Hello Tribe fans everywhere!

That's right, it was "Damn Yankees." The name of that 1950's Broadway musical describes the feelings of Indians fans following Cleveland's "lost weekend" against New York. The Yankees won all three games to complete a six-game sweep over the Indians in 2007.

There's no other way to put it, but the Tribe is playing wretched baseball. Since the All-Star break, the Indians have been awful. The hitters have been striking out at an alarming rate, and clutch hits have been virtually non existant.

Sunday's game was closer than the first two of the series, but it proved just as frustrating. Cleveland had multiple opportunities to tie the score or go ahead, but just couldn't come up with a hit when the club really needed it. Jhonny Peralta's blunder on the base paths, when he was picked off with the sacks jammed and no outs, was inexcusable.

In the 9th inning, when Cleveland had 2 men on and nobody out, everyone at Jacobs Field thought Travis Hafner would bat for Asdrubal Cabrera, but it didn't happen. Cabrera struck out and the Tribe was headed to its third straight loss. TV announcer Rick Manning said, "Well, this proves that Hafner is really hurt," and I couldn't have said it better. If Hafner was able, you've got to believe Eric Wedge would have sent him up to hit for Cabrera.

This is the crossroads of the season for Cleveland. If the offense fails to spring to life against Detroit in the three-game set that starts Tuesday, you'll be able to stick a fork in the Indians. They look absolutely lifeless -- no pep, no nothing.

I like to think the club has enough guts to pull it together, but perhaps the team played over its head in the first half. At any rate, this series should tell the score.

*******************
The answer to the last quickie quiz is: Charlie Nagy became the first A.L. pitcher in 30 years to get a hit in the All Star game in 1992.

Today's quiz: Name the former Tribe pitcher whose name is linked forever with arm surgery.

*******************

-- Kevin Cuneo