Playful Brantley looking more like himself
There is still no set date for Michael Brantley's return to game action

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Michael Brantley's swing is looking more and more like the one the Indians are used to seeing from the left fielder. The playful verbal jabs Brantley sent Cody Allen's way on Monday morning are what his teammates are used to hearing, too.

During a simulated hitting session on Field 3 at Cleveland's complex, Brantley took seven swings within a series of three at-bats against Allen and Bryan Shaw. While facing Allen, the outfielder shot a pitch into left field. The Indians' closer wanted to get Brantley's feedback on the pitch's location.

"Did that get in?" Allen asked from the mound.

"No, that's a basehit to left," Brantley replied with a smirk.

Allen rolled his eyes and laughed when asked about the exchange, but that is a side of Brantley that the Indians are happy to have back.

"It's awesome," Allen said. "A guy like him, man, he can change a club not only from an offensive or defensive standpoint, but having him there in your lineup every day. He's a great clubhouse guy. He's a leader. Just having his presence around every day, it's awesome to see."

While there remains no firm date for Brantley's return to games in his comeback from August surgery on his right biceps, there is optimism about his return, both in terms of how he is recovering from workouts and how he is acting behind the scenes.

"This spring, it's as much what you see in his face and in how he carries himself as what you see in his swing," Indians assistant hitting coach Matt Quatraro said. "But also, they've really built up his volume more, and you can see that he hasn't had any fatigue issues with it or anything like that."

Other injury notes

• Indians right-hander Cody Anderson (mild sprain of the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow) is scheduled to meet with Dr. Keith Meister later this week.

• Minor League third baseman and outfielder Yandy Diaz (right groin) hit in a simulated game and did agility drills on Monday. He could be cleared to return to games later this week.

• Minor League first baseman Nellie Rodriguez (right ankle sprain) could be sidelined for the next week, per manager Terry Francona.

• Outfielder Brandon Guyer returned to the lineup as a designated hitter on Monday after dealing with flu-like symptoms.

Brantley made his debut in the lineup for the big club today!

Reached on an error in his first at bat. Just hit an RBI single in his second...

Yandy has been hitting the weight room a little bit. But he may be skipping leg days...

Yandy just showed off the muscles with a 3 run homer!

His second hit today, RBI single earlier. He also hit a rocket up the middle that bounced off pitchers leg and right to SS for an out.

Imagine, Seagull doesn't want to start the clock on him. At his age, if the clock started on him this year he would be under Tribe control until age 32. Ridiculous point..

Carrasco pitched a minor league game today. 2 innings. He was roughed up in the first to the point they called the inning after 2 outs. But had a 1-2-3 2nd inning including a K. Fastball sat at 92-93 today. Afterwards he said he felt great and couldn't wait to get back out there.

Brantley finished 2-3 today, both singles. His second one coming off a lefty.

To continue with the Hillbilly evening drive show here ... the Indians have surpassed 1.2 million tickets sold for this season. They didn't surpass that until Independence Day last year.

Hillbilly wrote:Yandy just showed off the muscles with a 3 run homer!

His second hit today, RBI single earlier. He also hit a rocket up the middle that bounced off pitchers leg and right to SS for an out.

Imagine, Seagull doesn't want to start the clock on him. At his age, if the clock started on him this year he would be under Tribe control until age 32. Ridiculous point..

It's not me that doesn't want to start the clock on Yandy, it's the FO.

Unless there is something in a player's contract that kicks in if they make the opening day roster, no sense putting him on the 40 until they have to.

If he gets called up during the season, they'll have to.

Let's see if Brantley can avoid a relapse.

Zimmer homered today too. He has had quite the spring.

Home run city today at Goodyear

Besides his offense, Yandy was charged with one error and apparently also made a bad throw but was rescued by Colabello who made a good pickup.

Urshela also committed an error and way out of character drew two walks.

Aside from the positive comments about Yandy's soft hands and strong arm I just posted in an article in that folder, I will also point out that AA managers voted Yandy Diaz as the best defensive 3rd baseman in AA at the end of his 2015 season in Akron.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/2 ... py0Gdlv.97

And Carolina League Managers voted him the best defensive 3rd baseman in that league following his 2014 season there.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/2 ... GvjV3I1.97

He came to America from Cuba a 2nd basemen. And let's be real here, Cuba does not place you at 2nd base unless you have soft hands and athleticism. Then the Indians signed him and moved him to 3rd base due to his strong arm, where he excelled according to opposing managers. Then last year they start moving him around between 3B and both corner OF spots to give him more versatility.

And we feel the need to mention a throw that was low and the 1st baseman had to pick? Something that happens quite often?

You stick Yandy at 3rd base and leave him there and he would be very very good. But unfortunately for him Ramirez has slapped a chokehold on that position now. So he's going to have to find a home.

I personally think it should be RF due to his offensive abilities and strong arm. Chisenhall has just never lived up to potential. What, 8 homers last year? You need more offense from RF in the AL. I know if they'd just pick a spot and leave Yandy there after a little time he'd be totally fine defensively.

With Kipness out 4-6 weeks minimum, looks like the plan is to move Ramirez to 2B and open the 3B job for someone
else.

Sometimes you need an injury to get an opportunity.

Yandy might be dandy.

They certainly seem sold on his bat. But they don't seem sold on his 3rd base defense. One of the on-going strengths of last year's team was the defense across the board, and I think they'll want to follow the same script this year. As a result I'd be surprised if they give Yandy a month at 3rd to start the year. I don't imagine they're going to want to keep bouncing JRam from 2nd to 3rd so it will have to be an almost-every day job for Yandy or Gio or Erik at third.

I got to admit, I have actually got into the WBC this year. A lot of exciting games.

Was hard for me to get into it in years past cause so few American stars played but this year they actually put together a good lineup so thought I'd give it a shot.

Still not a great American pitching staff but thought we might have a shot this year. Would still love to see us dominate the world with Kershaw, Trout, etc ... but with Arenado, Goldschmidt, Hosmer, Stanton, etc, we had enough stud power out there to give it a run this year. And we have.

Tonight's game was in the rain and not a lot of action but great to see us move on to the championship game tomorrow night against Lindor and Puerto Rico.

Hope to see Lindor against Miller in a crucial spot late!