Re: GameTime!™

14746
Jerry Sands blasts his 2nd homer off a real major league reliever. I'd hope that his spring success [which certainly is not guaranteed to translate to real season success] helps ease the path out the door for Raburn. But perhaps he's only competing with Francona's desire for an 8 man bullpen

Re: GameTime!™

14747
2 hits for Bourn [I wish he could walk, but he just doesn't. For the spring 3 walks, 8 strikeouts, AVG 373. 2 2b, 1 hr
2 hits for Brantley he's hitting 351, 1 xb hit, 2 walks. Not worried about him. He had no homers last ST either
2 hits for Moss, including his 4th homer, 3 rbi, walk 297 avg, ops over 1000
2 hits for Kipnis and a walk and his 1st steal.

Bruce Chen stunk but who cares. 4 runs, 2 homers, 8 hits in 4 1/3.
Shaw scoreless for 2/3, Allen for 1, Swarzek for 1.
Austin Adams fighting hard for that last roster spot: 2 runs, 3 hits, 1 walk, 1 inning. ERA 7.27
Jeff Manship with a scoreless inning ERA 0.87

Re: GameTime!™

14754
Last make-believe game of the spring. Bauer allows another mammoth homer; hot and cold he finishes with 3 runs in 6 innings and a pile of Ks.

Austin Adams "the 25th man" [actually probably about the 35th best man in camp] once again flops, this time a double and a single to a couple minor leaguers to lose the game in the last of the 9th. He has been one of the most consistant members of the pen this spring, lousy lousy and lousy. If there must be 8 relievers, Manship pitched very well. If he needs someone already on the roster was bad but not as bad. If he wants a player who can contribute, he could have gone for Aguillar, Sands, Martinez

Re: GameTime!™

14756
I don't think so. All of them already have had some major league time and none of them is ever going to be a big star who's going to command a big salary.

I could have something to do with the Indians' very intelligent roster management, like giving the ability to option Adams out whenever they need to add someone else to the roster at the appropriate moment. Lots of inexplicable demotions and promotions by the current management team wound up making sense in the long run. I still assume this is just about Francona wanting an enormous bullpen but not caring much about position player flexibility.