'Cause the Cuyahoga River Goes smokin' through my dreams

Sometimes I have to remind myself I'm not watching Major League. Well, at least that montage where everything is going wrong.

This last NL road trip has resulted in exactly one win. Being swept by the Mets, then taking only one from the lowly Pirates, and most recently another sweep at the hands of the Phillies.

The first game of this series was your typical 47-year old pitcher going eight innings and only giving up two hits against the anemic Indians offense. Sure Jamie Moyer isn't your run-of-the-mill 47-year old but come on. Mitch Talbot's seven innings of two-run baseball wasn't enough Tuesday night. As far as offense goes, Russell Branyan had a solo home run in the second and that's it. Tribe (26-43) lose 2-1.

Wednesday's game was just as frustrating but in a completely different way. At least the Indians are spicing up their losing not just going out there every night to get blown away; they have to make it interesting. Shin-Soo Choo's two two-run home runs weren't enough for the likes of Kerry Wood. Long story short after five relievers, Wood walks the Mets catcher Brian Schneider, gets our old friend Ben Francisco to ground out, but then serves up a two-run game-ending no-doubt home run to Jimmy Rollins. Wood now has a 7.98 ERA; while I know ERA isn't important, I think it is a little telling for a closer. Tribe (26-44) lose, 7-6.

Thursday was no different and at one point it looked like maybe Mother Nature was trying to wipe the Indians (and Phillies, probably, because that is a horrible team name) from the face of the Earth. When two innings on the box score have fives in them you know your team got beat good. Unfortunately this drubbing at the hands of the reigning NL champs was interrupted by a summer storm that shut down the game for over an hour and a half. Indians lose (26-45), again, 12-3.

The Indians have now dropped nine of the last 10 and are 4-11 during Interleague play. It's hard during stretches like this to feel like the Tribe is heading in the right direction, or any direction other than down. The Indians are currently on pace to lose 103 games this season. I can only hope the post All-Star break team works out some of these kinks. Manager Manny Acta's ability to keep this team playing will certainly be taxed.

In other Indians' news, they picked up Jayson Nix off waivers from the White Sox. Nix is hitting .163 with an OPS+ of 38 in 49 at bats, and to make room for Nix the Indians sent down Luis Valbuena who was hitting .169 with an OPS+ of 47 in 148 at bats. This isn't exactly exciting but Nix has the small sample size advantage. As for the upcoming Reds series:

Game 1: Aaron Laffey, LHP (0-1, 5.61) vs. Aaron Harang, RHP (5-7, 5.17)
Game 2: Justin Masterson, RHP (2-6, 4.87) vs. Sam LeCure, RHP (1-4, 4.50)
Game 3: Mitch Talbot, RHP (7-6, 4.08) vs. Bronson Arroyo, RHP (7-3, 4.35)

Despite a 40-33 record I think we can take a few from the Reds this weekend. One because I get to watch these games on the local Fox Sports (with MLB radio on the laptop) and two because the pitching match-ups aren't too bad either. Of course the way this team is playing right now I'd be happy with not getting swept.

Go Tribe!

(AP Photo/Matt Slocum)