“Obviously we’d like to be swinging the bats a little bit better – give our pitching staff some more run support,” Greg Allen said after the game. “It’s a long year. It’s going to be filled with ups and downs. There will be times where our pitching staff is doing well and we’re not hitting and vice versa. Obviously we want to try an lengthen the window when we’re doing good on both sides of the ball so it’s definitely an area of focus for us and we’re looking forward to having some more productive at-bats as we go along.”
Allen was concerned and a little frustrated, but he isn't panicking and neither is the team. They know the numbers have to improve at some point.
Carlos Santana (.471) and Hanley Ramirez (.235) are the only players with a batting average above .200. That includes Jose Ramirez, who's off to a slow start.
The Indians are playing without their best player in Francisco Lindor. Second baseman Jason Kipnis could return as soon as next week. Carlos Gonzalez is expected to join the big league club in the next two weeks. It's early in the season and the lineup could look much different a month from now.
The players aren't using it as an excuse, but it's reality. Young players like Jordan Luplow, Eric Stamets and Max Moroff aren't ready to play everyday. Once this team is healthy, then we'll be able to see how good they can become. Unfortunately for the Indians, it could be a while before Lindor is back on the field.
In the meantime, this roster needs to hold down the fort. That means making the most of their opportunities, including the one in the first inning on Wednesday. The Indians didn't score, despite having runners on first and second with one out. The inning ended with an Allen strikeout with runners on second and third. This team hasn't had many chances like that so far this season.
“It’s just about maximizing those opportunities and taking advantage especially in this game," Allen said after the game. "Sometimes those opportunities can be limited so if you have a chance to capitalize early that can go a long way – just setting the tone, both for the offense and defense.”
The Indians haven't gotten off to quick starts this season. In fact, that could be exactly what they need. If they could string together a few hits early in the game, it could boost the confidence of some of their inexperienced players.
The White Sox had more errors (3) than the Indians had hits going into the ninth inning. Cleveland has struggled to make solid contact in the first five games. When your starter struggles, like Kluber did, it puts even more pressure on unproven commodities to deliver. Allen wouldn't admit it, but the whole team is impacted when your ace allows six runs in 3.1 innings.
“That’s part of the game. We still got to go in and have productive at-bats whether we’re up by 10 or down by 10," Allen said. "We’re all human. We all have our good and bad days. The best that we can do to try and be consistent regardless of what the circumstance or environment is the better.”
The Indians will get their chance to break out of their slump against the Blue Jays on Thursday at 6:10. Trevor Bauer will get the start against Aaron Sanchez.