Shapiro says patience is key during slow start

Indians Insider: Shapiro says patience is key during slow start
Posted by Joe Maxse jmaxse@plaind.com April 17, 2008 20:30PM


Chuck Crow/The Plain Dealer

Travis Hafner drives a two-run homer to left-field in the sixth inning, part of a five-run surge against Detroit's Zach Miner Thursday night at Progressive Field. After losing six of their last seven, outscored 49-24 in the six losses, the Indians are not about to reach for the panic button. But as General Manager Mark Shapiro said before Thursday night's game against the Tigers at Progressive Field, the time for a hard look is definitely approaching.

"After 15 games, it necessitates concern, not action, from a front office standpoint," said Shapiro. "We hopes it's a glitch. There's not enough there to address yet."

Of "concern" is the fact certain players counted on to pick up where they left off a year ago have not come any where near that expectation. Casey Blake (hitting .146), Asdrubal Cabrera (.173), Franklin Gutierrez (.182) and platooning Jason Michaels (.091) have struggled to say the least.

Those numbers are part of the reason the Indians are last in the American League in hitting (.232) and slugging percentage (.340).


"We've been the polar opposite of a year ago when we were able to control the baseball," said Shapiro. "Pitchers threw strikes and kept the ball in the ballpark. Hitters controlled the strike zone and had tough, quality at-bats from top to bottom in the lineup.

"Obviously, we've seen some dead spots. It's hard to get by with one dead spot, let alone three or four. No one has been exceeding our expectations."

Shapiro said a week ago that 40 games into the season is about the right time to make a fair assessment. Right now that time frame is closing in sooner than later.

Quality control: Manager Eric Wedge is not pleased with the type of at-bats too many of his players are putting in. If you are going to make an out, at least make it a tough one, he said.

"We haven't had a consistent approach," said Wedge, who held a team meeting before the game. "You can have a quality at-bat, but make an out in the right direction. You have to be tough in the box, a tough out. It's a team sport, but it's about one-on-one battles."

Wedge did not want to specify which players were not meeting the quality standards. He also would not discuss what was said in the meeting.

"I recognize we're 15 games in," he said. "Every thing is magnified, but there are certain things I don't like seeing."