The Indians have recalled 24-year old lefty swinging 2B/SS Luis Valbuena to replace Jhonny Peralta on the active roster. Valbuena played in 25 games in AAA-ball after his demotion and he was 30 of 96 (.313 avg, 1.032 OPS) with 23 runs scored, 6 homers, 20 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. But, he has not hit well at all for the Tribe this year. Valbuena has played in 50 games for the Indians this year and he is 25 of 152 (.164 avg, .510 OPS) with 13 runs scored, 2 homers and 14 RBIs. Don’t look for the Indians to give Valbuena much playing time until he earns it as Jason Donald is ahead of him at 2B.

26-year old righty swinging 1B/3B Andy Marte has had five years to prove himself for the Indians and he hasn’t done anything to make anyone think that he has a bright future in the majors. He has played in 38 games for the Indians this year and he is 15 of 80 (.188 avg, .604 OPS) with 11 runs scored, 3 homers and 11 RBIs. Marte has now played in 235 games in his five years in the majors and he is 151 of 691 (.219 avg, .637 OPS) with 75 runs scored, 18 homers and 84 RBIs. This was one of GM Mark Shapiro’s big acquisitions of the past as he was the biggest trade chip the Indians got from the Red Sox for Coco Crisp.

Enough is enough already with 24-year old lefty swinging 2B Luis Valbuena. He deserves to be sent to AAA until he can get his act together. Valbuena has played in 44 games this season for the Tribe and he is 23 of 134 (.172 avg, .534 OPS) with 12 runs scored, 2 homers and 14 RBIs. Last season he played in 103 games for the Indians in which he was 92 of 368 (.250 avg, .714 OPS) with 52 runs scored, 10 homers, 31 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. He is regressing to the point where he is really hurting the Indians right now and they literally can’t afford to be playing him at this time. Valbuena is young enough to get his act back together in AAA but I don’t see how keeping him in Cleveland will benefit him or the team the way he’s playing right now. I think they should send him down to AAA and go with Jason Donald at 2B for a while.

If Asdrubal Cabrera didn’t injure himself against the Rays earlier this week you have to wonder if Jason Donald wouldn’t have got called up anyway to replace Luis Valbuena who has been helpless with a bat in his hands this year. Valbuena has played in 28 games for the Indians this year and he is 12 of 81 (.148 avg, .555 OPS) with 5 runs scored, 2 homers and 9 RBIs. He has also whiffed 27 times already this season which is way too many for a hitter like him. It’s too bad that 40-year old righty swinging Mark Grudzielanek can’t play every day or the Indians would be smart to go with him full time at 2B. Grudzielanek has played in 23 games for the Indians this year and he is 23 of 83 (.277 avg, .618 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 8 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. The Indians can’t afford to keep giving Valbuena at bats unless he earns them as the excuse that he’s still young is starting to ring hollow.

Starting LF Michael Brantley is off to a slow start this season for the Indians. In his first 7 games this season he is 5 for 26 (.192 avg, .481 OPS) with 3 runs scored and 3 RBIs. With Russell Branyan out on a rehab assignment, Brantley better start hitting or he will likely be the guy sent to AAA when Branyan gets recalled from the minors with Matt LaPorta shifting out to LF.