The Indians have 74 games left in the season. Here are some of the things they hope to accomplish.
While his skills behind the plate remain a work in progress, there's not much doubt that Carlos Santana has a big-league bat.BY THE NUMBERS
Indians notable numbers at the All-Star break.
Record: 34-54.
Times shut out: 7, most in the AL.
Batting average against Indians pitchers: .277, 14th in AL.
Walks by Indians pitchers: 341, worst in AL.
Strikeouts by Indians pitchers: 487, worst in AL.
Saves: 16, worst in AL.
Complete games: 6, 3rd in AL.
Starters ERA: 4.81, 12th in AL.
Bullpen ERA: 4.69, 12th in AL.
Indians record on Wednesdays: 4-10.
Indians record on Saturdays: 8-6.
Record vs. White Sox: 8-4.
Record vs. AL Central excluding White Sox: 6-15.
Carlos Santana vs. RHP: .328 (21-for-64).
Santana vs. LHP: .194 (6-for-31).
Lefties vs. Rafael Perez: .333 (18-for-54).
Team batting average vs. Detroit: .208 (54-for-259).
Interleague record: 5-13.
Homers: 75, 11th in AL.
Runs: 360, 12th in AL.
Strikeouts: 649, third-highest in AL.
Walks: 306, 5th in AL.
Shin-Soo Choo’s home batting average: .346 (47-for-136).
Number of batters Justin Masterson has hit: 8, second in AL.
— Paul Hoynes
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians have 74 games left in the season when they resume play Friday. Here are some of the things they hope to accomplish in their remaining games and beyond.
Be vigilant: They'll be monitoring the innings of first-year big-league starters Mitch Talbot and Justin Masterson. The most Masterson has thrown before this season is 153 2/3 innings in 2002 in the minors. Talbot topped out at 170 2/3 in 2008 between Class AAA Durham and Tampa Bay.
Stop gap: The Indians need to find a third baseman to bridge the gap between Jhonny Peralta and Lonnie Chisenhall or Jared Goedert. Jayson Nix, if he's not starting at second base, would be a candidate. So would Andy Marte, if he somehow survives another year on the Tribe's big-league roster. Luis Valbuena may get a shot.
If the Indians don't exercise Peralta's $7 million option for 2010, they might try to bring him back at a lower price rather than pursue a potential free agent such as Garrett Atkins, Wilson Betemit, Geoff Blum or Jorge Cantu.
No job is secure: The Indians' bullpen went into the break on a roll, but they should not rest easy. The team's decision-makers were underwhelmed with the pen's performance in the first half. It would be safe to say they're all considered expendable.
Into the young: At some point, Carlos Carrasco, Goedert, Nick Weglarz, Josh Tomlin, Vinnie Pestano and Cord Phelps might get a look. Alex White, Jason Kipnis and Chisenhall might not be factors until sometime in 2011.
Improvement needed: The anticipated return of shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera and the much-appreciated trade of first baseman Russell Branyan should steady the defense, but more help is needed. They ended the first half leading the AL with 65 errors.
Joy of Santana: Carlos Santana still rough around the edges as a catcher. Wild pitches and passed balls abound. But offensively he's a keeper. The Indians put a rookie in the No.3 spot in the lineup and just let him go to work. Santana went into the break hitting .284 (27-for-95). Seventeen of his 27 hits -- five homers and 12 doubles -- went for extra bases. He had 23 walks, 18 strikeouts and a .993 OPS.
Who's on second? When Cabrera returns to shortstop, it will be interesting to see what happens at second base. Nix has hit six homers since being claimed on waivers June 24. Jason Donald, who has played mostly short in Cabrera's absence, was being groomed in Class AAA Columbus as Cabrera's double-play partner before the injury.
"It will be a tough decision," said manager Manny Acta. "We want to get to the point where we're making six or seven tough decisions like that every year. It's called depth."