Reality Check

Summer of Bummer?

Between the Indians, Pirates and Reds, you'd think at least one of our regional favorites would be playing respectable baseball. Cleveland is easily the most disappointing of the trio. The defending A.L. Central champs have yet to hit their stride and have failed to generate anything resembling consistency. This past weekend's series against the perennial patsy Royals is an excellent example. The Tribe and C.C. Sabathia led late in Saturday's game only to cough up a late 2-0 lead and eventually fall. Sunday, they again wasted excellent pitching and were blanked, 2-0. I've said it before: I don't put much stock in the standings until Memorial Day, but Cleveland obviously needs jump-started. Hopefully, sooner than later. While there's every reason to believe the Indians will recover and enjoy another contending season, no such optimism to resport from the Pirates and Reds' camp. It truly appears these two train wrecks will battle for the N.L. cellar. For a second consecutive season, Pirates' first baseman Adam LaRoche, the man projected as one key component to returning a floundering franchise to respectability, has started miserably and brought the entire team down with him in the process. By the time LaRoche displayed some semblance of being a major league run-producer last year, it was far too late for Bucs' fans to care. LaRoche, however, is far from the Pirates' only area of concern. The pitching staff continues to be highly suspect. It's much of the same in Reds' Country where new manager Dusty Baker has yet to get his team off the schneid. Realistically, only the Tribe appears to possess enough talent to contend all summer. As early as the 4th of July, the Pirates and Reds figure to be long gone.