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Outfielder Ben Francisco returning from Buffalo to help Tribe battle back
By Stephanie Storm
and Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sportswriters
Published on Tuesday, May 06, 2008
CLEVELAND: Indians General Manager Mark Shapiro held a conference call on the team's day off Monday to announce officially what had been rumored for a few days: The team will designate veteran outfielder Jason Michaels for assignment and recall rookie Ben Francisco from Triple-A Buffalo today.
''(Francisco) is an outfielder that we felt potentially could give our club a spark. (He's) obviously got more power and has the ability to not necessarily be a platoon guy,'' Shapiro said. ''He has been a guy who has hit left- and right-handed pitching,
so he gives [Indians manager] Eric [Wedge] the ability to both keep [left fielder] David Dellucci strong and healthy and also protect [right fielder] Franklin Gutierrez some as well.''
Francisco was off to a slow start with the Bison, batting .228 (21-for-92) with three doubles, a triple, a home run, six RBI and 11 walks in 24 games. But he had an outstanding spring with the Indians and had played well in a recent stint with the Tribe.
He had been called up April 22, when Jake Westbrook went on the disabled list, and four days later he was optioned back to Triple-A to make room for Jeremy Sowers, who was making a spot start.
The Tribe might have recalled Francisco earlier than today, but players must remain in the minors for 10 days after they are optioned. During his brief stay with the Indians, Francisco was 2-for-6 with a double.
Shapiro said he would not consider Francisco a ''fourth'' outfielder, and instead said he expected him to get as many at-bats as the rest of the outfield starters between spelling Dellucci and Gutierrez.
Yet, Shapiro isn't kidding anyone — or himself — in suggesting Francisco can fix all of the team's offensive problems. The Indians have been held to five or fewer hits seven times in 31 games and have been shut out three times.
''This one guy, this one transaction is not going to solve our offensive woes,'' Shapiro said. ''Jason Michaels certainly was not the primary cause. We just feel like it's time for us — where we can — to start to try and make some small moves that might help.''
Michaels batted .207 (12-for-58) in 21 games with four doubles and nine RBI. He walked only four times and struck out 13.
Shapiro wouldn't commit to making any more moves.
''The answers to our offensive issues lie within,'' Shapiro said. ''When you've got five to seven guys all struggling and nobody really exceeding expectations, you're not going to be able to make one move, or two moves for that matter, and solve those problems.
''We need to get back to stressing tough at-bats up and down our lineup, controlling the strike zone, battling pitchers and making sure we get a good pitch to hit. And then when we do get a good pitch to hit, taking advantage of it.''
Off-day cure
Wedge has tried most of the conventional methods to shake a team out of a slump, but the Indians haven't responded.
He has switched various players to different spots in the lineup and has given days off to the hitters who have been struggling the most. He and hitting coach Derek Shelton have talked — and talked — to each other and to the players.
So maybe something simple like Monday's off day will help.
''Getting away from it might do some good,'' Wedge said. ''But it depends what they do on the off day. Just sitting around sulking isn't going to work.''
Ryan Garko would just as soon keep playing without a break.
''After a loss, the best thing to do is get out on the field again,'' he said.
Garko will have to wait until tonight for that, when the Tribe plays the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium.
Wedge is counting on his veterans to lead the way out of the woods.
''We've got guys who have been here three, four, five years,'' he said. ''They're the players who have to lead us out of this.''
Feelings heard
When the Tribe made the final out of Sunday's 2-0 loss to the Kansas City Royals, the fans at Progressive Field sent them to the clubhouse with a chorus of boos.
''What can you do?'' Garko asked. ''When you play the way we did, you're going to get booed. Besides, nobody is going to be harder on us than we are on ourselves.''
Learning the ropes
Aaron Laffey has been effective in both starts since arriving from Triple-A Buffalo, but his record is 0-2.
''It's the same game,'' said Laffey, comparing the majors to Triple-A. ''My biggest thing is control. If I have my control, I think I'm going to have a successful outing.
''But getting through a big-league lineup for the third time is a lot different from doing it down there. They're making adjustments to you, so Victor (Martinez) makes sure I mix it up.''
Missing Yankees
The Yankees will be without Alex Rodriguez, Jorge Posada and Phil Hughes, all of whom are on the disabled list, for the three-game series that begins at 7:05 tonight.
Farm facts
Adam Miller gave up four runs on 11 hits in 32/3 innings, but Buffalo beat Charlotte 6-4 in the first game of a doubleheader. In the second game, Jason Stanford threw six shutout innings, allowing four hits and a walk, as Buffalo eked out a 1-0 win. Josh Barfield was 3-for-7 with one RBI for the two games.
Stephanie Storm can be reached at
sstorm@thebeaconjournal.com.
Sheldon Ocker can be reached at
socker@thebeaconjournal.com.
CLEVELAND: Indians General Manager Mark Shapiro held a conference call on the team's day off Monday to announce officially what had been rumored for a few days: The team will designate veteran outfielder Jason Michaels for assignment and recall rookie Ben Francisco from Triple-A Buffalo today.
Get the full article here.
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