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START: Thursday, June 18th, 12:00 AM (EST)   

END: Wednesday, June 24th, 11:59 PM (EST)

DEBATE:

The Cleveland Indians have been decimated with injuries.  With the Tribe only about 6 games behind the AL Central Leading Detroit Tigers:

What do you think the Cleveland Indians will do to make a run?

What do you think the Cleveland Indians should do to make a run? 

Or do you think it is too late to make a run and we'll be watching the team dismantle before and after the trade deadline?

Trade, get healthy, you call it, you debate it, it’s Sports2DEBATE from topics you create!

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What the Indians will do to make a playoff run?

Fire Eric Wedge, and hire a real manager.

The Indians will rebound. So much talent is coming off the DL in the coming weeks.

I believe that the Tribe will win the division, and be one of the hottest teams the rest of the way, as soon as they get the majority of their stars back on the field.

Their stars have been on the field, their pitching has been pitching effective. the problem is coaching, management of bukllpen and pitchers, and a lack of OBP from the top of the order to get on base for Choo and Martinez.

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/cle/stats/bycategory?cat=Batting&type=0&year=season_2009&qualified=0&sort=0

Hafner is the only star who's really been injured, playing in 25 of 69 games. and Sizemores played in 49 of 69 games, but Sizemore has a .229 BA and .309 OBP, for a leadoff hitter, getting on base 31% of the time... If I was the coach I'd bench him, move him out of the leadoff, or send him to the minors, so his injury not really "hurting" the team.

On top of which, Martinez has been hitting .340+ the whole season, and leads the team in runs, out of Clean-up. then Shin Soo Choo, who should be the 3 hitter, or leadoff hitter, since he does get on base, is the only other indian with an OBP over .400 to go with his .297 avg. Choo also leads the team in BBs and SB, two important numbers for a leadoff hitter, (if OBP wasn't important enough as is.)

The team is horriblely mismanaged from lineup placement, to leaving starting pitchers in for too many innings, to bad bullpen matchups on hitters.

Fact is, Fransisco,Garko, Cabrera & Peralta have been playing the whole season and have RBI totals in the 20s.

Though in Cabrera's defense, he is the only other Indian outside Martinez hitting over .300, he's just in the wrong spot in the lineup.

Mark DeLaRosa  is also having a career year wasted because of Wedge's inefficiency.

They have the tied worst ERA in MLB with the washington Nationals, but they only have a run differential of -13. (pitching has given up 13 runs more than the offense has scored)

Add a revitalized Fausto Carmona, a fresh Jake Westbrook, consistent Aaron Laffey, solid pitcher from last season Anthony Reyes, and most important reliever (and only guy that can pitch the 8th inning) Rafael Betancourt

TO

An already strong and Cy Young caliber Cliff Lee, Mr Consistent so far Carl Pavano, and the bullpen that has actually been doing decently of late (except for Rafael Perez, who just needs to be moved back an inning or 2)..

AND

Get back Grady, Asdrubal, and have Hafner and Peralta back at full force, and

WE HAVE A DIVISION WINNER

The tigers are missing Bonderman, the Twins were without Mauer for 5 weeks, the White sox have been hit here and there. You make it sound lik the only team in the central to sufer injuries are the Indians. Which is not the case.

ALso, a revitalized Carmona? the Guy has pitched 1 good seaosn in 5 seasons in the MLB. Just expect whats realistica from him, Jason Marquis style numbers, maybe a 4.00 ERA, and 12-14 wins.

Jake Westbrook has always had a high ERA but eats innings, he doesn't really win games, he just keeps the bullpen fresh.

You need the bullpen healthy? well, its a shame that the Indians farm system is devoid of talented players like it used to be. Otherwise you'd be able to call people up to pith effectively while people are hurt.

Sizemore back, yeah, because his .220 avg, and .309 OBP are so helpful. Sizemore does a terrible job getting on base and setting up Martinez, Hafner, Choo. But Sizemore does a great job driving in runs when other people get on base for him. He's a clear example of lineup mismanagement.

Cabrera, probably should be your leadoff hitter, or #2 hittter. another person thrust to the wrong spot of the lineup.

What did the Rockies do different from Clint Hurdle than Jim Tracy to go 15-5  since Huirdle got fired? including a 11 game wining streak, and 13 wins in their last 14 games?

1 Change. 1 total change. Ian Stewart to start over Garett Atkins unless the SP is a lefty. Everything else came down to management style.

Just accept the fact that Eric Wedge is a horrible manager, and for 2 years now, has taken the "favorite to win the central" and had them in last or 2nd last, after blowing the ALCS

Their pitching has given up more hits than any other pitching staff in MLB, they're pitching has issued more Walks than any other pitching staff in MLB, they have given up more Runs and Earned Runs, than any other pitching staff in MLB.

Really wonder where you got 12th and 13th...

Not giving up that easily. It's a shame because the Indians looked to have what it takes in those 1st 2 games, going into Wrigley against a very good Cubs squad. The Tribe was playing with heart, and had those games won.

Still waiting on a ton of key players to return.

Name these "key players" that provide the turnaround?

Convince me that Eric Wedge is doing, and has been doing, everything in his power to try and win. cause I don't see it from Wedge.

Oh yeah, the Indians bullpen, also has more Blown Saves, than Saves. Fun fact for you guys.

Laffey, Westbrook, Carmona, Grady, Betancourt, Asdrubal, A Reyes, Scott Lewis

Laffey is been solid this year, and a little of last year.

Westbrook was really hitting stride with a 3.12 ERA before he was hurt last season

Carmona has proven that he has amazing stuff, and just needs to get out of his rut

Grady is one of the top talents in baseball

Betancourt was one of the top relievers in baseball when the rest of the team was playing baseball

Asdrubal has shown early on with similarities to Roberto Alomar, excited to see him develop

Reyes was solid last year, he gives a solid 5 innings (when you can believe in your bullpen)

Scott Lewis had a 2.6 ERA so far

Hafner is coming around, Victor has been solid all year, we are getting some key playing time for some players that need developing, and will be very valuable down the line.

Cliff Lee is a rock. We really just need to appreciate TEAM, when all these pieces are in place, the TEAM will play better overall. Chemistry, the pitches a hitter gets when a solid Hafner is after him, what Grady leading off and getting on base will do by getting a lead early for Cliff Lee, a fixed Carmona, consistent Laffey, and a very long awaited Westbrook.

Now if we can get a bullpen guy to pitch well. That comes with starters going deeper, and getting the early lead, and playing solid team ball.

What they should do? Dismantle like they always do. Trade their top talent to the big markets of Boston, New York, and LA.

What they will do? Dismantle. To the big market teams, and a few other teams out there that are trying to compete.

And to answer the last question, they will be dismantling before and after the trade deadline.

Sizemore has been the least effective guy of all the people Wedge has played at leadoff this season. Yeah its nice when Grady gets a HR to leadoff a game and get the team to an early lead, but his .309 OBP, doesn't set the tables for anyone.

Cliff Lee is tied for major league lead in Starts with 1 run of run support or fewer from his offense. Thats where his problem lies.

Carmona has had 1 successful season, and you say he has "proven that he has amazing stuff"? So 1 season is proof? by that logic, Eric Hinske (now a pirate, and PH mostly), should be an everyday player somewhere, because his rookie year when he won ROY, he had 80+RBI, 20+HR, and hit .280+, by that he has "proven himsellf to be an amazing hitter" .... oh wait, Eric Hinske, has put up worse and worse numbers (for the most part), as each season of experience goes by. 1 season of success isn't proof at all. Proof is back-to-back seasons of success... (like Cliff Lee is doing).

The Asdrubal injury hurts more than the Sizemore one, I concede that. Westbrook, hasn't played since he was hurt last year... and last year he had a .312 ERA. So you think he's going to pitch 3.12 ERA this season too? with the rest of the division tougher than last year? and coming off a major injury? Westbrook isn't exactlly Chris Carpenter of the Cardinals here. Westbrooks never been an all-star caliber pitcher, yet alone CY young pitcher, so why in heavens would you rationally expect him to come back this year, and put up (for him) Cy Young numbers?

Sizemore would be a top talent in baseball if he could hit for Average, which as time goes on, he has shown his avg dips and dips... yeah its nice that he's patient at the plate, is capable of 40/40 seasons, but he also hits into a lot of DPs, Strikeouts out at a ratio to AB putting him in the top 10, with the likes of Howard, Dunn, Swing or Die Branyan, etc.

Personally, I think Sizemore would be a much better player if he was a 20/20 guy, but hit .300 (....Derek Jeter...), Sizemore goes up there trying to crush the ball everytime, and thats a problem and a bad habit. Any real hitter will tell you, just have good at bats, and try and make good contact, the HRs and Doubles will come as a result. (Ted Williams, Larry Walker, Todd Helton, Albert pujols, Mickey Mantle, joe DiMaggio, Lou Gerhig, etc.) All those guys, not bad HR guys, with the exception of Pujols and Mantle, none are considered Premier power hitters first. But every single one of them hit over .300 in their career.