The Indians need Michael Bourn to be the team's table setter. Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
CHICAGO — It’s still early, but the Cleveland Indians’ cold start offensively has them caught in a tricky balancing act.
They don’t want to pretend it isn’t happening, but they also don’t want to panic 12 games into the season. Prior to a 4-3 loss Monday night at the Chicago White Sox, the Indians’ .212 team batting average ranked 12th among 15 teams in the American League. They were hitting .162 with runners in scoring position and less than two outs, .208 overall with runners in scoring position and had stranded 74 runners.
“I mean pretty much team-wide we haven’t gotten off to the best start,” manager Terry Francona said. “That’s where you try to balance caring and always trying to get better, but certainly not panicking. I think there’s a difference, but you do have to balance that.”
Francona said the best approach is often just monitoring the situation rather than making a bunch of knee-jerk reactionary decisions to spark a hot streak.
He used Michael Bourn as an example, after the center fielder hit .200 in the first 11 games. Francona did rest the left-handed-hitting Bourn with left-hander John Danks starting for Chicago, but it was his first game off. Bourn will soon jump right back in the lineup because Francona likes what he’s seeing from his approach at the plate.
“Watch his work,” Francona said. “I watch the way he prepares. It’s just we haven’t hit on all cylinders, and I don’t think anybody (on the roster) has, but I do like his work and his preparation. It’s been pretty awesome. When you look at a guy and they’re not hitting .300, but they’re doing things to try to do that, you’ve got to be patient.”
Staying consistent is another way to put it.
Francona was rewarded for doing just that Monday, when the Indians took a 3-0 lead against a left-handed pitcher. Prior to the game, Cleveland was hitting just .203 collectively against lefties. Designated hitter Ryan Raburn and catcher Brett Hayes each hit their first homers and left fielder Michael Brantley hit a run-scoring double with two outs.
“I think it’s very easy as a coaching staff or as a manager the first two weeks of the season to do things because it’s more glaring (when you struggle),” Francona said. “So, I think the biggest thing we can do is be consistent, just like we ask the players. Just try to be consistent.”
