by How far have the Indians come since opening day? For the most basic but clear answer, simply compare their opening day starting lineup to the one they have now.
Which in itself is amazing, when you stop and think about what our opening week rotation looked like, and everything that has happened since.
Kluber and Clevinger hurt, Carrasco dealing with something much more important that sports, and Bauer being unpredictable all year until he got traded.
Lord only knows where this team would be if it wasn’t for players like Shane Bieber and Zac Plesac stepping up big in the rotation!
But getting back to that dreadful opening day starting lineup, let’s break it down by the numbers.
Keep in mind, four players remain in it who played that day, those guys being Tyler Naquin, Roberto Perez, Jose Ramirez, Greg Allen and Carlos Santana. The other five are DRASTIC upgrades. Let’s take a look shall we?
Leonys Martin – In 65 games with the Indians he batted 199 with 19 RBI. He was the “feel good story” that ran out of good will with lackluster play and sloppy defense.
Hanley Ramirez – In 16 games with the Indians, he batted 184 with 8 RBI. He was a stud with the marlins and Red Sox, and a dud with us.
Eric Stamets – In 13 games with the Indians, he went 2 for 41 at the plate but did have 2 RBI. The local boy didn’t do too well.
Max Moroff – In 20 games with the Indians, he batted 125 with 4 RBI. No need to see “more” of him, the Indians are better “off” without him.
And finally, the only player to play on a major league roster since leaving the team, the guy who said, “I guess they don’t want good players” when they cut him, Brad Miller.
Miller hit 250 in 13 games while driving in 4 massive RBI. He now flounders with the Phillies.
Since then, the Indians have gotten healthy with Jason Kipnis and Frankie Lindor. They made the great move of calling up Oscar Mercado as well as trading for Yasiel Puig and Franmil Reyes. The latter hasn’t panned out yet, but give it time and he will.
Lindor is batting 300 with 48 RBI and 20 HR
Puig is batting 263 with 67 RBI and 23 HR
Mercado is batting 277 with 32 RBI and 9 HR
Reyes is only batting 111 for the Indians, but, his season numbers are impressive with a 241 AVG, 27 HR and 49 RBI.
Kipnis, that guy you love to hate! He has his average up to 258 with 55 RBI and 11 HR.
So yeah, pretty easy to see why they turned things around after the first two months. Would you agree? I didn’t even mention the struggling Jake Bauers and Jordan Luplow, but we will save that for another day.
I think long term the results of the trade is obviously Reyes. It’s a short history, but like you I believe he’ll succeed. As for Bauer,I hate to lose a quality pitcher, but we got a great rental and great possibilities for long term.