Anyone who wants to know what is wrong with the Crew just needs to look at their stats. 4.64 team ERA, take Sheets out of the rotation, and the starters ERA balloons to over a 6.00. They have scored 4 runs or less in 22 of their 36 games. No wonder why they get string together wins.
By the way, the only change made for todays game is Gwynn is in for Cameron. I am just plain sick of seeing the Crew trot out the same lineup every game. Change the lineup Ned. What is it going to hurt? The worst that could happen is they don't hit in a new lineup, but who cares, they aren't hitting now. With this pitching staff, scoring 4 runs isn't enough.
Weeks needs to be moved down the lineup until he starts hitting more consistently. TGJ has been showing us too much lately to let him sit, especially with Cameron struggling. Braun and Fielder, status quo. Move Hardy out of that 7th spot, he's dying down there. Remember how much better he did when he was bumped up to 2nd a few weeks ago? Put Hall 7th. He's an all or nothing type of hitter anyway, so he's either going to strike out or hit a home run, basically, end the inning or clear the bases for the pitcher (I know, you'd like someone thats able to get the pitcher an AB, but Hardy hasn't been doing that either). And the rest is the same.
Not sure if that's enough of a shakeup, but it's better than doing nothing.
Hart
Hardy
Braun
Prince
Cameron
Hall
Kendall
Weeks
Pitcher
Hardy is one of the best fastball hitters on the team, and he crushed out of the two hole last year. If you don't want Hardy there, Kendall is a great contact guy, and you could put him there. Hart leads the team in OBP, is the fastest guy they have, and is a great bunter. He should be leading off.
The bottom line is 3 or 4 runs a game aren't going to cut it with this staff. They have to try something new.
Does Ned get it? As soon as Suppan swung at the first pitch with Hardy at second and no one out, I started screaming at the TV. That idiot needs to go. How do you not at least TRY to bunt him over?
I wish they would have called him up a month ago. They could find him at bats between the outfield corners when you want to rest Hart or Braun, at first when you want to rest Prince, and at least on AB every game as a power pinch hitter off the bench. Personally, I think they should call up Gamel and sit down Hall.
Hart has shown no power this year & Cameron is well Cameron. Yes, we should bench either our player with the highest average or our gold glove center fielder for a guy currently playing in AA who first started playing the outfield last year.
i totally agree about bringing gamel up. However, there is no way you can sit a .300 hitter. Cameron won't be batting under .200 for the entire season. You can expect to see LaPorta in 1-2 years in RF with hart moving to CF