The end of spring training is always a hectic time managers and team executives as they try to cut the roster to 25 players. It has been even tougher for the Indians as they have seen three of their starting pitchers injured in the past two days.
Starting pitcher Jeanmar Gomez had to leave Friday's game with a strained right hip.The end of spring training is always a hectic time for managers. Players have been streaming in and out of Acta's office the past few days to hear the good news (you made the club) or the bad news (you didn't make the club). Standard operating procedure, right? SOP doesn't quite cover the Indians.
In the past three days, while Acta and General Manager Chris Antonetti have been trying to figure out their 25-man roster, they've seen three starting pitchers get injured. Jeanmar Gomez, trying to win the fifth spot in the rotation, left Friday's game against the Reds with a strained right hip. Derek Lowe (right ribs) and David Huff (right hamstring) were knocked out of split-squad starts against Colorado and Arizona on Thursday.
Gomez's hip strain was called "mild." Acta was supposed to pick a fifth starter today with Gomez and Kevin Slowey being his only choices after Huff went down Thursday. Gomez has had the best spring of any pitcher in camp, but if he's sidelined for any length of time, that leaves Slowey as the winner by default.
Lowe, 38, has never been on the disabled in his big-league career. So this had to happen in his first spring training with the Tribe, right?
The Indians and Lowe don't believe he'll open the year on the DL. He's scheduled to fill the third spot in the rotation behind Justin Masterson and Ubaldo Jimenez and face Toronto on April 8 at Progressive Field.
"I'm a durable cat," said Lowe. "I've got nine lives."
Huff, meanwhile, is almost certainly headed for the DL. He strained his right hamstring fielding a grounder from Willie Bloomquist on the first play of the game.
"The timing makes it frustrating," he said.
Acta believes the Indians have enough depth to handle the injuries. He said his top four starters (Masterson, Jimenez, Lowe and Josh Tomlin) will be ready for Thursday's season opener. If Gomez can't go, he'll turn to Slowey, who in an additional bit of discouraging news Friday allowed seven runs on seven hits in five innings while pitching for Class AAA Columbus. Scott Barnes and Zach McAllister are waiting in Columbus if needed.
Acta does need to do one thing, "We need to finish spring training quick so I can get out of here and have a rotation."
The Indians break camp Monday. They will play their new Class A Carolina team Tuesday in Zebulon, N.C. Lowe is scheduled to start the game, but said Friday morning that he may skip it to prepare for the regular season.
While Acta is trying to keep the rotation together, it was rumored Thursday night that the Indians were close to trading for veteran outfielder/DH Bobby Abreu of the Angels. The Indians and Angels definitely talked, but the deal has grown cold. Antonetti is still determined to improve the roster. If you've been following the Indians and their quest to score runs in the Arizona desert, you know why.
At one time this spring the Indians had 62 players in camp. They're down to 34.
On Friday, seven were sent to the minors as infielder/outfielder Russ Canzler and left-hander Nick Hagadone were optioned to Columbus and catcher Luke Carlin, infielder Andy LaRoche and relievers Chris Ray, Chris Seddon and Robinson Tejeda were re-assigned to minor-league camp.
Acta and Antonetti told utility man Jason Donald and veteran right-hander Dan Wheeler that they made the club. Wheeler promptly went out and allowed five runs on three homers to the Reds in the eighth inning of a 6-5 loss.
Wheeler's good news means there is just one remaining spot open in the pen. It will be decided among Jeremy Accardo, Jairo Asencio and Frank Herrmann. Asencio, acquired from Atlanta for cash Thursday, is out of options. He's considered the favorite and will pitch today and Sunday. "We're pretty close to finishing up on the bullpen," said Acta.
Here's how the rest of the roster is coming into focus:
• Antonetti said Shelley Duncan has made the club. Antonetti wouldn't say if Duncan will be the starting left fielder, but all signs point to him getting plenty of at-bats.
The Indians still have to pick a fourth outfielder. Aaron Cunningham, who is out of options, and Ryan Spilborghs are the only candidates unless the Indians make an Abreu-like acquisition.
• The Indians paid utility man Jose Lopez a $100,000 bonus, using a rule passed in the new basic agreement, to keep him for the next two months. Lopez must play in the big leagues or Class AAA during that time.
If he's not in Cleveland by June 1, he can request his release.
It appears Lopez will be on the Opening Day roster unless the Indians bring in another utility infielder.
• The Indians faced the same situation with Wheeler. They had to put him on their big-league roster or pay him the $100,000 bonus.
• Felix Pie, Matt Pagnozzi and Gregorio Petit were re-assigned to the minors, but will stay in big-league camp as extra players. It's likely they'll travel with the team to Zebulon.
Source: http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2012/03/post_141.html
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