Indians news, features and notes
- Cleveland Indians notebook: Brett Myers makes first rehab start
- Indians: Matchups for upcoming games
- Sheldon Ocker’s The Write Stuff
- Indians 6, Mariners 3 (10 innings): Jason Kipnis delivers walk-off three-run homer
- Cleveland Indians report: Coaches get high marks, at least as long as team is winning
- Indians activate reliever Vinnie Pestano from DL
- Indians work on meeting Trevor Bauer in the middle
- Indians notebook: Catcher Carlos Santana steps into successful season at plate and behind it
- Indians: Matchups for upcoming games
- Major League Baseball hoping for large replay expansion in 2014
Reynolds gives Tribe scare; time for a rest
PHILADELPHIA: Mark Reynolds took a big swing in the third inning of the Tribe's 10-4 win over the Phillies and grabbed his left arm.
After manager Terry Francona and head trainer Lonnie Chisenhall checked him out, Reynolds stepped in the box and hit a two-run double.
“”I kind of hyperextended my arm right where the bicep and the elbow come together,’’ Reynolds explained.
He needed the delay to for the pain to wear off.
“”I had to get the feeling back in my arm,’’ he said. “”It’s hard to hit when you have a numb arm.’’
Reynolds remained in the game until Francona needed to use his spot in the batting order for a relief pitcher. He said he will have no problem playing Friday night, after today’s off day.
The Indians have played 14 games in the past 13 days. After their day off Thursday, they will begin a stretch of 20 games without a break.
“”There will be an optional workout tomorrow, and if they show up, they’re going to be optioned out,’’ Francona said. “”They need to get away from the ballpark for a day.’’
Say hello to the third baseman; Pestano might be back Friday
PHILADELPHIA: With Lonnie Chisenhall back in Columbus work on his offense, who will play third?
“”Mark Reynolds certainly will play third the majority of the time,’’ manager Francona said today. “”And Mike Aviles can do that too.’’
Francona will be careful not to overuse Reynolds at a position he has played only one-third of the season.
“”If he played (there) every day, it would be one thing,’’ the manager said, “”But I don’t want to run him into the ground. I do think he likes it, though.’’
Undoubtedly, Reynolds, who leads the team in home runs and RBI, will be in the lineup almost every day, but he won’t always be at third.
At the outset of the season, Reynolds was expected to be the Tribe’s DH most of the time, but he has spent only one more game in that spot than Jason Giambi and Nick Swisher (11 apiece). Now that Reynolds is the club’s No. 1 third baseman, Francona will employ his other options a little more.
Transcript of Indians manager Terry Francona following double-header with New York on Monday
Following the Indians' double-header with the New York Yankees on Monday, in which the Tribe won the first game 1-0 and lost the second game 7-0, manager Terry Francona met with reporters. Here's a transcript of his press conference.
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Video: Indians SP Justin Masterson discusses his complete-game shutout in a 1-0 win over the Yankees
Indians SP Justin Masterson threw a complete-game shutout against the New York Yankees in the first game of a double-header on Monday.
Masterson allowed only four hits, three walks and struck out nine.
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Indians in-game updates: Indians win first game 1-0; lose second game 7-0
Through nine innings: Yankees 7, Indians 0 (F)
The Indians didn't put up much of a fight after the Yankees' 6-run seventh inning and fell 7-0 in the second game.
That means the Tribe offense didn't score a run for 17 full innings on Monday after Jason Kipnis' home run in the first inning of the first game.
Through the seventh-inning stretch: Yankees 7, Indians 0
The Yankees got to Trevor Bauer and the Indians in the seventh inning. Corban Joseph doubled to left-center and Austin Romine brought him home with another double to left field to give the Yankees an insurance run and a 2- 0 lead. Bauer exited the game in favor of lefty Nick Hagadone, who struggled to get anyone out.
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Indians 3B Lonnie Chisenhall optioned to Triple-A Columbus; David Huff, Trevor Bauer called up
Prior to the Indians' double-header with the New York Yankees on Monday, the club has optioned third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall down to Triple-A Columbus, selected David Huff and re-called Trevor Bauer.
Teams are allowed a 26th man for double headers, hence Bauer and Huff being added and only Chisenhall being sent down.
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Chisenhall still looking for answers; injured players progressing
DETROIT: Lonnie Chisenhall can’t seem to get his batting average above .230, but manager Terry Francona thinks it’s only a matter of time.
“”He just needs to get in a position to let his bat speed work for him,’’ the manager said today. “”The fact that he’s batting eighth takes some of the pressure off. I think he’s a couple of games away from being nice and respectable.’’
Maybe Chisenhall is putting pressure on himself. After waiting a couple of years to win the regular third base job, he finally has it ane might feel the stress of trying to keep it.
“”I hope not,’’ Francona said. “”It’s a lot easier to play when you’re relaxed and confident, but I know you have to get to that point. It’s kind of a chicken and egg thing.’’
As if Chisenhall needed anything else to go wrong, his throwing error in the fourth inning led to an unearned run for the Tigers, who lead 3-2.
Brett Myers, Vinnie Pestano and Lou Marson, all on the disabled list, threw bullpens or played catch Saturday.
“”Everybody came through it fine,’’ Francona said. “”Vinnie might throw a bullpen between games (of a doubleheader) tomorrow.’’
Verlander struggles early; Bauer to get third start Monday
DETROIT: Justin Verlander might be one of baseball's best pitchers, but to the Indians, he just another guy.
Verlander never has had much luck against the Tribe, having compiled a caerer record of 14-13 with a 4.55 ERA.
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Indians OF Michael Bourn activated & LHP Scott Barnes optioned
Following Thursday's victory over the visiting Oakland A's, the Indians activated outfielider Michael Bourn, who had been on the disabled list since April 15 after suffering a lacerated right index finger against the Chicago White Sox. Bourn rehabbed at Triple-A Columbus for two days (May 7-8).
With the Tribe, Bourne is batting .333 (14-for-45) with seven runs scored, four doubles, a triple, two home runs and two RBI in 10 games with a .975OPS.
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Videos with Terry Francona, Zach McAllister after Indians' 1-0 victory
Several videos with manager Terry Francona and starter Zach McAllister after Indians' 1-0 victory on Tuesday night.
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Pestano DL stay expected to be brief; Reynolds: No hard feelings
Manager Terry Francona doesn’t expect Vinnie Pestano to languish on the disabled list for long.
“”He’ll probably only spend another week (on the DL) then be good to go,’’ Francona said. “”He got a (MI) scan and it was clear.’’
Pestano went on the DL with inflammation in his right elbow and can be activated May 16.
“”He did a really good job of communicating with us,’’ Francona said. “”He was honest and being a good teammate. I wanted to stay on him to be honest.’’
Mark Reynolds admitted after Monday night’s game that being hit by A’s starter Jarrod Parker in the first inning was a motivating factor in hitting a titanic (460 feet) home run in the fifth.
“”There’s no bad blood between me and Parker,’’ Reynolds said today. “”I honestly think he was trying to overthrow a fastball, and it got away from him. Stuff happens.’’
Plate umpire Angel Hernandez warned both benches when Reynolds was hit, prompting Francona to speak to the umpire.
“”I just wanted to ask, if it hit Reynolds, why the umpire didn’t throw the pitcher out,’’ the manager said. “”He said he didn’t think it was on purpose, but he wanted to keep everything in order.’’
Michael Bourn was unable to begin his rehab assignment Monday night, because Columbus was rained out.
The Clippers played a doubleheader tonight, and Bounn played the first game in center field nd went 1-for-3 with a stolen base. He sat out the second game.
He is expected to be the designated hitter tonight, after which it will be decided if he is ready to be activated. Bourn is on the disabled list with a cut in his right index finger that required five stitches to close.
Ezequiel Carrera has cleared waivers and been outrighted to Columbus. Clippers first baseman Mike McDade has been claimed on waivers by the White Sox.
Prospect Francisco Lindor honored by Indians
Indians top prospect Francisco Lindor was the organization's player of the week.
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Pestano on the DL; Hagadone recalled
CLEVELAND: Vinnie Pestano has been placed on the 15-day disabled list with tendinitis in his right elbow.
Taking his place on the roster is lefty Nick Hagadone, who is being recalled from Columbus.
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Raburn first Tribe "Player of Week'' in two years
CLEVELAND: It took a utility player to snap the Indians' two-year drought for American League Player of the Week awards.
Ryan Raburn is the first Tribe player to be so honored since April 11, 2011, when Asdrubal Cabrera won it.
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Bourn off to Columbus for rehab stint
CLEVELAND: Michael Bourn will begin what is expected to be a brief rehab assignment in Columbus Monday night against Charlotte .
It is anticipated that Bourn will play two or three games at Triple-A and be activated from the disabled list. He has been on the DL since April 15 with a laceration of the right index finger that required five stitches to close.
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Pestano sidelined with elbow injury
CLEVELAND: Vinnie Pestano probably won't pitch for at least a couple of days and maybe longer because of tendinitis in the back of his right elbow.
“”Vinnie’s elbow is a little creaky,’’ manager Terry Francona said today. “”I tried to stay away from him (Friday night). That’s why the order (of the relievers) was a little different than normal.’’
""Vinnie threw a bullpen this morning and was pretty good,’’ the manager said.
That does not settle the issue, however.
“”I’ll see how it responds after throwing from 120 feet and throwing off the mound,’’ Pestano said. “”This is something I’ve been battling for a couple of years. But I’ve always been able to maintain it in good order.’’
Transcript of Manager Terry Francona's press conference after the Indians' 6-0 win over the Phillies
Here's a transcript of Manager Terry Francona's press conference following the Indians' 6-0 win over the Phillies on Wednesday night.
On seeing a different Bauer - Tonight, he walked the leadoff hitter in I think four innings, and I believe all those walks were against left handers. Saying that, when he got into some traffic out there, he made unbelievable pitches. He threw his fastball, he threw his off-speed, he attacked hitters when he had to with really good stuff.
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Video: Indians Manager Terry Francona, Trevor Bauer talk about the Tribe's 6-0 win over the Phillies
Manager Terry Francona and starting pitcher Trevor Bauer talked about Bauer's outing and Ryan Raburn's hitting streak after the Tribe's 6-0 win over the Phillies Wednesday night.
Bauer gave up no runs and only one hit over five innings but was a bit wild, walking six and striking out five.
Raburn went 4-5 with a double, two RBI and a terrific catch in right field. He's now in the midst of a 12-14 streak with four home runs and nine RBI.
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Indians in-game updates vs Phillies, Wednesday May 1
Through nine innings: Indians 6, Phillies 0
The Indians bullpen held up. Bryan Shaw, Rich Hill, Joe Smith and Cody Allen combined to throw four shutout innings.
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