Tribe gives veteran pitchers bad news

Northeast Ohio Media Group

GOODYEAR, ARIZ.

The Cleveland Indians have told veteran pitchers Bruce Chen, Shaun Marcum and Scott Downs that they will not make their big-league club.

Manager Terry Francona said all three pitchers have been told they can stay in camp until they decide their next move.

“We told them to talk to their agents and their families, but they were welcome to stick around,” said Francona. “They have some things to think about. We weren’t telling them they couldn’t pitch because all three have done pretty well.”

ANOTHER JINX?

Twenty-eight years ago, Cory Snyder and Joe Carter gripped their bats and offered awkward smiles at the camera.

The Sports Illustrated cover, titled “Indian Uprising” declared that the Indians were “the best team in the American League,” one year removed from an 84-78 finish. The Tribe proceeded to mount a 61-101 record in 1987. The vaunted “SI jinx” was in full force.

SI is at it again. The magazine released four regional covers on Tuesday. The Indians grace one of the four, with AL Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber and left fielder Michael Brantley sharing a laugh at home plate. The cover reads:

“Wait till this year.”

“Why Cleveland? Why not Cleveland? Why the Tribe will win its first series since 1948.”

The Washington Nationals, Kansas City Royals and Seattle Mariners also are on regional covers.