Embarrassment can be a great motivational tool. An example of that is Indians first baseman Ryan Garko. On Aug. 6 at Tampa Bay, Garko was removed from the game in the third inning by manager Eric Wedge for not running to first on a groundball.
Garko was benched for the next game as well. But since then, Garko has been a hitting machine. Tuesday night in the Indians' 9-4 win over Kansas City, Garko was 2-for-4 with a home run. Since his benching at Tampa Bay, Garko is hitting .416 with two home runs and 13 RBIs in 36 at-bats.
It's been a very spotty season for Garko, who has been the Indians' starting first baseman for the past two years.
While Garko has had his moments during that time, he has never delivered the kind of season most teams expect from their corner infielders. He did hit 21 home runs last year, but with only 61 RBIs. This season he is hitting .255 with 10 homers and 62 RBIs.
Because Garko has yet to have a breakout season, first base remains a position of uncertainty for the Indians as they look ahead to next year. Given his mediocre season, it seems likely Garko will go to spring training next year, at best, as a candidate at first base, and nothing more.
INDIANS 9, ROYALS 4: OF Shin-Soo Choo, 1B Ryan Garko and OF Grady Sizemore hit home runs, and RHP Anthony Reyes pitched five innings to get the win. Reyes is 2-1 in his three starts since being traded to the Indians by St. Louis.
