Cleveland Indians: Don't Panic

The 2009 season has been a disaster for the Indians so far. Outside of Asdrubal Cabrera, Victor Martinez, and Cliff Lee; nothing has gone right for the Indians so far this season.

It's not suprising that just 40 games into the season, there are murmurs of a firesale on the horizon. Cliff Lee, Mark DeRosa, and even Victor Martinez have been mentioned as viable trade candidates as the Indians poor play has continued.

While the Indians poor start is certainly disappointing, the thought of a firesale is simply ludacris right now. Everyone wants to break up the Indians right away even though there are plenty of reasons why the Indians should hold steady.

1. It's only 40 games into the season

-We're only 1/4 of the way through the season. There is still plenty of baseball to be played and lots can change over the course of the next 4 months.

2. The Indians are only 9 games out of the division

-As bad as the Indians have played, I can still see them making a run for the division. Sure, lots of things would have to go their way, but right now, there is no domiant team in the division that is going to run away with the AL Central crown. One good hot streak will put the Indians right back into the thick of it in the Central.

3. Grady Sizemore, Mark DeRosa, Fausto Carmona, Kerry Wood, Rafael Perez, and Jhonny Peralta are not this bad.

-It's quite the contrary actually. All of these guys are VERY good players, who have struggled badly so far in 2009. Is this simply a collectively bad start or are all these guys having bad seasons? Indians management needs more time to evaluate this.

4. For the love of God, it can't get any worse. Right?

-This is what I want to think. Everything that could have gone wrong has gone wrong so far. There is no where to go, but up for the Indians at this point...right?

Can the Indians still make the playoffs? I'll admit, it's not looking too good.

But it's still too early for the Indians to wave the white flag and throw away the season. A baseball season is a marathon, not a sprint. Just remember that, Indians management, the next time Kerry Wood mercifully blows a save...I'm sure these words will be very comforting.