CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Indians are one of the worst hitting teams in baseball.
They’re 27th in batting average (.221), 29th in slugging percentage (.355), 25th in home runs (41) and dead last in Major League Baseball in hits (292).
The concern continues to grow among the fan base, but their best player believes the team will turn things around.
“Zero percent. Zero percent worried,” Francisco Lindor said. “Everybody’s panicking because you see low-.200’s or mid-.200’s. It’s early in the season. If we were in September and the whole team goes 0-for-35 at the same time, you’ll see batting averages dropping eight points, ten points. Now it’s dropping 40 or 50 points. It is what it is. The hitters that are going to hit .300 are going to hit .300 no matter what. The hitters that are going to hit .250 are going to hit .250 no matter what. The ones that are going to hit .200 are going to hit .200 no matter what, brother. I learned that as the years go on. We’re going to be fine.”
Lindor has been a bright spot for the Indians. He’s posted a .341 batting average, with two home runs and five RBI in his last 11 games. It’s a good sign for the Tribe, especially after he missed all of spring training and the first 19 games of the regular season due to calf and ankle injuries.
It’s in a good spot for sure,” Lindor said. “I’m happy where I’m right now. I’m blessed to be playing the game on a daily basis. What I’ve done so far is usually what I do every year.”
Lindor is still dealing with pain in that left ankle and isn’t back to 100 percent. He’s found a way to play through it, while performing at a high level. Lindor was supposed to be the Indians’ designated hitter on a semi-regular basis following his return, but he’s only DH’d twice for the Tribe this season.
“I’m playing everyday and it is what it is. It’s part of the game that you are going to deal with injuries and you do whatever it takes to help the team win,” he said.
The Indians return home on Thursday night for an 11-game home stand. The first four games are against Baltimore, who enter with a 14-28 record and have been outscored by 79 runs this season.
“It’s a team that we got to beat no matter what,” Lindor said. “Whether it’s the Yankees, whether it’s the Red Sox, Toronto, whether it’s Seattle, Houston – it’s a team that we have to beat no matter what. It don’t matter who’s on the other side, we still got to go out there and play the game the right way in order for us to win.”
Listen to my entire conversation with Francisco Lindor at the top of this article.
