Victor Martinez

The 2009 season has not gone at all as planned for the Cleveland Indians.

They have struggled, at one point or another, in every aspect of the game, losing because of starting pitching, the bullpen, blown saves, bad defense, bad managing, a lack of situational hitting, a lack of hitting period, and even some blown calls (when a fan reaches over the fence to snatch a ball away from a fielder it's interference, not a go ahead home run, even for the Yankees, but I digress).

Welcome to Tribe Talk, where Bleacher Report's Tribe fans weigh in on the ups and downs of the Indians each week throughout the season.

This week we consider whether the Tribe’s fortunes are inextricably linked with those of Grady Sizemore, the dangers of incessantly tinkering with a lineup, and the chances of seeing Pedro Martinez don an Indians uniform.

I would like to thank this week's participants Nino Colla and Dave Wiley for their contributions.

ESPN's Buster Olney has reported that there have been preliminary trade talks between the Boston Red Sox and the Celevaland Indians. The trade would help both teams as their needs will be partially fulfilled.

The trade has shape up so the Indians would trade their top prospect in Matt LaPorta in exchange for one of Boston's young arms being either Michael Bowden, Clay Bucholtz, or Daniel Bard. This would mean that LaPorta would be traded for the second time in two years.

Projected by many analysts to finish atop the AL Central, the Indians have certainly not lived up to expectations. With their current four-game losing streak, they have fallen to last place in Major League Baseball.

With a team ERA of 5.83, good for last in the league, and a team batting average of .263, the blame can be spread to both ends of the team.

Well at least they won one. The Tribe dropped the first two in almost the same fashion they dropped all three to the Rangers to open the season. They got behind early thanks to poor starting pitching and then failed to come through with the clutch hit with runners in scoring position. The ugly numbers:

Game One - 1-5 RISP, 11 K, 8 LOB, 1 DP
Game Two - 1-9 RISP, 9 K, 8 LOB, 2 DP
Game Three - 2-7 RISP, 11K, 11 LOB, 1 DP
Totals - 4-21 RISP (.190), 31 K, 21 LOB, 4 DP

As I previously declared, Opening Day 2009 was a bust. But an even bigger disappointment was Cleveland's unofficial holiday, Home Opening Day.

It wasn't the cold weather, or the rain, or the game being postponed—we're Clevelanders, most of us were prepared for that stuff. It wasn't the overpriced alcohol or hot dogs or the drunk guy spilling his beer on us either. It's a baseball game, that's all part of the experience.

There aren't many bright things to say about the Cleveland Indians season so far.

Cliff Lee is 0-2.

Carl Pavano may be a bust.

Grady Sizemore already has 10 strikeouts.

Trevor Crowe has anger issues!!!

Of course, there is one thing that the Indians players, coaches, and fans should be excited about. His name is Travis Hafner.

Despite his poor average and lack of power, Hafner has done better than some may think the past few seasons.

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