Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Injury update: Casey Blake left the game in the sixth inning with tightness in his right hamstring. He injured it playing a ball down the right field line in the top of the inning and will be evaluated today. "I didn't want to come out of the game, but if I can't get to balls out there, we're in trouble," said Blake, who moved to the outfield in the off-season after playing third base his whole career. "I told [manager Eric] Wedge to let me finish the inning. It's probably good they didn't get a ball out there. We have a day off [today], so we'll see how it is." Ryan Ludwick replaced Blake in right.Home opener notes: The Indians are 55-50 all-time in home openers, including 7-12 against the White Sox. Cleveland is 7-5 in home openers at Jacobs Field, where they have sold out all 12 games. They won last year's home opener, 6-3, over the Minnesota Twins thanks to a fourth-inning grand slam by Travis Hafner.Roster turnover: The Indians returned six of their opening day starters from last year: Blake, Hafner, Victor Martinez, Ben Broussard, Ronnie Belliard and Coco Crisp. Matt Lawton is now with the Pirates), Omar Vizquel is with the Giants, and Jody Gerut (RF) is on the disabled list with a torn ACL. No one from the 2002 opening day starting lineup is still with the team.Defensive struggles: Third baseman Aaron Boone committed the Indians' only error in the fifth inning. The Indians have committed errors in every game this season and have 10 total. They entered the game with the worst fielding percentage (.962) in the American League. "We're all right," said Wedge. "When it's all said and done, we'll be a better defensive club this year than we were last year."Offensive struggles: The Indians are hitting .216 as a team and have scored 27 runs in seven games. Eleven of those came in an extra-inning win over the White Sox on April 7 when the team scored six runs in the 11th inning. "When it's early, sometimes it only takes one or two outs for your batting average to go down," said Indians first baseman Ben Broussard, who's hitting .182. "But we know the offense is going to come around. If you ask the guys who are hitting .200, they'll say, 'I feel great.' The hits just aren't falling right now. You just try not to worry about it."Up next: The Indians' home stand continues with two more games against the White Sox and three against the Minnesota Twins. After a day off today, Indians pitcher Cliff Lee (0-0, 13.50 ERA) will start Wednesday against Jose Contreras (0-0, 1.50). Scott Elarton (0-0, 3.38) will pitch Thursday against Orlando Hernandez (1-0, 1.29). Jake Westbrook (0-2, 7.20) and Kevin Millwood (0-1, 1.38) will pitch Friday and Saturday for the Tribe.
Injury update: Casey Blake left the game in the sixth inning with tightness in his right hamstring. He injured it playing a ball down the right field line in the top of the inning and will be evaluated today. "I didn't want to come out of the game, but if I can't get to balls out there, we're in trouble," said Blake, who moved to the outfield in the off-season after playing third base his whole career. "I told [manager Eric] Wedge to let me finish the inning. It's probably good they didn't get a ball out there. We have a day off [today], so we'll see how it is." Ryan Ludwick replaced Blake in right.Home opener notes: The Indians are 55-50 all-time in home openers, including 7-12 against the White Sox. Cleveland is 7-5 in home openers at Jacobs Field, where they have sold out all 12 games. They won last year's home opener, 6-3, over the Minnesota Twins thanks to a fourth-inning grand slam by Travis Hafner.Roster turnover: The Indians returned six of their opening day starters from last year: Blake, Hafner, Victor Martinez, Ben Broussard, Ronnie Belliard and Coco Crisp. Matt Lawton is now with the Pirates), Omar Vizquel is with the Giants, and Jody Gerut (RF) is on the disabled list with a torn ACL. No one from the 2002 opening day starting lineup is still with the team.Defensive struggles: Third baseman Aaron Boone committed the Indians' only error in the fifth inning. The Indians have committed errors in every game this season and have 10 total. They entered the game with the worst fielding percentage (.962) in the American League. "We're all right," said Wedge. "When it's all said and done, we'll be a better defensive club this year than we were last year."Offensive struggles: The Indians are hitting .216 as a team and have scored 27 runs in seven games. Eleven of those came in an extra-inning win over the White Sox on April 7 when the team scored six runs in the 11th inning. "When it's early, sometimes it only takes one or two outs for your batting average to go down," said Indians first baseman Ben Broussard, who's hitting .182. "But we know the offense is going to come around. If you ask the guys who are hitting .200, they'll say, 'I feel great.' The hits just aren't falling right now. You just try not to worry about it."Up next: The Indians' home stand continues with two more games against the White Sox and three against the Minnesota Twins. After a day off today, Indians pitcher Cliff Lee (0-0, 13.50 ERA) will start Wednesday against Jose Contreras (0-0, 1.50). Scott Elarton (0-0, 3.38) will pitch Thursday against Orlando Hernandez (1-0, 1.29). Jake Westbrook (0-2, 7.20) and Kevin Millwood (0-1, 1.38) will pitch Friday and Saturday for the Tribe.