Indians Confidential

In a move that is sure to be short-term, Tom Mastny will start tonight for the Indians vs the Rangers.  The Indians sent out a quick one sentence presser announcing the move:

RHP TOM MASTNY will start for the Indians against the Texas Rangers at 8:05PM ET in Rangers Ballpark in Arlington… Will be his 1^st Major League start.

The team for whatever reason will go with Mastny over calling up Jeff Harris or Brian Solcum from Buffalo.  Both those pitchers would also though have been guys that would have been lucky to give you more than 5 innings.

With Jake Westbrook back in Cleveland nursing a sore elbow, the Indians pitching rotation is going to take another hit, and who starts tonight in anyones guess. Word is Westbrook began feeling the pain following his last start on May 28th. Westbrook had just returned to the Indians after spending four weeks on the disabled list because of a strained left intercostal muscle. The right-hander joins Fausto Carmona on the DL as the team now has 2-of-5 starters hurt.

The best guess to get a quick call-up and start is Brian Slocum from the Bisons. He has not pitched since Thursday, making today his normal start date. He is 3-4 on the year in 11 starts with Buffalo, with an ERA of 5.66. In his last start, a 10-2 loss to Toledo, he went 5 innings, allowing 8 runs on 7 hits, walking four and striking out 8. Other Bisons starters that likely would have gotten the call if they had not pitched in recent days include Matt Ginter (pitched last night), Jeremy Sowers (pitched Sunday).

Not that it means much, but as of 6:45 this morning, Yahoo Sports had Jeff Harris listed as the the starter for the Indians tonight. Harris is with the Bisons as well this season, and is 2-3 with a 5.11 ERA in 5 starts.

The Following was sent to us by the Indians:

The Cleveland Indians today announced the club has reduced their spring training roster by eight (8) additional players.

This morning the Indians optioned OF BRAD SNYDER to AAA Buffalo and reassigned RHP MATT GINTER, RHP JEFF HARRIS, LHP RICH RUNDLES, CA ARMANDO CAMACARO, CA DAVID WALLACE, INF AARON HERR & INF DANNY SANDOVAL to minor league camp.

Currently there are 36 players in Major League camp in Winter Haven, FL.

Looks like pitcher Scott Elarton is going to have a tough time making the Indians roster based on the competition and the structure of how the roster is currently made up. Elarton joined the team with the hopes of making it as a relief pitcher or possible spot starter when needed. He has allowed one run in 6.1 innings, but has some stiff competition with Jorge Julio, Rick Bauer, Matt Ginter, Edward Mujica and Jeff Harris all going at it for one open spot. “It’s good to have a little pressure,” Elarton told the PD. “Instead of just getting ready for the season, I’m trying to make the team.” Manager Eric Wedge said it’s going to be “an interesting competition.” While the Indians could use some veteran leadership in the bullpen, they already have enough and here’s a prediction that Elarton is a late cut.

Today the Indians open up Grapefruit League play for the final time as they take on the Astros at home in Winter Haven at 1:05 pm.  You can listen the game locally on WTAM 1100 with the Indians Radio Network.  Righty Jeff Harris will throw first for the Tribe, as it was supposed to be Jake Westbrook, who has started every Indians exhibition opener since 2003, but he has a sore arm.

Pitching coach Carl Willis said of Westbrook: “Jake gets the same thing every spring training. It showed itself a little earlier this year. We’ll back him off for a couple of days.” Hmmm….let’s hope that is all it us and nothing more.  Can’t start the season with Westbrook hurt, and don’t WANT to start the season with him hurt.

Yesterday’s intersquad game was shelved due to rain.  From what I heard it was a rather miserable day down there, as it rained pretty much the whole day.  Yesterday’s scheduled pitchers were – Fausto Carmona, Rafael Perez, Masa Kobayashi, Scott Elarton, Chuck Lofgren, Rich Rundles, Cliff Lee, Jensen Lewis, Aaron Fultz, Jeff Harris, J.D. Martin and Reid Santos.