What have the early-season Cleveland Indians revealed about themselves? Hey, Hoynsie – cleveland.com

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Hey, Hoynsie: After two weeks of the season, it appears the Indians have good starters and relievers. The hitting is streaky and they are getting ‘little to no’ production from center field and first base. Your thoughts? Tom, Mount Vernon.

Hey, Tom: It’s hard to argue with your conclusions. The rotation has been exceptional, particularly Shane Bieber and Aaron Civale. I like the way the backend of the bullpen has pitched with Nick Wittgren, James Karinchak and Emmanuel Clase combining to protect late-inning leads. Bryan Shaw has helped as well. The offense has been miserable, so has the defense, particularly in the outfield.

This pitching is much too good to be supported by spotty outfield play. Misplays in the outfield usually lead to runs, not just extra bases. Josh Naylor is still learning right field and he needs more lessons. Center field is a juggling act. Eddie Rosario is OK in left field, but he doesn’t care much for the cutoff man.

Hey, Hoynsie: What does the pitcher do all game after not making it through the first inning? — Bill, Franklin Tenn.

Hey, Bill: He probably sits and sulks for a while. Or his sits on the bench and cheers for his teammates to rally and clean up his mess. I don’t think he’d look at video of his performance until the next day. . .if at all.

Hey, Hoynsie: I think Yu Chang looks remarkably comfortable and athletic at first base. That makes the non- baseball related criticism from Monday night more stupid. That play gets made successfully 99 times out of 100. — Mike, Avon.

Hey, Mike: Chang has played well at first base. It was an aggressive play on his part that didn’t work. There is no place for the kind of criticism he received on social media. I thought he handled it well.

Hey, Hoynsie: Isn’t time to cut ties with Ben Gamel and Jake Bauers? Why not give Bobby Bradley an extended look and let one of the outfielders — Oscar Mercado, Bradley Zimmer or Daniel Johnson, try and establish themselves in the big leagues? — Kurt, Canton.

Hey, Kurt: You’re right, it is frustrating to watch Gamel, Bauers and most of the lineup struggle at the plate. In talking to Chris Antonetti, president of baseball operations, I don’t get the impression that any big changes are going to take place after just 13 games. That doesn’t mean Bradley, Mercado, Zimmer and Johnson won’t get a chance this season. It just doesn’t sound like that chance, barring something unexpected, is going to come in April.

This just in, Bauers has three hits in the last two games and Gamel doubled Friday night for his first hit of the season.

Hey, Hoynsie: How many no-hitters have you witnessed in your career? — Patrick Grijak, Garfield Heights.

Hey, Patrick: I’ve covered three of the last four no-hitters that have been thrown against the Indians. Those would be no-hitters by the Angels’ Ervin Santana on July 27, 2011; Yankee left-hander Jim Abbott on Sept. 4, 1993 and Toronto’s Dave Stieb on Sept. 2, 1991. I watched Carlos Rodon’s no-hitter on TV Wednesday night, but I wasn’t in Chicago covering it. Joe Noga covered the game for cleveland.com. I also saw Dick Bosman’s no-hitter as a fan from the bleachers at Municipal Stadium.

Hey, Hoynsie: How about the Cleveland Bats for the new name? You could do something like the Cardinals have with a baseball bat across the uniform (not too similar) and a couple real bats hanging off of it. Also ironic, as the team has virtually no bats in the lineup these days. I seem to recall the occasional bat fluttering around the old stadium during night games, so there is history here too. — Lou.

Hey, Lou: The name has been suggested before, but you definitely gave the best sales pitch I’ve heard in a long time. Unfortunately, the Louisville Bats, Cincinnati’s Class AAA team, already exist.

New Indians face masks for sale: Here’s where you can buy Cleveland Indians-themed face coverings for coronavirus protection, including a single mask ($14.99) and a 3-pack ($24.99). All MLB proceeds donated to charity.

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