Indians Confidential

The Indians and Tigers will renew their friendly spring training feud today in Winter Haven at 1:05 PM.  The game will be live TV on SportsTime Ohio.  Cliff Lee will start of the Indians as he continues his push to be the #5 starter on the staff.  The notes say that Joe Borowski, Edward Mujica, Rick Bauer, Matt Ginter, Rich Bundles and Scott Elarton are also supposed to pitch in the game.  The Tribe is 6-6-1 in spring training, while the Tigers are 8-5-1.

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.

Each Day in the Spring PR stud Bart Swain at the Tribe sends the media updates on what’s going on.  We will do our best to post them as we get them.  Here is today’s edition of “Spring Training Daily” from Winter Haven.    

What went on: Eric Wedge held a 9AM staff meeting this morning with his Major League coaching staff and the 20 minor league managers/coaches/coordinators that are assisting with big league camp.

Seen and Heard: Players already in camp include, Masa Kobayashi, Jake Westbrook, Scott Elarton, Matt Ginter, Tom Mastny, Dave Wallace, Shin-soo Choo, Jordan Brown, Chris Gimenez, Jeff Harris, Scott Lewis, Aaron Laffey, Wyatt Toregas, Jeff Stevens, Reid Santos and Victor Martinez, who has been here since Feb 5 and is looking fighting trim.

Lara Update: Juan Lara was in Cleveland yesterday, February 12^th, for a post-operative follow-up examination at the Cleveland Clinic. Drs. Jeff Lawton and Doug Orr reviewed x-rays and examined Juan. Juan is progressing well and will begin formal occupational therapy at Lutheran Hospital today.

Julio Delayed: RHP Jorge Julio will be a few days late as he secures his work visa out of his native Venezuela. Julio was unable to begin the visa process until he officially signed with a US team (signed with the Indians on 1/31).

Another arm will be in camp in a few weeks, as former Indian Scott Elarton was added to the roster today as a minor league free agent. Elarton was with the Tribe in 04 and 05, and was pretty good in 05 going 11-9. Here is the presser from Bart on the signing.

The Cleveland Indians today signed RHP SCOTT ELARTON to a minor league free agent contract with an invitation to big league camp.

Elarton, who turns 32 on February 23, owns a career Major League record of 56-60 with a 5.31 ERA in 224 games/170GS since beginning his career 10 years ago with the Houston Astros in 1998 (1050.0IP, 1091H, 620ER, 409BB, 683K). He pitched with the Indians in 2004 (3-5, 4.53ERA, 21GS) and 2005 (11-9, 4.61ERA, 31GS) and spent 2006-07 with the Kansas City Royals. He underwent shoulder surgery in August 2006 that curtailed the start of his 2007 campaign and this past season made 19 starts between AA Wichita, AAA Omaha and Kansas City between a pair of stints on the disabled list (shoulder rehab, right foot sprain). He finished the year in the AAA Buffalo bullpen (1-0, 2.50ERA, 9G, 18.0IP, 17H, 5ER, 5BB, 14K) after being released from Kansas City at the end of July.

The Indians now have 20 players signed to minor league contracts with non-roster invitations to Major League camp.