(Editor's Note: Everyone please give a Roll Tribe Roll welcome to Hannah Baldridge! Baldridge is an admin for the Cleveland Indians Tribe Nation Facebook page, so be sure to become a member there. She is our newest contributor and will be providing three keys to the game for each contest!
Hannah's Three Keys
Hannah's Three Keys
1.) Avoid the double play
There is a reason that they are called “rally killers”. The missed opportunities and stranded base runners are frustrating. We have to do a better job in clutch situations. Double plays often happen when a batter tries to do too much. They swing at pitches they have no business swinging at (reaching for a pitch outside or expanding the strike zone). Perhaps it would be wise to learn from Jim Thome, who was one of the best players when it came to avoiding hitting into double plays. He was not afraid to strike out and he was not afraid to have a well-hit ball caught in the outfield. He had productive at bats, didn’t expand the strike zone or over-swing. He trusted the teammate batting behind him would do the same. We have to start implementing those fundamentals when it comes to our offense.
There is a reason that they are called “rally killers”. The missed opportunities and stranded base runners are frustrating. We have to do a better job in clutch situations. Double plays often happen when a batter tries to do too much. They swing at pitches they have no business swinging at (reaching for a pitch outside or expanding the strike zone). Perhaps it would be wise to learn from Jim Thome, who was one of the best players when it came to avoiding hitting into double plays. He was not afraid to strike out and he was not afraid to have a well-hit ball caught in the outfield. He had productive at bats, didn’t expand the strike zone or over-swing. He trusted the teammate batting behind him would do the same. We have to start implementing those fundamentals when it comes to our offense.
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| Danny Salazar |
If there is a team that understands the offensive struggles the Indians are dealing with, it is the Twins. Despite their recent struggles, we do not want to be the team that lights their fire and gets them going. Danny Salazar takes the mound tonight to face the Twins. He has struggled a bit against them in the past, going 3-3 with a 4.80 ERA in 10 appearances. We need him to realize that even though the Twins are slumping, they do have players who can do some damage (Buxton, Rosario and Mauer). Salazar needs to work the corners, keep the ball low and maintain control of the pace of the game.
3.) Keep your heads up
We are a better team than our record reflects. We all started off the season with the hopes that we would dominate each and every team we came across. But, we find ourselves in last in the AL Central with a 5-7 record and wondering what on earth happened to the team we saw during last year's postseason. But this team has the talent, chemistry and the heart to have an amazing season and an even better postseason. Keep your chins up, weather the storm and come out of this slump stronger.
We are a better team than our record reflects. We all started off the season with the hopes that we would dominate each and every team we came across. But, we find ourselves in last in the AL Central with a 5-7 record and wondering what on earth happened to the team we saw during last year's postseason. But this team has the talent, chemistry and the heart to have an amazing season and an even better postseason. Keep your chins up, weather the storm and come out of this slump stronger.
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