Bert Blyleven

The first three weeks of the season are ones the Indians would prefer to do over. Of course they can’t, but the good news is despite Cleveland winning just seven of its first 19 games, I don’t expect any team to run away with the AL Central. All the teams in the division are struggling with issues, especially pitching issues.

For Cleveland, it’s a trio of major concerns: slows starts by the top two arms in its rotation, Cliff Lee and Fausto Carmona; a bullpen with some struggling pieces; and a hot-and-cold offense.

Let’s start with the rotation. Cleveland needs Lee and Carmona to get their jobs done because there is much uncertainty behind them. Of course, it’s unrealistic to figure Lee to duplicate last season when he won 22 games and the AL Cy Young Award. But Lee began the season 1-3 with 5.25 ERA.

In 2007, Carmona won 19 games, but last season a hip injury cost him two months, and he was not the same pitcher of two years ago, walking 70 while striking out 58, and winding up 8-7 with a 5.44 ERA in 22 starts. Carmona has to carry out a mission to be the pitcher he was in 2007.

The Indians went shopping in the offseason for a veteran, who could become their No. 3 starter. They settled on right-hander Carl Pavano, the “American Idle” as he was nicknamed because he saw so such little action due to injuries during his multiple years with the Yankees.

Pavano’s first four starts for the Indians included a decent effort against the Yankees, but the rest of his body of work was basically ugly. He went 0-3, with a 9.50 ERA, and right-handed hitters lit him up for a combined .545 average. Pavano can’t lie low with those kinds of numbers. He needs to start pitching well very soon to hold his spot in the rotation.

With Scott Lewis and Jake Westbrook sidelined, right-hander Anthony Reyes and left-hander Aaron Laffey round out the rotation. Lewis (forearm) could be back sometime this month, while Westbrook, who had Tommy John surgery last June, hopes to be pitching for the Indians by midseason.

A sore elbow shut down Reyes last September, but the hope is, if healthy, he locks into the No. 4 spot while Laffey is a groundball specialist, a finesse pitcher, who is not going to strike out a lot of hitters. He effectively works both sides of the plate. It looks like he could be a solid addition to the Cleveland rotation, especially as the No. 5 starter.

Signed in the offseason, Kerry Wood is the new, high-octane closer for the Indians. He has Cleveland fans loving his heat, and his nasty curveball, as he stuck out 12 in his first 6.1 innings of work. He’s not the problem in the bullpen. Getting the game to him is the troublesome issue.

Troublesome enough that left-hander Rafael Perez, known to be the most dependable arm of the relief corps over the last two seasons, is no longer being called upon in late-inning situations. His command of his fastball and slider have been on the ropes so he is now working with pitching coach Carl Willis to avoid a knockout from the bullpen altogether.

The Indians are hoping southpaw Tony Sipp can be their setup man until and if Perez can resume the roll. Sipp, who started the season in Triple-A, got a baptism by fire when in his second major-league appearance and with the game on the line in Minnesota, he struck out Justin Morneau and Jason Kubel with the bases loaded. Sipp comes right at hitters, and you have to like that about him. Sipp is trying to overcome the Tommy John surgery he underwent two years ago.

The bullpen should be stronger than it has been the last few seasons. In addition to Wood, the Indians added former Met Joe Smith, but he hasn’t yet shown them much, posting a 6.35 ERA in his first seven games. He’s capable of much better than that.

The offensive output tops the list of Cleveland’s early-season inconsistencies. The Indians’ bats are either walloping or whimpering. For instance, in a four-game series against the Yankees, they scored 40 runs in four games. In the next seven games, they didn’t even average three runs a game.

Those counted on to hit who have yet to do so are Jhonny Peralta, Mark DeRosa, and Ben Francisco. One who has to hit is Travis Hafner, who is trying to bounce back from right shoulder surgery, which limited him to 57 games last season. His first three weeks had him hitting near .300, but he returned to the DL on Wednesday with soreness in that shoulder. Hafner offers protection for Victor Martinez, but the Tribe needs someone behind Hafner to drive the ball. That someone was thought to be Peralta, but while he’s struggling, it’s now a hole to fill for manager Eric Wedge.

It’s imperative Cleveland play solid and consistent defense. The key question mark is Peralta at shortstop. They have given him the job, but I’m not sure he’s the answer at the position. He needs to get to another level defensively. Otherwise, up the middle, the Indians are sound with a combination of Victor Martinez and Kelly Shoppach catching, Asdrubal Cabrera at second, and Grady Sizemore in center field.

The Indians should consider themselves fortunate to play in the AL Central, where the race for the division title should remain tight all season. They have the talent to match and top their opponents, but to do so they must play much better than they have over the first three weeks of the season.