Kommandozentrale » The Cleveland Indians are heading into the 201

GOODYEAR Nolan Ryan Jersey , Ariz. (AP) —9 season missing some big bats from last year’s lineup. They hope Jake Bauers brought one from Tampa.Bauers, who came over in a December trade with the Rays, is being counted on to help fill the power void left with the departures of sluggers Edwin Encarnacion and Yonder Alonso in trades and the Indians’ decision not to re-sign All-Star Michael Brantley as a free agent.As the three-time defending AL Central champions contend with unusually chilly and wet weather that has dumped an inch of rain on this arid area the past two days — significant for a region that typically only gets about eight inches a year — the 23-year-old Bauers has been getting in work to make sure he sprays the ball around this season.“I’m trying to use the whole field again, trying to stay left center-center field and open everything up as opposed to just kind of pulling the ball too much,” said Bauers, who batted .201 with 11 home runs and 46 RBIs in 96 games after being brought up by the Rays last season.This year, Bauers is optimistic he can make an impact in all facets of the game.“Getting on base, maybe taking the extra base when I can, driving in runs, basically just doing whatever the situation calls for,” the easygoing Bauers said while sipping coffee in the clubhouse on Friday. “I think that’s what I was taught at a young age and it’s something I’m fairly good at.”Bauers can play first base and he’ll be one of several candidates to get a shot in a crowded outfield, a topic he discussed in a recent meeting with Indians manager Terry Francona.“We talked a lot about playing first base or left field and what the mix is going to be like,” said Bauers, who spends down time during camp hiking with his 9-month-old Golden Retriever-Cocker Spaniel mix, Praxton. “They just have some things to figure out. I’m sure as we get deeper into the spring, we’ll sort that all out.”Bauers has displayed versatility, so what’s his biggest strength?With eyebrows raised, the self-proclaimed bad surfer from Huntington Beach, California, took in the question along with a deep breath.“Knowing how to win http://www.angelsfanproshop.com/authentic-zack-cozart-jersey ,” he said after a short pause. “I think that’s an underrated thing in today’s game. I think the things you can’t put on paper aren’t valued as much as they could be.”Bauers could also help the Indians in another vital area. The loss of Brantley, starter Josh Tomlin, All-Star catcher Yan Gomes and closer Cody Allen has created a vacuum in the clubhouse and dugout.“We’ve lost some guys that had terrific leadership qualities,” Francona said. “Guys like Tomlin, Brantley, there’s no getting around that. We don’t need to anoint leaders. The best way to lead is by example.”If Bauers can produce offensively the way he did for the Rays after his call-up last June, he’ll be leading in no time.Bauers batted .252 with five home runs in his first 36 games last season before the All-Star break. His numbers dipped toward the end of 2018, but the potential is evident.He’s eager to show his new teammates what he can do, and anxious to start at first when the Indians open their Cactus League season on Saturday against the Cincinnati Reds.“I think I got those excited butterflies when I think about it,” said Bauers, who will bat second.NOTES: Bench coach Brad Mills pulled a fast one on Francona. With the help of general manager Mike Chernoff, Mills orchestrated a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the USS Tito, a makeshift wooden boat that was constructed outside the Indians’ complex. The Under Secretary of the U.S. Navy, Thomas Modly, was flown in for the event and took pictures with Francona, who was given his own captain’s hat. Asked for remarks upon receiving his ship, Francona chuckled, “I’m humiliated.” … Adam Plutko will start Cleveland’s opener against Cincinnati. For the Reds, Tanner Roark fills in for Sonny Gray, who was scratched with elbow stiffness. It’s a confusing move by the Indians Reggie Jackson Jersey , but hardly a world-changer"WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections NewsAnalysis & EditorialsCleveland Indians prospects & minor leaguesGame RecapsTransactionsAnalysis & EditorialsIndians decision to DFA Brad Miller probably wrong, not indefensibleNew,378commentsIt’s a confusing move by the Indians, but hardly a world-changerEDTShareTweetShareShareIndians decision to DFA Brad Miller probably wrong, not indefensibleKen Blaze-USA TODAY SportsWhen a good team has to decide between which of their three backup infielders to cut, it’s normally a good situation to be in. It’s usually a decision between three guys with different skillsets, or a different handedness that might be more of a need in a particular lineup. At the very least, good teams usually have a couple adequate backups to choose from.That’s not the case with the decision the Indians made to designated Brad Miller for assignment, while also leaving Eric Stamets and Max Moroff on the roster. Instead of keeping one of the few effective hitters they’ve had in the first handful of games, the Indians kept two players who — to this point — have done nothing offensively or defensively to justify them being on a major league roster. The move is weird, and Miller’s comments after the designation do not exactly reflect well on the Indians. Unless something is out of context here, “they don’t want the best guys up here” sounds like a direct shot across the bow at the Indians front office being cheap and not willing to pay his salary. And with Jason Kipnis’ return likely coming tomorrow and Francisco Lindor not far off, the Indians essentially had to decide which two backup infielders were going to stick around for the long haul. They chose the cheaper option. As Paul Hoynes details in the post above, Miller’s $1 million contract would be guaranteed if he stayed on the roster for 45 days. As it is, they owe him roughly $105,000 for the time he’s played. If another team claims him, they’ll be on the hook for the rest. If he goes unclaimed and ends up in the minors, he gets $120,000 more from the Indians — but Miller has the option of declining the assignment outright and becoming a free agent. Based on his comments, that doesn’t sound out of the question whatsoever. Miller’s frustration seem to stem further than the perceived corner cutting going on http://www.angelsfanproshop.com/authentic-zack-cozart-jersey , too. The guy just liked playing for Francona, and playing for the Indians. So to have a manager and team that he liked playing for — and that he was pretty effective for — drop him before two underperforming teammates understandably sucks. It’s also hard to stomach as someone who has watched this offense flounder day in and day out, while Miller is one of the only good spots in the lineup on occasion. He has had his fair share of clunkers, including five straight games without a hit, but he’s one of a select few Indians actually doing anything at the plate this season. The question becomes: Does it matter? Keep in mind, this is a move to decide the absolute last position player on the roster. Two weeks down the line, when Francisco Lindor and Jason Kipnis are both back in the lineup, no one will care if it’s Eric Stamets, Max Moroff, or Brad Miller sitting on the bench for another 140 games. Much less so when they (hopefully) make trades at the deadline. The gap between any major league and Eric Stamets is massive, but the one between Brad Miller and Max Moroff isn’t that huge. And Hanley Ramirez’s ability to be right-handed (a skill he’s honed since birth) is enough to give him the edge over Miller.I wrote when the Indians signed him that he had the potential to hit for power if he could manage to make contact again, to the point where he might contend with Jason Kipnis for the starting second baseman job. He’s done that to an extent so far, with his 73.4 percent contact rate and 11.1 swinging strike percentage. There was always fringe-y hope that Miller could turn into an average hitter, but we’re still talking about a guy who is going to be on the bench and maybe almost sort of be an average bat. Miller absolutely has every right to be upset, but what the Indians did isn’t indefensible. If the Indians made this move three days ago before Miller got hot for a series, it probably wouldn’t be worthy of a headline. If anything, I’m upset at the circumstances that led to the Indians have to decide between Moroff, Stamets, and Miller. I’m upset that Yu Chang never got a chance while Francisco Lindor sat injured. But the Indians choosing to cut a guy probably won’t be here in a week anyway isn’t worth the heartache.