Is it Time for the Indians to Sit Jason Kipnis and Give Erik Gonzalez a Shot?

It was no secret this last offseason that the Indians were looking to see what they could get for Jason Kipnis on the open market.

Kipnis in 90 games last season hit .232, but couldn’t stay healthy, and by the time he was able to make a go of it in the postseason, he played in the outfield for the five games of the ALDS against the Yankees.

Then after the rumor mill had Kipnis possibly going elsewhere, the 31-year-old came out and had a great early part to spring training, showing off power at the plate while putting up offensive numbers that had people ready to give him another go as the everyday second basemen.

Clearly, 36 games into 2018, it has yet to work out.

Kipnis has played in all 36 games to this point, hitting .181 with just one homer and 13 runs batted in. He’s been hitting in the two-hole behind Francisco Lindor who has been heating up, and Jose Ramirez, who also is starting to hit the ball.

It hasn’t helped Kipnis, who in the last seven games is just 3-for-28 (.107) with one run batted in and two walks.

Fans are growing weary of it, and it might be time to give another player a try in the lineup, and the obvious choice for more AB’s right now is Erik Gonzalez.

The team made a bold decision last week when they kept Gonzalez over Gio Urshela, a player that has great glove skills, but the team felt didn’t show enough development at the plate.

Instead they went with Gonzalez, who can play a couple of positions and has showed that he’s got some pop in his bat again this season, hitting .375 with 3 doubles, a triple and five runs batted in.

Gonzalez can slide right into Kipnis’ spot at second base, and if they decide to go such a route and put him in the two spot in the lineup, he could add even more spark to the top of the lineup with Lindor and Ramirez.

How much time will the coaching staff give Kipnis? He’s been a slow starter in the past, but usually by now he’s starting to pick it up and show signs of coming out of the slump that he seems to start the season in.

So far in 2018, it has yet to happen, and the clock is ticking.

Gonzalez is five years younger and it might be time for him to get a legit shot at some important at bats with the organization.

Will that trigger get pulled? It feels like it’s time to give it a chance.