Just In From the Desert

Sheesh.  Good thing it's Spring Training because I realized that Asdrubal Cabrera is hitting .071 (and also seems kinda chubby) and the Tribe lost two games by an aggregate of 23-3.  

Hot Corner:  Bad day for Jack Hannahan (.182).  Despite an RBI, Jack went 0-for-3 with an sloppy E5 in the field.  The Indians expect consistency from Hannahan this season and, if it looks like they're not going to get it, they will go with Lonnie Chisenhall (.300, 0-1, K) as the Opening Day starter.

#5:  A pair of 5th starter possibles toed the rubber on a day of split squad action.  David Huff went against the Angels and took a dramatic step backwards.  Following 2 strong starts, Huff (6.75) was abysmal today in allowing 5 runs (4 earned) on seven hits (BB, 2 K) over three innings.  Huff now lingers behind both Jeanmar Gomez and the Kevin Slowey, the starter versus Texas.  Although he was not particularly sharp, Slowey (3.60) kept his team in the game (5 H, 2 ER, K) over his three innings of work.

Left of Center:  Hallelujah!  Matt LaPorta (.143) finally broke through today with 2 hits.  He still has a long way to go to get back into this.  Shelley Duncan has fizzled since a quick start, highlighted by an 0-for-3, 3 K performance this afternoon.  Felix Pie (.231) was 0-for-1.

Somewhere Out There:  Aaron Cunningham (.286) keeps hanging around.  He banged out his first extra base hit today, scored a run and added an outfield assist.  Since he is out of options, he could easily win a tie breaker with another player.  Russ Canzler (.313) is that kind of player.  Russ singled in three trips today, but his aura has faded over the past week, leaving him susceptible to a business move rather than a baseball move.  Ezequiel Carrera (.200) continues to fade as well.  Zeke posted an 0-for-5 with a pair of Ks against the Angels.  Fred Lewis (.125) did about half as poorly, fanning once during an 0-for-2 game.  Just like LaPorta, Ryan Spilborghs (.091) rapped his first base knock of the spring today.  He also committed an error and will have to get really hot, really quick to remain viable in this field.

Bench Me:  Fighting for another shot in the bigs, Cristian Guzman (.200) simply is not going to make it.  Not only was he 0-for-3 at the dish today, he committed his second error of the spring campaign.  I am officially dropping him from this tracker.  Jose Lopez (.500) was 0-for-1.

Mightier Than the Sword:  Speaking of losers, we can also forget about Chris Ray (18.00).  Ray's fourth spring outing was just as atrocious as his third.  As opposed to a guy like Frank Herrmann (7.20) who has gotten better and better (including 2 scoreless innings of 1 hit ball today) since a horrific first game, Chris has descended deeper into the crapper with each successive go-round.  Three runs on four hits and a walk today effectively relegates him to AAA.  Although it would take a minor miracle to get him onto the Opening Day roster, Chris Seddon fanned six in 2 1/3 clean innings (1 hit) today.  The journeyman was pressed into extended action after the first 4 Indians pitchers surrendered 17 runs against the Halos.

Red Tags: Austin Adams, Tyler Sturdevant & Chun Chen, all of whom have been injured thus far with Chen the only seeing any game action.

Tribe/D-Bags tomorrow at 4:05p.  Enjoy it on MLB Network.