Jhonny Peralta has not been productive this season despite having 11 homers already. That’s because he’s not hitting with men on base. He is 18 for 98 (.184 avg) with 3 homers and 14 RBIs with men on base. When no one is on base it seems as if Peralta is more relaxed as he is 33 for 130 (.254 avg, .807 OPS) with 8 homers. So, in 59 games this season Peralta is 51 for 228 (.224 avg, .688 OPS) with 37 runs scored, 11 homers and 22 RBIs. The Indians need Peralta to start making his longballs count as they are having big problems scoring runs.

Ryan Garko has been in a season long funk for the Indians with his bat and that doesn’t bode well for his stature as the Indians’ starting first baseman. He has played in 33 games for the Indians this season and he is 27 for 113 (.239 avg, .696 OPS) with 13 runs scored, 2 homers and 13 RBIs. If Garko’s not hitting the baseball, he’s not helping the Indians because he is one of the worst fielding 1B in all of baseball. Many scouts have suggested that the Indians would be much better off starting Victor Martinez and 1B and Kelly Shoppach at catcher and I agree with them. That’s because Martinez is a better defender than Garko at 1B and Shoppach is a very good defender behind the plate.

Jhonny Peralta has to hit well to be an asset for the Indians as he is not that good of a fielder. Peralta has played in 27 games so far this season for the Indians and he is 22 for 102 (.216 avg, .671 OPS) with 15 runs scored, 5 homers and 10 RBIs. The Indians need Peralta to get going with the bat because they don’t have a replacement ready to go.

DH Travis Hafner is off to a terrible start to the 2008 season for the Indians. He has played in 29 games this season and he is 23 for 110 (.209 avg, .650 OPS) with 12 runs scored, 3 homers and 17 RBIs. Hafner has also whiffed an amazing 30 times this season. The Indians have dropped Hafner in the lineup but it hasn’t helped yet. Maybe he needs a couple of days off to clear his head and work on his swing.

Starting 2B Asdrubal Cabrera better start hitting soon or he might switch positions with Josh Barfield in AAA ball. Cabrera has played in 20 games so far this season for the Tribe and he is 14 for 67 (.209 avg, .564 OPS) with 8 runs scored and 8 RBIs. But, Josh Barfield isn’t exactly ripping the cover off the ball in Buffalo. Barfield has played in 21 games in AAA ball so far this season and he is 21 for 89 (.236 avg, .677 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 3 homers, 7 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. The Indians gave up a lot to get Barfield so they will likely give him another chance at some point this season. They would be leery of trading him as they are still a little snakebit from the Brandon Phillips trade a couple of years ago.