padres, but he’s been lost since the deal.
Backup catcher Austin Hedges is 1-for-10. Reliever Cal Quantrill has a 3.18 ERA in 5 2/3 innings. The Indians view Quantrill as a future starter. The keys of the deal are prospects Gabe Arias, Joey Cantillo and Owen Miller. But it wasn’t unreasonable to expect more, especially from Naylor.
