The Cleveland Indians are currently finishing the month of May in brutal fashion against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Hopefully, actual Memorial Day brings some better luck against the Chicago White Sox.
Reaching June allows fans to get a good idea of where the team is at both in the standings and in general.
Standings-wise, the team is right behind the White Sox with a chance to make up big ground at the start of the week.
Overall, concerns loom.
Injuries are starting to take their toll and taking both Franmil Reyes and Jordan Luplow out of the lineup is tough for the already struggling offense.
Players need to step up and here we will look at two batters in particular who could use a fresh start in June.
2. Eddie Rosario
Will the real Eddie Rosario please stand up?
The prized offseason addition did enter the weekend with 29 RBIs on the year, but is still slugging well under .400.
His four home runs are a concern as well as he was brought in to be the reliable, everyday left fielder.
So far he has not been any better than any of the other outfielders being shuffled around.
Proof of that comes in his barely positive WAR value so far through two months of the season.
The Indians were hoping to get the Rosario who hit 32 home runs back in 2019.
Eddie Rosario just took a day trip to Souvenir City! 🏙️#OurCLE pic.twitter.com/qpnE6SgEvx
— Bally Sports Cleveland (@BallySportsCLE) May 27, 2021
Time remains on his side and we know he isn’t going to get benched.
But what about a trade?
That is the one thing fans, and Rosario, should keep in mind.
While his value is not high, several teams out there may think they can get the old version of the veteran.
1. Jake Bauers
Is Jake Bauers going to remain with the team all season?
Another defensive miscue – this time it's Jake Bauers who can't hold on at first – goes as a Fielder's Choice RBI – Can't assume a double play – but sure looked good from press row sitting in row one
— Matt Loede (@MattLoede) May 30, 2021
It seemed as if he was headed for a quick release once Yu Chang started receiving more playing time at first.
Josh Naylor even got some time at the position.
But Bauers remains with the big league club as Bobby Bradley stays down in Columbus.
All eyes are now on what the team will do with Bradley.
At some point the Indians are either going to need to promote the 25-year-old or move on.
Bauers is struggling to get on base with an on-base percentage hovering right below .300.
His slugging percentage is right around the same mark.
The tricky thing is that if the Indians are done with Bauers, they must release him as he is out of minor league options.
Fans may be ready for both Bauers and Chang to be gone at this point, honestly.
Bradley is the next logical choice at the position, while Owen Miller and Nolan Jones could get time there too.
The one thing that will enforce change is someone taking off on offense.
That is true for Bauers, Chang, Rosario, and everyone on this Indians offense other than Jose Ramirez.
Leave a Reply