Fryman's grand slam is hit Indians needed

The often-injured third baseman questioned his team's critics.
By BRIAN RICHESSON
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
CLEVELAND -- Travis Fryman wakes every morning wondering whether he will be writhing in pain.
"When you're over 30," he said, "it's something new all the time."
Fryman, 33, may not be 100 percent healthy -- he has been hampered by elbow and shoulder problems the past year -- but Monday he felt pretty good. And he made Cleveland Indians fans feel pretty good, too.
Key hit: The Indians third baseman, Fryman belted a third-inning grand slam into the left-field bleachers that paved the Indians' way to their victory over Minnesota.
Fryman's grand slam, the sixth of his career, put Cleveland ahead to stay 7-4 and helped to make a winner out of starting pitcher Ryan Drese.
"He's a blue-collar hitter. He wants to work his butt off," Indians manager Charlie Manuel said of Fryman. "He's staying back [on the ball] better, and he's using his legs. He has more pizzazz on his swing."
The home run, which came on a 2-0 fastball from Minnesota left-hander Eric Milton, also did a lot for Fryman's confidence, something that has been lacking lately.
"Baseball's a relentless game. Sometimes when you get down, it keeps kicking you," said Fryman, who batted .263 in just 98 games last season.
With a large group of reporters huddled around his locker after the game, Fryman used the stage to support his team, which, he feels, wasn't given much of a chance in the off-season.
Fryman said he heard much of the banter after the Indians traded Roberto Alomar to the New York Mets and didn't re-sign Juan Gonzalez.
"The Twins were picked to win the division. No one picked the Indians to win," Fryman said. "I keep scratching my head. I look at this team and see a pretty good baseball team."
Comparison: Fryman compared this season's version of the Tribe to the Kansas City Royals teams of the early 1980s. The Royals weren't a home run-type of team, but they did hit a lot of doubles.
"They were a hard-nosed team," Fryman said. "They were aggressive on the basepaths, with good defense, good pitching. I'd rather see good, aggressive baseball for nine innings."
Fryman's effort in the Indians' home opener may be a sign of things to come from a team that has started the season 6-1.
"[Bartolo] Colon set the table for us in Anaheim," said first baseman Jim Thome, referring to Colon's complete-game victory on opening night. "He set the tone for that road trip, and it's carried over to home."
With a little help from Fryman.
richesson@vindy.com