There are those who believe that Grady Sizemore is a No. 3 or 4 hitter masquerading as a leadoff hitter. Games like the Indians' 10-3 win over Kansas City on Thursday are the reason why.
Sizemore had four hits in the game, including a bases-loaded triple and a three-run home run, and he posted a career-high seven RBIs. For the season, Sizemore's numbers look more like those of a middle-of-the-order hitter rather than those of a leadoff hitter: a .272 batting average, 29 home runs, 79 RBIs. If and when the Indians should move Sizemore out of the leadoff spot and into the middle of the order is a periodic talk-show topic in Cleveland.
Manager Eric Wedge tried it briefly last year, but Wedge feels it's better to hit Sizemore leadoff for a couple of reasons. The first is that the Indians don't have an obvious candidate to replace Sizemore as the leadoff hitter.
The other reason is that Sizemore says he is very comfortable hitting first. He also has the speed to get himself into scoring position, possessing that rare combination of power and speed that makes him one of the most exciting players in the league.
INDIANS 10, ROYALS 3: The Indians completed a three-game sweep of the Royals, led by Grady Sizemore, who tripled, homered and knocked in seven runs. Shin-Soo Choo and Jhonny Peralta also homered, and Cliff Lee pitched seven innings to raise his record to 18-2.
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