26-year old lefty swinging 2B Jason Kipnis and 27-year old switch-hitting SS Asdrubal Cabrera came into this season as one of the better hitting duos in the middle infield in all of baseball.  They combined to go 302 of 1,146 (.264 avg) with 156 runs scored, 30 homers, 144 RBIs and 40 stolen bases in 2012.  So far this year though, Kipnis and Cabrera have been pretty awful at the plate.  Kipnis has played in 8 games for the Tribe so far this year and he is 4 for 32 (.125 avg, .390 OPS) with 1 run scored, 0 homers and 2 RBIs.  He has also whiffed 11 times while only walking 2 times so far this year, which is pathetic.  Cabrera has played in 11 games for the Indians so far this year and he is 5 for 42 (.119 avg, .498 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 2 homers and 3 RBIs.  Cabrera has whiffed 14 times while only walking 5 times so far this year for the Indians.  I don’t think the Indians can afford to keep letting Kipnis and Cabrera bat near the top of the lineup as long as they aren’t hitting.  I wouldn’t bench either of them, but I definitely would move them near the bottom of the batting order until they snap out of their funk at the plate.

For the second year in a row, 26-year old switch-hitting shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera turned in a solid first half in 2012 for the Indians and he made the All-Star team before fading badly in the second half.  Cabrera has played in 63 games since July 1st for the Indians and he is 56 for 237 (.236 avg) with 22 runs scored, 3 homers, 17 RBIs and 6 stolen bases.  He has now played in 131 games overall this year for the Indians and he is 137 of 509 (.269 avg, .755 OPS) with 62 runs scored, 14 homers, 57 RBIs and 8 stolen bases.  It’s starting to look like his breakout year in 2011 was simply a mirage.

27-year old righty swinging 1B/OF Matt LaPorta is likely get his last chance to prove himself with the Cleveland Indians.  LaPorta has played in 6 games for the Tribe so far this year  for the Indians and he is 3 for 22 (.136 avg, .273 OPS) with 1 run scored, 0 homers and 0 RBIs.  He has also struck out already 7 times in his first 22 ABs for the Indians.  LaPorta also has played in 101 games in AAA-ball for the Indians this year and he was 99 for 375 (.264 avg, .822 OPS) with 56 runs scored, 19 homers and 62 RBIs.  LaPorta has now played in 275 games in his first four years with the Indians and he is 219 of 931 (.235 avg, .691 OPS) with 105 runs scored, 30 homers, 115 RBIs and 3 stolen bases.  LaPorta could be a washout with the Indians if he doesn’t hit well in September.  He was the key player the Indians got in return for C.C. Sabathia when they dealt him to Milwaukee.

The Indians got rid of Derek Lowe yesterday and it’s time to do the same with some of the guys that they have been playing in the field lately.  The Indians are 50-54 on the year now, which has them 7 games behind the White Sox in the A.L. Central and 6 games behind the A’s for the Wild Card Spot.  The Indians just can’t hit right now, so why not give some younger players a shot?  29-year old lefty swinging Casey Kotchman, 38-year old lefty swinging LF Johnny Damon, 28-year old righty swinging infielder Jose Lopez, 32-year old lefty swinging 3B Jack Hannahan, 35-year old lefty swinging DH Travis Hafner and 32-year old righty swinging 1B/OF Shelley Duncan are just taking ABs away from younger players that will be part of the Tribe’s future.  All of those guys would clear waivers, so maybe the Indians could find a taker for a deal or two.  Kotchman is an outstanding defensive 1B, but he’s just not much of a hitter for the position.  He has played in 92 games for the Indians so far this year and he is 70 for 311 (.225 avg, .644 OPS) with 37 runs scored, 10 homers, 39 RBIs and 3 stolen bases.  Kotchman is the most likely of this bunch to have any trade value.  28-year old righty swinging 1B/3B Jose Lopez has played in 61 games for the Indians this year and he is 48 of 198 (.242 avg, .633 OPS) with 16 runs scored, 4 homers and 28 RBIs.  His versatility could interest some team.  32-year old lefty swinging 3B Jack Hannahan is a wizard with the glove but a non-factor with the bat.  Hannahan has played in 64 games for the Tribe so far this year and he is 46 of 193 (.238 avg, .663 OPS) with 13 runs scored, 4 homers and 23 RBIs.  38-year old lefty swinging LF Johnny Damon just hasn’t been playing too well for the Indians this year.  He has played in 64 games for the Indians so far this year and he is 46 of 207 (.222 avg, .610 OPS) with 25 runs scored, 4 homers, 19 RBIs and 4 stolen bases.  35-year old lefty swinging DH Travis Hafner is on the last year of his contract.  He has played in 59 games for the Indians so far this year and he is 45 of 196 (.230 avg, .784 OPS) with 20 runs scored, 10 homers and 29 RBIs.  32-year old righty swinging 1B/OF Shelley Duncan has played in 65 games for the Indians this year and he is 41 of 182 (.225 avg, .744 OPS) with 27 runs scored, 9 homers, 25 RBIs and 1 stolen base.  The Indians should start the rebuilding right now by taking these guys of the roster by dealing them or releasing them.

The Indians need more offensive production out of 3B.  With Lonnie Chisenhall out for a while, the Indians need to find a hitter to play 3B.  They have been platooning 32-year old lefty swinging Jack Hannahan and 28-year old righty swinging Jose Lopez but that combo just isn’t panning out offensively so far this year.  Hannahan has played in 53 games for the Tribe so far this year and he is 40 for 166 (.241 avg, .663 OPS) with 11 runs scored, 3 homers and 22 RBIs.  Lopez has played in 52 games so far this year for the Indians and he is 44 for 173 (.254 avg, .674 OPS) with 14 runs scored, 4 homers and 28 RBIs.  The Indians should be on the hunt for an offensive minded 3B on the last year of his contract.