Cleveland Sports Forum

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- An unexpected setback for right fielder Lonnie Chisenhall has caused a ripple effect for the Indians.
On Monday morning, Indians manager Terry Francona announced that Chisenhall will open the regular season on the 15-day disabled list due to a left wrist impingement. With Chisenhall out of the Opening Day picture, Cleveland informed outfielders Collin Cowgill and Marlon Byrd that they will be on the active roster to start the season.

The development with Chisenhall, who was battling a right forearm issue earlier this spring, means that utility man Jose Ramirez could see more action as an extra outfielder in the early portion of the season. The other outfielders on the roster include Rajai Davis, who can play left and center field, and rookie center fielder Tyler Naquin.

[That also leaves room for one more player on the roster: could recall Joey Butler if they want 5th OFs; could keep both Crockett and Otero and give Terry the 8 man bullpen he for some reason thinks is necessary. Could bring back Michael Martinez, but he'd require someone to be DFAd.]

[I missed the rest of the story which contradicts some of what I suggested, and suggests Tomlin/Anderson "loser" is the 25th-man.]

Chisenhall's situation might also impact the makeup of Cleveland's pitching staff.

Francona noted that the Indians might now be able to carry an extra pitcher to open the season, making it possible that both Josh Tomlin and Cody Anderson -- competing for the lone vacancy in the rotation -- could be on the roster. Cleveland's manager declined to go into more specifics, noting that the team would have more to announce in the coming days.

Cleveland did inform right-hander Dan Otero on Monday that he will be in the Opening Day bullpen, while lefty Kyle Crockett was optioned to Triple-A Columbus. That means that the Major League relief corps consists of Cody Allen, Bryan Shaw, Zach McAllister, Jeff Manship, Joba Chamberlain, Ross Detwiler and Otero.

The Indians' 40-man roster is at capacity, meaning that corresponding transactions will be required prior to Opening Day in order to officially add Chamberlain, Detwiler and Byrd to the fold. All three of those players signed Minor League contracts and were in camp this spring as non-roster invitees.

Also on Monday, the Indians informed outfielder Robbie Grossman that he will not be on the roster and offered him the chance to explore other opportunities. Lefty Tom Gorzelanny -- recently told he would not be in the big league bullpen -- has agreed to remain with the Tribe in the Minors. Gorzelanny is eligible for a $100,000 retention bonus and an opt-out clause for June 1 in the event he does not reach the Majors.

Adding Byrd, Chamberlin and Detwiler, means subtracting one or more among Ramsey, Joey Butler and Zach Walters and possibly Aguilar.
But the 60-day DL is another way to clear the 40 man roster and Dylan Baker and Tommy Hunter may well be heading there. If we only have to dump one player, I don't know how to choose between Ramsey and Walters, since they both seem pretty awful.

more minorleague games:

Zimmer single, walk, steal
Frazier single, walk, double, 2 rbi
Papi single, double, error
Aguilar homer
Ramsey 2 singles
ZWalters single, 2K
Allen 2 singles, walk
Willi Castro single, double, CS
Krieger single, walk, steal
McClure 2 singles, walk
Alexis Pantoja 2 singles, 2 walks

Clevinger 4-4-1-1-1-5
Dace Kime 4-3-2-2-1-3
Tommy Hunter 1-0-0-0-0-1 maybe not a 60-day DL candidate?

I guess that injury explains Chiz's putrid hitting this spring.

he injured his right forearm. then hurt the left wrist and that put him on the DL. Neither hindered his throwing arm; he had way more outfield assists than base hits.

Like most, I hope after his stint on the DL he does a nice lengthy rehab at Columbus.

Hey, if he really starts to hit down there, love to have him back. Until then, what's the point?

especially with such a solid cast of hitters in our outfield this year.

Actually, if Brantley gets back as soon as it seems, an outfield of Brantley, Naquin and Byrd isn't sounding bad at all to me.

Especially considering most of the offense actually comes from the infield on this team. And spring seems to indicate Gomes will recover to some degree this season.

Brantley is one top-notch hitter.
Naquin had a terrific spring. He has had a tendency in his minor league career to start hot at each new level, then settle back. I hope he can hit something like 270/330/400.
Byrd will hold his own as a parttimer. Tito knows how to mix and match and I suppose Cowgill will spell Byrd against lefties, or play LF with Davis shifting to right.
Whether Byrd+Davis+Cowgill is any better then Raburn+Murphy+who else did we have last year we'll see.
At least Bourn and Swisher won't be around.

Since Byrd is right handed, I would expect he plays vs both right handers and left handers, at least for the time being.

Naquin, at least he can play center field type defense and he does have tools that are useful. Yes, if he hits what civ suggested and plays good center field defense then we have something there!

I don't think we need an outfield of stars with Brantley in there. Role players will be fine - out infield has the potential to be the engine of the offense.

And the pitching, well, it has crazy potential.

Still uncertain how long we are going to wait for Brantley. I hope he didn't rush back and push back his rehab time.
Davis and Byrd have been good in the past, but who knows what's left. Napoli had a great spring but his 2014 wasn't much to get excited about either. Those 3 plus Uribe could turn out to be a very useful collection of right handed hitting veterans to balance our left handed hitting younger players. Or could be another collection of over-the-hill salaries. We'll see.

I see the Flyin' Hawaiian, Shane Victorino is on the street again.

Wasn't too long ago, Tribe made a big run at him only to be scooped up by Boston.

Another reclamation project?

civ said - Or could be another collection of over-the-hill salaries. We'll see.

Perhaps but these are just one year fliers.

AND, I do think at least a couple will come in very handy.

friend who's a Pirates fan tells me Byrd is a great clutch hitter.
I am very happy to have no new long-term questionable contracts.