Drastic changes...and immediately

 Look, we are sputtering.  Yeah, we are above .500  and unless we suddenly go winless in a bunch of games it looks like we can make the playoffs.

But we are better than that.  We are almost halfway through the season and we need to make changes to reach our potential

Lindor goes back to leading off, Clevinger and Plesac come out of exile, Carrasco and Plutko go to the bullpen, the young, unproductive players go back to the minors, Leone looks for employment elsewhere.

So here is what we need to to:

1. We need to change the batting order right now:

Lindor

Hernandez

C. Santana

Reyes

Ramirez

D. Santana

R. Perez

Naquin/Luplow

DeShields

Commentary: I am not happy with this lineup and it needs to have guys replaced (see below).  Look, Lindor is a leadoff hitter.   He got three consecutive hits in this series when he hit with the bases empty.  When Hernandez hit the leadoff  homerun today it was the first time we scored in the first inning in 13 games.   Lindor isn't doing it at 3, he needs to move the leadoff and we need to do the other things described below.

2. We need to redo the rotation:

Beiber

Civale

Clevinger

Plesac

McKenzie

Commentary: We don't have time to fix Plutko and Carrasco.   Send them to the bullpen where Plutko provides length and Carrasco can leverage his stuff in shorter stints and, if he still struggles, we have guys to do the job without him and, if a starter gets hurt, he can slide back into a starter's role.  Plus, if we make the playoffs we likely will not need McKenzie in the rotation and he might just slide into the bullpen where his stuff might play up significantly, if that is even possible based on his start last night.

3. We need to redo the bullpen:

Send to minors: L. Allen

Release: Leone

Commentary: It is tough to put Logan Allen in this position.   He needs to pitch whereas Plutko needs to stay on the club.   Leone was a stretch from the beginning and he shows why he has had a high ERA most of his career.

New bullpen:

Hand

Karinchak

Wittgren

O. Perez

Cimber

Hill

Maton

Plutko

Carrasco

Commentary: If we can catch lightning in a bottle with Carrasco this could be one of the most dominant bullpens in baseball, which is all we would need if our starters could perform.

4. Trade Nolan Jones, Daniel Johnson and Nick Sanlin for Whit Merrifield making the everyday lineup:

Lindor

Hernandez

Merrifield

Santana

Ramirez

Reyes

D. Santana

R. Perez

Naquin/Luplow

5. Trade for an offensive minded, right handed hitting utility infielder rental who can play short or second and send Chang to the minors.

6. I don't like the idea of renting a bat but if we can get one cheap I would be for replacing the Naquin/Luplow platoon with a quality right field rental.   Depending upon the offense and if he is healthy, I could also see Merrifield replacing D. Santana or the platoon of Naquin/Luplow and having DeShields in centerfield.

This team needs drastic changes.  Time to make them now.