Sizemore has something to prove

Everyone loves Grady Sizemore. Everyone.

And what is not to like? He runs hard to first base, he crashes into walls, dives for balls, hits homers, steals bases and has the smile of a four-year old. He also has the best pick-up line in the world, "Hi, I am Grady Sizemore."

He is one of the best young baseball players in the league, destined to be a superstar.

Yet for me he is the one of the Indians with the most to prove this October. If you asked most Tribe fans, I am sure there list of worries start with our closer JoBO and maybe continue with Jhonny's defense since our second baseman Cabrera has looked like Omar the few times he has started at short.

But Grady's pickoff at third base to end the game when he was the tying run was another example of his occassional lack of focus. Recently he was doubled off third on a weak liner to the pitcher and his unreal number of strikeouts cause some concern. The pickoff brought back bad memories of 2005. Everyone remembers the homestand from hell that cost us the playoffs but that road to ruin started in Kansas City when Sizemore dropped an easy fly ball to cost us an important game.

I guess I would not even mention it but I was struck how Paul Hoynes from the PD and the AP both buried Sizemore's snafu in their game stories. How it wasn't the lead is beyond me. If that had been Peralta or Manny back in the day, there would have been a call for a public flogging. Sizemore did something unforgivable. You can't get picked off by the catcher with two outs when you are the tying run. And he got a free pass. During this September run, Sizemore has been missing for a great deal of it.

Now I am not saying he should be benched or fined but for the Indians to win a World Series this year, the Tribe needs his full attention. He is a difference maker. I know everyone loves Grady Sizemore but when he screws up he should be held under the fire as well.