One prime culprit in the anemic offense is Carlos Santana.

This guy is having a dud season for what we were led to expect. He has had nothing but infrequent warm spells mixed in with a rotten approach over several at bats.

He's supposed to be a middle of the order bat and he isn't doing it or even a good impersonation.

To me, right now, he's just a batter.

A true middle of the order guy is a HITTER. The guy the other team knows is going to make them think they just might lose the game right there.

Santana has shown some of that skill, but he sure would benefit by taking some of those pitches on the outer half and driving them the other way. Now he takes his mighty cut and rolls over grounders to the right side of the infield.

C'mon Carlos, this is a pennant race.

Indians Close To Deal For Ryan Ludwick?
By Tim Dierkes [July 31 at 12:11pm CST]

12:11pm: The deal is not yet close but seems inevitable, tweets Ken Rosenthal. Scott Miller of CBS Sports says the deal is close.

11:57am: The Indians are close to a deal with the Padres for right fielder Ryan Ludwick, tweets Yahoo's Tim Brown.

Ludwick, 33, is hitting .238/.301/.373 and has $2.2MM left on his contract. He was previously with the Tribe for part of 2003 through '05.

BTW- Ubaldo is having his medical exam at the Tribe complex in Goodyear.

jonmorosi Jon Morosi
#Indians and #Padres still discussing names in Ludwick deal, source says. But it is indeed close.
18 minutes ago

No one's posted any names for Ludwick. Hoping it's more like Carlton Smith and Abner Abreu than last night's deal. Of course, there's no one left anywhere near as impressive as what we sent the Rockies. Too bad we don't have Gardner and McBride left to offer for Ludwick. About we have left are lots of relief pitchers, many of whom have impressive credentials; hope we dont' sent Chen Lee.

Civ- Are there any #2/#3 type arms anywhere in the system? If so, how many years are they from the Show?

The best at this point seem to be Felix Sterling, just promoted to Lake County, and Elvis Araujo back from surgery and working in the Arizona League. They are many years away.

Matt Packer and Austin Adams at Akron have some promise but much more likely for the back of the rotation.

Ryan Blair, a 2010 draftee, was quite highly rated before the season and had a good April in Lake County but then slumped badly and has been on the DL for a month or more, don't know why.

This year's signed draftees feature 3rd rounder Jake Sisco, a JC pitcher, doing well in Arizona; 5th round Will Roberts at Mahoning Valley.

Short answer to your question: No one anywhere near the majors.

Baseball America on Sisco before the draft:

Junior college pitchers, especially those in Northern California, don't typically go off the board early. Sisco should be an exception, as some scouts think he has a chance to be special. He was the best junior college pitcher in the state, thanks to a fastball that sits at 92-93 mph and gets up to 95. He shows the makings of four plus pitches, with his fastball, curveball, slider and changeup, though he needs to improve the consistency of all his pitches. He has a nice pitcher's build at 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds and has shown more maturity this year on the mound. A 37th-round pick by the Giants out of high school in Modesto last year, Sisco could go as high as the third round this year. [Maybe a mid roation starter some day??]

Righthander Will Roberts was a midweek starter at the beginning of the year and forced his way into the Sunday role after throwing a perfect game against George Washington in late March. He didn't lose a game until the last series of the regular season, going 10-1, 1.67 in 81 innings. Roberts ranges from 88-92 mph with his fastball, and offers a good slider and solid changeup.

[That's back of the rotation, if anything, I guess]

This is what Antonetti said last year when the Indians traded Jake Westbrook:

"We certainly don't like doing these deals. We want to be on the other end of them. That's what we're working towards."

If we sign Dillon and Dillon we could have a couple more far far away from Cleveland No.2/3 prospects in the fold:

No. 2 pick Dillon Howard established himself as the top prospect in Arkansas early on, earning all-state honors as a sophomore, and has maintained that through his senior season. He has a strong track record in showcases and summer ball. He hasn't had a boffo senior season but has maintained his status as a potential late first-round or sandwich pick. At his best, Howard throws a fastball with above-average life and velocity. It can sit 92-94 and at times has heavy sink. Command can be an issue, but he's a solid athlete whose arm works well, so scouts can project average big league fastball command. He's played catcher, shortstop and third base in high school and is a baseball rat who has passion for the game. His secondary pitches, a curveball and changeup, have their moments but have been inconsistent this season. He has more feel for his secondary offerings than many prep pitchers, which has some scouts surprised that he hasn't had a more dominant season. Some have raised concerns about his mound demeanor and energy level, but it's unlikely he falls far enough for his Arkansas commitment to come into play.

Longer shot signing:

Dillon Peters has moved to the head of the class of an interesting group of Indiana high school pitchers, but he probably won't be drafted as high as his stuff alone would merit. His body (listed at 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, though scouts think he's a couple of inches shorter) and strong commitment to Texas are concerns, though his biggest supporters liken him to Robbie Ross, a Rangers second-round pick in 2008. Peters' fastball runs from 90-94 mph, his hard curveball gives him a solid No. 2 pitch and his changeup is more advanced than with most high schoolers. His mechanics have a lot of effort and not much deception. His control is inconsistent and he gets little extension in his delivery, leading some scouts to wonder about how effective his fastball will be against pro hitters. Peters may not sign for less than first-round money, so there's no telling where he might go in the draft.

thanks for that information Civ.

Looks like any new SP will come via FA and trade.

Whoh, Nellie!

CaminoTribe Nick Camino
by jonmorosi
Just received more confirmation, #Indians minor leaguer Matt McBride in an Akron hospital with eye fracture. May hold up Jimenez deal.
18 minutes ago

Pirates, Indians In Mix For Ryan Ludwick
By Tim Dierkes [July 31 at 2:11pm CST]
The latest on Padres right fielder Ryan Ludwick, who is hitting .238/.301/.373 and has $2.2MM left on his contract...

The Pirates are back in on Ludwick, tweets Brown. An earlier report had the Indians close but then balking at the Padres' asking price.

The Pirates are in play for Ludwick but he's not their top target, tweets Rob Biertempfel. That might be Jason Kubel, he adds. However, Jon Paul Morosi says there are no serious talks now between the Pirates and Twins about Kubel.

As of last night, the Pirates were still in the mix for Ludwick along with the Indians, tweets Ken Rosenthal. The Pirates are still trying for Ludwick this morning, tweets Yahoo's Tim Brown.