Indians need a break
The Spokane Indians boasted a winning percentage of .733 after their first 30 games of the Northwest League season. Their winning percentage in the 21 games since their 22-8 start is .333. Having dropped 14 of their last 21 games, the Indians approach this week's All-Star Break as a time to rest up and prepare for the final 25 regular-season games of the season. Read story
Most Northwest League players will get some rest and relaxation the next three days as the league prepares for the All-Star Game in Eugene on Tuesday. Of course, several players have been selected to play in the game, including eight Spokane Indians.
It's safe to say that the Indians wouldn't have eight representatives to the game if voting were based on the last three weeks. The Indians finished 1-4 against Hillsboro in the home series that wrapped up Sunday. They've also lost series 4-1 to Boise and Salem-Keizer during this difficult stretch.
Spokane is therefore 3-12 against the South Division in the last three weeks and 13-17 overall. The Indians started the year 8-0 against the South.
Spokane has 10 games remaining against the South: Aug. 20-24 at Hillsboro and Aug. 25-29 at home against Salem-Keizer. The Indians have 15 games left against the North: six against Everett, six against Tri-City and three against Vancouver to close the regular season. Spokane is 16-5 against the North.
Spokane's pitching staff once led the league in team earned-run average but has dropped to fourth at 4.14. Indians manager Tim Hulett and catcher Marcus Greene both said they are not overly concerned.
"Not at all," Hulett said Sunday after the bullpen allowed six hits, five walks and eight earned runs in 4 1/3 innings. "It’s still at the point of the season where these guys are getting a lot of work in and we’re using guys in situations that they’re not quite familiar with. You’re getting them innings and finding out who’s going to be the guy down the stretch. That’s the luxury we have, finding out who’s going to get the job done when the game is on the line, and some of these guys haven’t pitched any game that’s mattered for a long time. So they’re getting their feet wet and they’re getting their opportunities, so they need to knuckle down a little bit."
"Not really," Greene said. "Of course, (there's some worry) with a couple of games with what’s going on with the runs. Besides that, we’re going to keep control of our pitching and keep on pitching like we had been in the first half. I think as soon as we find our groove, just get comfortable with it, we'll take advantage of it and keep pressing forward. … Maybe a little complacency, but besides that, that’s everywhere. We just have to minimize it to the best of our capabilities."
