Considering the Cleveland Indians got off to a 4-8 start last year, a 6-6 start this year seems pretty good. Then again, anytime a team from the miserable sports city in America is .500 or better, I guess the people from Cleveland are happy.
Let’s see what else is going on with the Indians.
Brantley looks to be headed down to the minors
Michael Brantley’s audition may be over. Brantley got a chance to start the season with the big club thanks to Russell Branyan’s injury. Unfortunately, Brantley hasn’t made the most of his opportunity.
Brantley is hitting just .156 with one extra-base hit and has struck out 11 times in 35 AB’s. It’s kind of hard to steal bases, which is Brantley’s strength, if you don’t get on base.
Look for Brantley to be sent to the minors when Branyan is activated from the DL. Branyan could be activated from the DL as early as next week.
Kerry Wood close to returning. Wood, who has been out since the middle of March because of a right muscle strain in his back, threw bullpen sessions all last week. He threw three bullpen sessions if you want to get technical about it.
Wood is expected to throw a simulated game at some point this week and if all goes well, he could back with the Indians sooner rather than later. In his place, Chris Perez has notched four saves, but has really struggled so far this year.
Perez has walked five and has a 1.93 WHIP in 4.2 IP. Not the numbers you want from your closer. When Wood returns, the Indians should insert him back into the closer’s role, let him establish is value, and then flip him at the trade deadline for prospects.
The Carlos Santana watch is on. Just like how Brantley hasn’t taken advantage of his opportunity in left, the same could be said for Lou Marson behind the plate. Marson was acquired by the Indians in the Cliff Lee trade and hasn’t done diddly-poo this year.
Marson is hitting .091 so far this season and his days of getting regular playing time might be coming to an end. It’s only a matter of time before the Indians call up one of the best prospects in the game—Carlos Santana.
Santana is just flat out awesome. He is a switch-hitting catcher, who is hitting .414 with four home runs and a 1.411 OPS in eight games at Triple A Columbus. He is Victor Martinez Part Deux for the Indians.
The Indians acquired Santana for Casey Blake in 2008. What a terrible trade for the Los Angeles Dodgers. Blake is a solid player, but come on.
How quickly do you think Mark Shapiro pulled the trigger on that trade? Five seconds? Four seconds?
The Indians will start a tough nine-game road trip on Monday as they will go to Minnesota, Oakland, and then Anaheim. That’s called a “Litmus Test” in my book.
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