It’s Time For These Players to Step Up
The past two seasons, the Indians found themselves ahead in a series only to see the lead evaporate. This time around, the Indians found themselves trailing the series to the defending World Series champion. The Indians ran into a similar situation back in 1997. The Indians were playing the defending World Champion Yankees. They trailed in the series, 2-1, and rallied to win the series. The Indians will need to duplicate that to knock off the Astros. Certain players have not stepped up so far this postseason, as a matter of fact, the whole lineup has not been impressive. The Indians are 6 for 60 at the plate!
Horrendous hitting by the Indians consists of four individuals who have yet to get a single hit in this series: Jason Kipnis, Yonder Alonso, Josh Donaldson and Jose Ramirez. If the Indians look to get back into the series, these four hitters along with the rest of their teammates need to get it together. Indians will need to try to attack Astros ace, Dallas Keuchel, early to build a lead and feed off the energy of Progressive Field. The Indians, as a team, are hitting .273 against Dallas, with several guys that have at least a .300 average against him (Ramirez, Edwin, Gomes).
Enough of me blasting the hitters, two men in our bullpen need to be called out; that’s Andrew Miller and Cody Allen. These two were key cogs that led the Indians to the 2016 World Series. Miller has allowed some key run(s) in the last two outings in which Carlos Carrasco has pitched in the postseason. Cody Allen has struggled all season long. Many believe that Allen should not even pitch for the rest of the series. The Indians will need every player on this playoff roster to step up.
Let’s call it what it is. This team does not deserve to win this series. They have been outplayed from start to finish. They have amassed only three total runs and six total hits in two games. If this team does not show up Monday at the corner of Carnegie and Ontario, it will be lights out and another disappointing end to another season.
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