The old pier - Picture of Edgewater Park, Cleveland

I stumbled upon this photo and a story concerning Edgewater Park.

I have an awesome thought.......We rename our baseball team to The Cleveland SEAGULLS !!!!!

Cleveland Seagulls

I resemble that remark!

Or the Mighty Midges

"If you're in the area, come on down. Plenty of good seats still available!"

Yandy was 1-3 with another double today.

Hillbilly wrote:Yandy was 1-3 with another double today.

I am with you Hillbilly!

Jordan Bastian‏Verified account @MLBastian 18 minutes ago
Francona: Brantley is scheduled to face Tomlin in live BP this morning.

paul hoynes‏ @hoynsie 12 minutes ago
Brantley will face Tomlin in simulated game Monday morning in Goodyear. First game action for Brantley.

Cleveland Indians' Michael Brantley feels good about swings against Josh Tomlin, Dan Otero



GOODYEAR, Ariz. - There have been many steps on Michael Brantley's attempt to rediscover the swing that made him an All-Star. Some have been forward, some backward and a few have skidded to the side.

He took another one Monday morning on Field 3 at the Indians' training complex when he faced Josh Tomlin and Dan Otero in his first simulated game of the spring. It's not known which way this step will take Brantley, but he did not tip toe. The first pitch he saw from Tomlin, he swung like he was trying to hit the ball back to Cleveland.

"I had to make sure I got in there mentally," said Brantley, facing big league pitchers for the first time since May. "I just wanted to be aggressive. I didn't want to get in there and swing 50 percent. I wanted to make sure I took a good aggressive swing.

"I was able to do that today. Tomorrow is a new day."

Brantley has been working upstream since injuring his right shoulder diving for a ball in September of 2015 against the Twins at Target Field. He had surgery in November for a torn labrum. In August, he had surgery to reattach to biceps tendon to the humerus.

"It was good," said Brantley, who put the ball in play twice his three at-bats. "Another stepping stone. Another progression. It went well. I'm just excited every chance I get to kind of progress."

Jason Kipnis followed Brantley to the plate. He's been slowed with a sore rotator cuff in his right shoulder. Manager Terry Francona said Kipnis will make his Cactus League debut Thursday against the Angels at DH.
Michael Brantley and Jason Kipnis swing the bats.

"It feels good to see him in the box," said Tomlin. "It feels good seeing him and Kipnis in there. I know what kind of caliber players they are. It's good to get in there and face guys like that, especially before you go into a game and start competing.'

Tomlin, like Kipnis, will make his first Cactus League start Thursday. He's been limited to bullpen sessions and simulated games because of the Indians long postseason run last year.

"It's good to face guys like him and Kip and you get the feel, that adrenaline," said Tomlin. "I know we're on a back field in early March, but it's still good to get in there and face guys like and see where you stuff is playing at."

As for Brantley's big first swing, Tomlin had a feeling it was coming. They locker next to each other in spring training so there are few secrets between them.

"I expected it," said Tomlin. "He joked around about it (saying), if he hit a home run he was going to trot around the bases. I wasn't going to let that happen."

Tomlin sees how hard Brantley has worked to try and get back on the field.

"He wants to be back more than anybody else on the team," said Tomlin. "We'd love to have him back, but he understands. He knows his body better than we do. He'll know when it's time."

To be fair to the pair of catchers, since I posted that they were both batting 000, Gomes and Perez have had some offensive success. Gomes is now 2-9 with a double and a walk for an OPS of 633. Perez is 4-12 with a double and 4 walks, OPS 914.

Not clear how long to expect them to be without Kipnis. And who will play 2nd until he returns? Michael Martinez and Erik Gonzalez are possibilities, with perhaps both making the opening day lineup instead of just one. Another possibility would be J.Ram, in which case Gio or Yandy could start the season at 3rd. But Yandy is also out and Urshela is off in the WBC.

Yan just homered!

Is he with the Indians or playing on the Brazilian WBC team? IS THERE a Brazil WBC team?

First few cuts yesterday:

Perci Garner "trying too hard" Tito, walked 5 in 3 2/3 innings.
Dylan Baker hoping to be healthy for more than one start this year. Pitched 1 inning for the Indians this spring.
Tim Cooney recovering from mid-season surgery. Hasn't pitched yet this spring. Perhaps going on the 60 day DL

Checking the box score I see Yan did indeed hit his homer for the Tribe.

And that Carrasco was awful for the 3rd time in 4 starts: 8 runs allowed in the 2nd inning including 3 homers.