Cleveland Sports Forum

Michael Brantley - OF - Indians

Michael Brantley (ankle) has been cleared for throwing and light hitting activity.

Brantley underwent surgery last October to stabilize the ligaments in his right ankle and he is questionable for the start of the 2018 regular season. The big test will be running and he's a couple weeks away from ramping things up in that department.

Cleveland Indians @Indians 3 hours ago
We're under way at the corner of S Wood and W Lower Buckeye.

Not a Wahoo in sight.

Nor a Salazar

Danny Salazar - S - Indians

Danny Salazar "experienced an onset of right shoulder rotator cuff inflammation in mid-January," per a press release from the Indians.

Salazar has resumed throwing and is "progressing well," according to the same media update, but the 28-year-old right-hander is also "a couple weeks behind" the other pitchers in Indians camp this spring. It's possible this could affect his readiness for the beginning of the 2018 regular season.

Salazar battled elbow and shoulder problems in 2017 and finished with a disappointing 4.28 ERA and 1.34 WHIP, though he did strike out 145 batters in 103 innings.

Hardly surprised. Clevinger is our 5th starter. Tomlin I guess can be a long man in the bullpen. I wish they had been able to trade Danny before, but this means he wouldn't have passed a physical. so that's a moot point.

Wow

On day 1 we start getting dribs and drabs about lingering physical problems setting players back.

Get ready for the Brantley announcements....

Who else won't be ready when the season starts?

As long as the injured are only the normally injured we're OK. I would never count on Salazar for more than 20 starts and don't count on Brantley period. If he plays some that's a bonus. I did see something yesterday that Yandy Diaz stopped playing in January with a hamstring injury. Maybe we'll wind up needing Kipnis at 2nd and in left.

There has already been a report about Brantley being slowed. Had offseason ankle surgery and has been rehabbing. Something like, "he can run in a straight line now." I'm sure we will all hear how can throw and swing the bat lightly too.

I have a recommendation for Danny Salazar: Hire Trevor Bauer as his trainer. Salazar has suffered right elbow, right forearm, right shoulder injuries. He occasionally suffers from bouts of low self-confidence. Bauer following his unique regimen has never been hurt and is always upbeat: a bit goofy but he knows how to develop his body, pitch lots of innings, win lots of games and win $6M salary.

Danny is now 28, Trevor now 27. Innings pitched last three seasons:
2015 Salazar 185, Bauer 176
2016 Salazar 137, Bauer 190
2017 Salazar 103, Bauer 176

To me, especially in this division, Brantley will be put on a schedule to be eased in. No reason to do otherwise.

Playing the Chisox, Royals and Detroit (heck if the Tigers could unload the foolish contract they gave Miggy which sounded good at the time, they would do it - same with they Royals and Alex Gordon) will be somewhat like playing AAAA teams this season. And are the Twins really that much better?

Ridiculous really.

You're certainly right that the Indians should be able to coast to the playoffs. It could be like the Cavs folder has been saying about the Warriors [and past Cavs teams] where the regular season is just warmup.
I would be happier if I had a sense that Brantley is actually making progress with his rehab; won't again need a redo on the surgery; and it would be preferable if we know if you we or do not need a LF --- it makes the Where Does Kipnis Play? Is Kipnis Expendable? Where Does Ramirez Play? quandary last longer than I think is preferable.

civ - of course I would prefer more info too but in any sport it is not uncommon for teams to be very, very careful about any type of transparency regarding injuries.

So conclusive info is not going to happen. This is not just the Indians.

Jordan Bastian @MLBastian
Rajai Davis is in Tribe camp. Said Chisenhall: “We’re getting the band back together.” Indians haven’t announced anything, but hearing it’s a Minor League deal with non-roster invite.

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New #Phillies 1B Carlos Santana did well for himself in free agency (3 yr/$60M). He says he was willing to trade less AAV for more years to stay with the #Indians (one pitch was 5 yr/$75M), but the Tribe was never seriously engaged with him at all this winter.

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To be clear (in case it wasn't already clear), this was what Santana himself said about the situation and he said the 5 yr/$75M proposal came from his side.

Hillbilly wrote:Jordan Bastian @MLBastian
Rajai Davis is in Tribe camp. Said Chisenhall: “We’re getting the band back together.” Indians haven’t announced anything, but hearing it’s a Minor League deal with non-roster invite.

Could be he and Upton battling for the role of right handed backup outfielder who plays vs. lefties.

LOL - could the "band back together" quote be referring to Napoli next?? Before you flip out HB remember if he only played 1B/DH vs lefties then his exposure would be much more limited than last time around.

Love ya HB thanks for the find.