The Indians' Cabreras connection

Spring training advice from Orlando Cabrera has helped Asdrubal Cabrera get off to a hot start.

Orlando Cabrera started his lobbying early in spring training, Cleveland Indians manager Manny Acta recalled, after Cabrera watched teammate Asdrubal Cabrera take batting practice for the first time. "Orlando was impressed with his power, and he started talking with him about the mental aspects of hitting," Acta said.

Orlando Cabrera encouraged Asdrubal to look for more opportunities to drive the ball, to look for a pitch in a particular part of the strike zone. Orlando encouraged Asdrubal that he could do more at the plate. "He told him that he could take a bigger swing, look for extra bases," Acta recalled. "Because he's a guy who could hit for more power. And he's been in the middle of everything."

Yes. Cabrera drove in four runs on Friday, which gives him 14 RBIs in the Indians' 13 games, and he has seven extra-base hits in his first 53 at-bats, including four homers. He has never hit more than six in any season, but Asdrubal Cabrera looks like a different hitter now that he's 25 -- bigger, stronger. Just as Carlos Guillen matured physically from his first days with the Seattle Mariners and developed into a power hitter, Cabrera seems to be making a transformation.

And he is healthy again, after breaking his forearm last year. "I don't think he was 100 percent healthy last season, and now he's back," Acta said. "This guy is one of the best shortstops in the American League."

The Indians are 9-4 in the aftermath of Justin Masterson's latest masterpiece; he has continued to grow and develop. It's time to climb onto the Indians' bandwagon, writes Bill Livingston.

A rival GM noted this week how many tough outs the Indians have amassed in their lineup, from Michael Brantley to Cabrera to Carlos Santana. "That is not an easy lineup to face," he said.

Carlos Santana got a night off.

Buster Olney blog

Grady Sizemore close to being activated: Cleveland Indians daily briefing

Published: Saturday, April 16, 2011, 3:08 PM Updated: Saturday, April 16, 2011, 3:15 PM

Paul Hoynes, The Plain Dealer By Paul Hoynes, The Plain Dealer The Plain Dealer


Grady Sizemore is almost there. Now it's just a matter of the Indians giving him the all clear.

"We don't know when, but it will be soon," said manager Manny Acta when asked when Sizemore would be activated.

Sizemore played for Class AAA Columbus on Thursday. He was scheduled to workout and take batting practice with the Indians before Saturday's game against the Orioles, but the 1:05 p.m. game was delayed by rain until 3:05 p.m.

"I think I'm close," said Sizemore. "I feel good. I feel strong. Everything has felt good.

Sizemore underwent microfracture surgery on his left knee in June. His last big league game of May 16.

Acta is excited about adding Sizemore to a lineup that has helped produce a 9-4 start.

"Regardless of what kind of lineup you have, when you add Grady Sizemore to any lineup in America, you're adding to it," said Acta.

Sizemore didn't play in spring training games until March 20. His first game in the field was March 22.

"My knee has felt very consistent over the last month or so," said Sizemore. "Even with more games I played, including going back to back. . .It doesn't feel any different the next day. Or after a day off. It seems to be holding steady right now.

"I feel like I'm there. Now we have to figure out what's best for everybody."

Acta said he wouldn't say where Sizemore would hit in the lineup out of respect for the players in the lineup.

"It's tough because the team is swinging well right now," said Sizemore. "I'm sure they don't want to mess with the lineup. Manny knows I'm good with whatever. Whether it's leadoff or somewhere else. I'm sure we'll sit down and go over all this."

Acta moved Sizemore from the leadoff spot to No.2 at the start of last season.

When Sizemore is activated, he'll play center field with hot-hitting Michael Brantley moving to left field. A roster move will have to be made to create a spot for Sizemore. Austin Kearns, Shelley Duncan and Travis Buck are the extra outfielders. Buck, who has an option left, could be the most vulnerable.

Sizemore has enjoyed the Indians fast start. He's envied it as well.

"It's been fun to watch, but it's been hard to watch well," he said. "Everyone is having fun, you want to be a part of it."

Buck finally had a good day at the plate, and now he is going to Columbus? He's the logical one, being a lefty and if he actually has an option available. Kearns has done nothing to earn a job this year, except for swing from the right side and have a $1.M plus contract.

Kearns is one of Acta's faves

Orlando Cabrera's four RBIs lead Cleveland past Baltimore


Indians Rout Orioles, 8-3

Associated Press

CLEVELAND -- Orlando Cabrera senses something special happening to the Cleveland Indians. In 13 major league seasons, he's seen this before.

With each quality start, clutch hit and win, the Indians' confidence grows. Cabrera sees a young team blossoming into a quality one.

"I think we have what it takes," he said.

To do what?

"To win," he said. "I don't like to compete. I like to win."

That's exactly what the Indians are doing.

Josh Tomlin delivered yet another quality start for Cleveland, Cabrera drove in four runs and the first-place Indians won their sixth straight at home, 8-3 on Saturday over the Baltimore Orioles, who have lost six in a row and are having trouble scoring.

Tomlin (3-0) gave up two runs -- solo homers to Jake Fox and Luke Scott -- and six hits in six innings. His outing continued a dominant run by Cleveland's starters, who are making it look easy. In the last 12 games, they're 8-1 with a 1.91 ERA, not bad for a five-man rotation of virtual unknowns.

After dropping their first two games, the Indians have won 10 of 12. Cabrera, signed as a free agent to fill the Indians' hole at second base and bring leadership to their clubhouse, has been impresses by the strong start but wants to see more.

"We haven't had to fight back yet," he said. "I want to see us fight back late in the game."

The Indians haven't had to. They've been jumping out to early leads, scoring 42 of their 75 runs in the first four innings. The nice starts have allowed their pitchers to relax and not have to worry about being perfect. So far, it's been a nearly foolproof formula as Cleveland is 8-1 when scoring first.

"It means the world," manager Manny Acta said of the early runs. "Everybody wants to pitch with a lead. It really gives guys more confidence to throw the ball over the plate and challenge guys. It's been huge."

Shin-Soo Choo homered off Jeremy Guthrie (1-2) and Matt LaPorta had two RBIs for the Indians, who are 10-4 and off to their best start in nine years. Travis Hafner and Travis Buck had three hits each for Cleveland.

It's been a great start for the Indians and it could soon get better as the club is expected to activate center fielder Grady Sizemore from the disabled list in the next two days. The three-time All-Star has been out nearly a year following knee injury.

Since opening 4-0, the Orioles have lost seven of nine and their six-game slide is the club's longest since Buck Showalter took over as manager on Aug. 3. Baltimore has scored just 15 runs in the skid, and once again didn't take advantage of some scoring chances.

"It's not the gloom and doom everybody makes it out to be," Showalter said. "We had opportunities we didn't take advantage of. It's been a challenge for us. We'll get better at that."

Tomlin won the only open spot in Cleveland's rotation during spring training, and the right-hander's shown no signs he'll give it up. He coasted through the first few innings, allowing only the two homers before working in and out of a tricky situation in the fifth.

He gave up a leadoff homer to Scott that made it 6-2 and then made an error on Adam Jones' bunt. The Orioles eventually loaded the bases with one out, but Tomlin got Brian Roberts to pop out and retired Nick Markakis on a groundout.

"I knew I had to make that pitch and I was able to," said Tomlin, who was pulled after 79 pitches but disagreed with Acta's decision to take him out.

Acta said Tomlin was "one pitch from disaster."

"I was," Tomlin said.

The Orioles made it 6-3 in the seventh on Roberts' RBI single, but failed to push more than one run across despite having runners at first and third with none out. Indians reliever Vinnie Pestano got Markakis to hit into a double play and struck out Derrek Lee to preserve Cleveland's three-run lead.

Cabrera made it swell to five runs in the seventh with his second homer.

The 36-year-old has been to the playoffs six times in the past seven years. He acknowledged its too early to think that far ahead, but he is seeing a team that's beginning to understand what it takes to win.

"I like to win," he said. "I do think we have what it takes and I think the guys have the confidence every day to come and get a 'W' every night. You can see the smiles on their faces."

Game notes
Tomlin has pitched at least five innings each of his first 15 major league starts, the first pitcher in Cleveland history to do that. ... Steady rain followed by a thunderstorm delayed the start of the game for 2 hours, 3 minutes. ... Scott made a sliding catch in the left-field corner to rob Choo of extra bases in the seventh, and Jones made a leaping catch at the center-field wall in front of Cleveland's bullpen to steal a double or better from Brantley in the fourth. ... According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the Indians were the first team in AL history to win eight straight games after starting 0-2.

It's all about depth. If Buck has an option left he goes.

Sizemore activated will play CF and hit leadoff. Brantley getting the day off. Talbot going on the DL with an elbow strain. Expected to miss 3-4 weeks. We have a few days to play with the rotation but who gets the callup once they need a fifth starter?

http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ss ... _acti.html

Grady-A addition: Indians activate Sizemore

Tribe places Talbot on 15-day DL to clear room on active roster

By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | 04/17/11 9:55 AM ET

CLEVELAND -- The Indians have their All-Star back.

The Tribe officially activated center fielder Grady Sizemore from the 15-day disabled list on Sunday, ending his complicated rehab from left knee surgery.

In order to clear room on the active roster, Cleveland placed right-hander Mitch Talbot on the 15-day DL with a right elbow strain. Talbot, who was scheduled to start on Tuesday in Kansas City, is expected to miss at least three to four weeks.

Indians manager Manny Acta said that the team expects to promote right-hander Jeanmar Gomez from Triple-A Columbus to assume Talbot's spot in the rotation.

Sizemore, 28, was limited to 33 games a year ago after injuring his knee, which required microfracture surgery in June. He recently completed a Minor League rehab assignment with Triple-A Columbus and Double-A Akron.

With Sizemore -- a three-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove Award winner -- back in the fold, Michael Brantley will shift from center field to left. Sizemore also assumes the leadoff spot, which Brantley had filled during his absence.

Talbot, who opened the season as the Tribe's fifth starter, pitched well out of the gates. The 27-year-old right-hander went 1-0 with a 1.46 ERA through his first two starts of the season. Last year, Talbot went 10-13 with a 4.41 ERA as a rookie.

The Indians are now carrying 14 position players and 11 pitchers. The club will need to make a subsequent roster move prior to Tuesday's game, when the Indians will require a starter.

They sure are not impressed by Huff.

Alex White is not ready yet, although he has looked good in his first 2 AAA starts.

The biggest reason to be concerned about Huff is that Frank is no longer making posts about how he is on the verge of "getting it."

Someone just needs to keep a spot warm until White arrives.

At least there isn't any hint that they will turn to Durbin.

Not really sure that White is going to be much at the major league level. Will wait and see.

Manny Acta's decisions are as sizzling as the Indians: Terry Pluto's scribbles

Published: Sunday, April 17, 2011, 8:12 PM Updated: Sunday, April 17, 2011, 8:16 PM


Terry Pluto, The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Some scribbles as this successful April for the Indians continues:

1. When Sunday's game began, it was 48 degrees and the wind was wicked -- as in the Terminal Tower was swaying. The Tribe and manager Manny Acta picked this dubious day to bring back Grady Sizemore after his microfracture knee surgery. I didn't like the idea of Sizemore playing in these conditions, as wind can cause a player to make sharp stops, cuts and swerves. Nor did I favor leading him off.

2. Sizemore played. He doubled. He homered. He had no problems in center. He led off. He did not look very fast running immediately out of the batter's box. I still think his future is as a power hitter lower in the lineup. But right now, Acta has the magic touch when it comes to managerial moves. He deferred to Sizemore being a veteran, and let him return to his own lineup spot. Right now, I defer to a manager who is making all the right moves as was evident in the weekend sweep of Baltimore, including Sunday's 4-2 victory.

3. Assuming Sizemore can play at least an average center field, I'm OK with Acta putting Michael Brantley in left. But Brantley needs to play. He's hitting .302. His on-base percentage is .367, only Travis Hafner (.407) is higher among the regulars. Quietly, Brantley is having a strong season.

4. After praising Mitch Talbot in my Sunday notes for throwing more fastballs for more speed and better control in his 112-pitch, eight shutout innings in Anaheim last week ... I guess he threw too many. He was in the 91 mph range, and hit 94 several times. He was at 93 mph in the eighth inning. Now his elbow hurts. I'm concerned, because I thought he had a health issue in the spring because he didn't throw hard or look good. He also has a significant history of elbow problems.

5. The Indians sold nearly 8,000 tickets in a 24-hour period before Friday's game, when the crowd was 16,346. They drew 13,017 on Sunday, their third best home attendance this season. In the first nine home games, the average temperature has been 45 degrees. The high of 54 degrees came Saturday, when it was pouring rain all morning and into the early afternoon. It's hard to make a last-minute decision to go to the park when the games are on TV. Sunday is one of the few home games this year where the sun came out.

6. We can write off the 10 opening-game runs allowed by Fausto Carmona to being overly excited ... or something. In his next three starts, he has a 1.25 ERA, allowing three runs in 21 2/3 innings. He has looked like the 19-game winner of 2007. It's worth noting that only twice have Tribe starters failed to pitch at least six innings. The good defense (only two unearned runs allowed) helps the starters pitch longer, and that allows the bullpen to be fresh with the best arms ready when they are needed the most.

7. Carlos Santana homered, but he's in a 1-for-27 slump. His average has sunk to .196 and he is way out front on off-speed pitches. He will see a lot of those until he begins to connect with some authority.

8. Tony Sipp has thrown 8 2/3 scoreless innings. He has walked two, and allowed three hits. Opponents are batting .103. With Sipp and Chris Perez (5-of-5 in saves, 0.00 ERA), the Indians have owned the eighth and ninth innings. Raffy Perez (7 2/3 scoreless innings) and Vinnie Pestano (1.80 ERA) after been superb in the seventh. After the starting pitching, the bullpen has been just as important as the defense, as the Indians are playing beautiful baseball to watch.

http://www.cleveland.com/pluto/blog/ind ... _as_s.html

Great day for Grady and the Cleveland Indians: Sizemore homers as first-place Tribe completes sweep of Orioles


Published: Sunday, April 17, 2011, 3:51 PM Updated: Sunday, April 17, 2011, 8:19 PM


Dennis Manoloff, The Plain Dealer

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Grady Sizemore needed 10 months to make it back to a major-league field after microfracture surgery on his left knee. He needed just two at-bats to make a thunderous impact.

Sizemore homered in the third inning as part of the Indians' 4-2 victory over the Orioles on a chilly, windy Sunday afternoon at Progressive Field. The Tribe (11-4) won its seventh straight home game, moving into sole possession of first place in the AL Central following Kansas City's 3-2 loss to Seattle. The Indians had not won seven straight at Progressive Field since Aug. 15-Sept. 1, 2007.

The Indians notched their third series sweep of the season. Last season, they did not do so until mid-July. Baltimore (6-8) has lost seven in a row.

Carlos Santana and Travis Hafner also homered in support of right-hander Fausto Carmona, who earned his first victory. Carmona gave up two runs (one earned) in seven innings.

Sizemore finished 2-for-4 with two extra-base hits in his first major-league game since May 16, 2010, when he aggravated a left-knee injury in Baltimore. He underwent the surgery June 4 in Colorado.

"We didn't know what to expect going into that surgery," Sizemore said. "We had no idea, really, how severe it would be and how the knee would react. The last couple of months, I've come a long way. It was a tough rehab, but the time away was probably the toughest part."

Sizemore's teammates appreciated the seemingly endless hours he put in to return to the game's highest level.

"Coming back from microfracture surgery is not easy," said closer Chris Perez, who pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his fifth save in five opportunities. "You need to learn how to walk again, kind of. So for Grady to get back as fast as he did, in less than a year, is a tremendous credit to him."

Sizemore, batting leadoff and playing center field, received a loud ovation from the crowd of 13,017 when he came to the plate in the first inning. He grounded to second.

"I definitely had some jitters, especially during that first at-bat," he said. "I was excited and anxious. Once the game got going, it settled down and I was all right."

In his second at-bat, Sizemore launched a 2-0 pitch from righty Brad Bergesen over the right-field wall. It came with one out in the third and gave the Tribe a 2-0 lead. The wind helped, but Sizemore cleared the hips and put a good swing on the ball.

The homer was Sizemore's first in a major-league game that counted since Aug. 27, 2009, at Baltimore. On May 7, 2010, against Detroit, he went deep off Jeremy Bonderman but lost it to a rainout.


"It was nice to see Grady show his power right off the bat," manager Manny Acta said.

In his third at-bat, Sizemore doubled into the right-field corner with two outs in the fifth. Last season, Sizemore had one game out of 33 with multiple extra-base hits.

Sizemore struck out in the seventh.

"What could you expect -- 4-for-4 with four homers?" Acta said with a chuckle. "That would have been nice. But extra-base hits on the first day is a pretty good day. I just wanted to make sure his swing was on time, and it was. He looked good."

In the early going of the comeback, Acta said, Sizemore will not be playing every day.

"I'm not going to come out and give you the schedule; I have the right to keep that in me," Acta said. "Grady will be able to play back-to-back days. The expectation is that he's going to be an every-day guy at some point this year, but it's going to be a process.

"It's going to start with 4-5 days a week, then 5-6. After that, if he clears all the hurdles, I don't see any reason why we can't throw him out every day and rest him when we need to."

Carmona retired the first nine Orioles, then Brian Roberts singled into the hole at short. With Roberts on the move, Nick Markakis slapped a single into the spot vacated when shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera went to cover second. Roberts advanced to third and scored on Derrek Lee's double-play grounder.

The Indians made it 3-1 in their half of the fourth when Travis Buck hit a two-out single to drive in Orlando Cabrera from second. Cabrera had reached on an infield single and gotten to second on a throwing error.

In the sixth, Travis Hafner brought out the 2-iron and zipped a pitch from reliever Jeremy Accardo over the wall in right-center. The homer was Pronk's fourth.

"I'm not surprised at all," Acta said. "I actually think [Hafner] can do more. He's capable of that if he's healthy. He's got the bat speed. He's pretty confident with his hands."

Baltimore pulled within 4-2 in the seventh on a sacrifice fly to left by former Indian farmhand Luke Scott. The run was unearned against Carmona because of an earlier error by Shin-Soo Choo.

Carmona (1-2, 4.74 ERA) gave up five hits, walked one and struck out five. He has allowed three earned runs in 21 2/3 innings (1.25 ERA) of three starts after giving up 10 earned in three innings on Opening Day.

"Another good outing by Fausto," Acta said. "He made pitches when he needed to."

Tribe lefty Tony Sipp worked the eighth. He has not given up a run this season (eight appearances, 8 2/3 innings). Perez was perfect in the ninth. He is also unscored upon (seven appearances, 7 1/3 innings).

Sizemore homers, helps Indians win, 4-2, sweep Orioles (with video)

Sunday, April 17, 2011

By JIM INGRAHAM

jingraham@MorningJournal.com


CLEVELAND — Some guys just know how to make an entrance.

Guys like Tarzan, The Lone Ranger, and that fat guy who does cannonballs off the diving board at the local pool during the summer.

On Sunday, Grady Sizemore didn’t swing into Progressive Field on a vine, or ride in on a white horse, but he did the next best thing.



In his second at bat of his first regular season game in nearly a year, Sizemore blasted a “hey, remember me?” home run, to help lead the streaking Indians to a 4-2 win, completing a three-game sweep of the Baltimore Orioles.

“I was just trying to put a good swing on it. Nobody thinks about hitting a home run in a situation like that,” said Sizemore, who prior to the game was activated off the disabled list following his 11-month rehab from microfracture surgery on his left knee.

It was Sizemore’s first appearance in a regular season game since May 16, but he didn’t show much rust. In his next at bat after the homer, Sizemore pulled a double down the right field line. He went 2-for-4, with a double, a home run, an RBI and a run scored in his 2011 debut.

“Today was the first time I’ve seen him play completely healthy, and he put on quite a show,” said Tribe closer Chris Perez, who pitched a scoreless ninth inning to pick up his fifth save.

“It’s a tremendous lift for our team to have him back,” Perez said. “That’s not an easy rehab. After microfracture surgery you almost have to learn how to walk again. We saw how hard he worked in spring training, and now he’s another weapon we have in our lineup.”

Prior to the game Indians manager Manny Acta could barely contain his elation over finally having his three-time All-Star centerfielder back in the lineup.

“I’ve always dreamed, ever since I took this job, of seeing him at the top of his game. I’m looking forward to having him back out there,” Acta said. “We’re excited. Grady is excited. We’re adding a very good player, a franchise player for this team the last six or seven years.”

Sizemore said he was just as excited as everyone else.

“I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time,” he said before the game. “The toughest part was all the down time. That’s a long time to be away from the game. Going into the surgery I didn’t know how serious it would be, or how my knee would react. But the last couple of months I’ve come a long way. I was hoping to be ready for the start of the season. Obviously I’m a couple weeks behind that. But I still feel like I’m doing pretty well.”

You could say that.

After grounding out to second in his first at bat Sunday, Sizemore’s second at bat came in the third inning, with one out and nobody on base.

He jumped on a 2-0 pitch from Orioles starter Brad Bergesen and blasted a towering drive that eventually came down in the right field seats for his first home run since Aug. 27, 2009.

“It was nice to see Grady make a contribution right off the bat,” said Acta. “I just wanted to make sure his swing was timed up. He looked good. It’s only one game, but it was nice to see him show off his power like that. Two extra base hits. Nice day.”

The Indians also got home runs from Carlos Santana — snapping his 0-for-23 hitless streak — and Travis Hafner in support of Fausto Carmona, who pitched seven solid innings to get the win, his first of the year.

Amazingly, the Indians have gotten off to this sensational start, they are now 11-4 and alone in first place in the AL Central, despite getting virtually nothing out of their two best hitters — Santana and Shin-Soo Choo — and their No.1 starter, Carmona, didn’t win a game until Sunday.

“Carmona doesn’t have three wins, but he has had three quality starts since opening day, and given us a chance to win those games,” said Acta.

Sunday, Carmona threw 101 pitches, holding the Orioles to two runs, one earned, with five strikeouts and one walk.

The biggest play of the game came in the top of the sixth. The Indians led 3-1, but the Orioles had runners at first and second with one out. Nick Markakis hit a sharp grounder to first baseman Matt LaPorta, who started a nifty 3-6-1 inning ending double play, as Carmona hustled over to cover first.

“That’s one of the toughest double plays in the game,’’ Acta said.

Meanwhile, one of the winningest teams in the majors so far now has one of the majors’ most exciting players back in its lineup.

“Grady was so happy the whole day,” Acta said. “He was pumped and eager to get out there, and we feed off him. His energy is contagious.


http://www.morningjournal.com/articles/ ... 416476.txt



There's a short post game Grady Sizemore interview available in the link.