In "theory" Kipnis is a leadoff man since he has been a pretty good basestealer [31-30-22 in the last 3 years] and he has drawn some walks [67 in 2012, 76 in 2013 and an OnBasePct of 366, 50 in 2014]. If and when he gets back to that quality of offense again, I'd move him to leadoff. Jose Ramirez appears to be our best stealer but he'd rather than bat him second since: a] that would break up the long list of lefties at the top of the order and b] he's a great bunter and could move over the leadoff man if the leadoff man manages to get on base!

Looking down to the farm system, not sure if we have obvious leadoff candidates farther along than Greg Allen way down at Lake County. Perhaps that could ultimately be a role for Lindor -- he's not a great baserunner but he should become a polished hitter pretty quickly.

8 home runs, 3 by our backup catchers, 2 by our 1B, 1 by our super utility man and 2 by our dynamic OF. Chisenhall and Kipnis have been just about as useless as Murphy. At least Raburn is hitting again.

Kipnis is at about .100 vs. Lefties, so he's not quite the answer to leadoff either

We had better get our act together for Detroit coming up or we will look pretty bad. Bring Crockett back. Bring Holt up.

Crockett for sure. Holt, why not, he can catch the ball and doesn't hurt worse than Murphy or Bourn. Adams too probably. I sure wish Urshela did not remain on the DL; we could use a RH 3B who can field and hit for power.

Brantley is a huge key to this team, and until yesterday, nothing.

So I wouldn't make changes as everyone is struggling at once. Get Brantley back healthy and it's a big start.

If not for the meltdown by Cody, we would be 6-7 which isn't bad considering no offense whatsoever yet.

And when you see what Carrasco (yesterday, continued), Bauer and Kluber are doing, definitely reason for hope. Salazar as well.

TFIR is right,the starting pitching was supposed to be this team's strength and so far it is.
The hitting is a problem, when I start thinking that Swisher might be able to help, you know I am on the edge of panic.

when I start thinking that Swisher might be able to help, you know I am on the edge of panic

Yep, that proves it.
OF course the performance this afternoon doesn't inspire any confidence. Lots of hits, lots of men on second and third. But not any runs.

6 games out already, and losing to all the teams in our division. They are digging a hole which may be too deep to climb out of!
But hey, we play the Tigers next...

Yankees have softened up the Tigers for us.

But they also gave Detroit Shane Green who's starting tonight and has allowed 1 run in 3 starts. Are our tough hitters ready to crack him?

Some youngster named Nick Swisher is playing RF and batting 2nd for the Clippers tonight.

I thought he had already retired last year.
Matt LaPorta Rumors
AL Notes: LaPorta, Eveland, Blue Jays
By Charlie Wilmoth [April 12, 2015 at 8:13pm CDT]

Former Indians first baseman and outfielder Matt LaPorta has retired, former big-leaguer Joe Thurston tells FanGraphs’ David Laurila. LaPorta and Thurston played together in Mexico last year. LaPorta, the seventh overall pick in the 2007 draft, appeared at the time to be the key to the deal that send C.C. Sabathia from Cleveland to Milwaukee. (In time, of course, it became clear that Michael Brantley was the best player on the Indians’ end of the deal.) LaPorta appeared in parts of four seasons with Cleveland, hitting a disappointing .238/.301/.393 in 1,068 career plate appearances

Nick Swisher was 3-5 tonight. 3 runs, 1 RBI.

Bring him up.

I was thinking....are we really going to not even win 10 games in April...again?

Seems we do this a lot....and it's frustrating.

2014 on April 27 11-14 Finished 85 - 77 (3rd)5Games back and no Playoffs
2013 on April 27 8-12 Finished 92 - 70 (2nd) 1 game back...made the WC game off
2012 on April 27 10-8 (1st) Finished 68-94 4th
2011 on APril 27 15-8 (1st) Finished 80-82 10 games back (2nd Place)
2010 on April 11 9-11(3rd) Finshed 69-93 3rd.

So yeah even if we are above 500 in April doesn't mean we are going to finish above .500 in September.

And Just because we are below .500 doens't mean we are going to finish below in September.

But this has all the makings of the worst april in 5 years.....and is frustrating and depressing since nothing is coming around.

is frustrating and depressing since nothing is coming around

I know; now the starting pitching is becoming more erratic. And all of a sudden yesterday they made three errors.