Maybe C.C. Should Have Signed That Big Contract

C.C. Sabathia turned down a lot of money this offseason. He might be wishing he hadn't after four terrible starts to begin 2008.

On Wednesday Sabathia allowed nine earned runs for the second straight start, giving up six in the 5th, and Cleveland stumbled against Detroit 13-2. The Tribe dropped to just 5-10. C.C.'s ERA climbed to 13.50.

I only saw C.C. in the 5th and it wasn't pretty. He walked the first three batters before getting ahead of Miguel Cabrera 0-2. But Sabathia couldn't put Cabrera away and the new Tiger ripped a two-run single. Two batters later, Edgar Renteria crushed a grand slam that extended the Detroit lead to 9-1.

It seems like I've posted the same thing the past few nights, but it still rings true. Yes, it's early. But the Indians are not playing good baseball. They are not hitting well (tonight, the Tigers threw a rookie in his second career start and the youngster completely fooled Cleveland's hitters.) They are not receiving good pitching from their ace or their bullpen. And they are falling into a deeper hole with each passing loss.

Since there haven't been any major injuries (I don't count Borowski), you can't say the Tribe's facing its worst-case scenario to begin 2008.

But it's close.