The Cleveland Indians have played just two Cactus League games this spring, and the weather in Cleveland is much closer to winter than the warmer days to come but the Indians know who they will send to the mound on Opening Day on April 1 against the Chicago White Sox.  Fausto Carmona, who pitched two scoreless innings today against the Cincinnati Reds in a 12-0 win, has been named the Opening Day starter for the Indians.

Indians manager Manny Acta made the announcement after today’s game.

“That’s a good assumption,” Acta said with a smile. “Yeah, he’s our Opening Day starter. He deserves that.”

Carmona is undoubtedly the ace of the Indians staff in 2011, and he’s coming off a solid season despite all the troubles the Indians had in 2010.  Carmona was 13-14 with a 3.77 ERA last year for an Indians team that lost 93 games.

If Monday is any indication, Carmona is primed for an even bigger 2011.  Carmona used just 29 pitches(22 strikes) to motor through the Reds.

Published: Monday, February 28, 2011, 7:09 PM     Updated: Monday, February 28, 2011, 7:21 PM

CLEVELAND, OHIO — There are numerous question marks about the Cleveland Indians as they prepare for the 2011 season.

Among the matters we know for certain is that the Tribe’s payroll will be among the lowest in the major leagues.

Sheldon Ocker of the Akron Beacon Journal writes that the average salary for a player on the Indians’ roster will probably be more than $1.1 million less than the average for all major leaguers:  

When all the numbers are in, total compensation for the 25-man roster will be (drum roll, please) about $46.8 million or $1.87 million per player.

Congratulations are in order for keeping a lid on salaries and showing the rest of major-league baseball how an efficient organization should be run. After all, the average player’s salary these days is more than $3 million. Who needs to keep up with those Joneses?

Let the New York Yankees spend an average of $2.2 million per win (with an expected payroll of $200 million and possibly 90 wins, though it might be fewer). Teams don’t have to throw money around wildly. More than likely, each win the Tribe presents to its adoring fan base will cost about $600,000.

Plain Dealer and cleveland.com Indians coverage includes reporting from the Indians’ spring training in Arizona. Bud Shaw reports on the Indians’ 12-0 exhibition game win today over the Cincinnati Reds, and he reports that pitcher Anthony Reyes will be sidelined for a few days; Bill Livingston’s column on an idea for a fitting tribute to the late Bob Feller, the legendary Indians pitcher; a spring training briefing by Shaw; Shaw’s story that former Indians manager and player Mike Hargrove thinks the Indians are trying to build a winner the right way; Paul Hoynes game story on the Indians’ Cactus League opener, focusing on pitcher Josh Tomlin; Hoynes’ Indians Insider.

Indians info

Analysis of the Indians’ addition of veteran pitcher Chad Durbin, by Steve Buffum on ESPN.com.

An MLB.com Indians blog by Jordan Bastian.

Jim Ingraham writes for the News-Herald and Lorain Morning Journal about Sunday’s Indians game, with the story highlighting the tribute to and memories of Bob Feller.

Indians Prospect Insider continues its countdown of the Indians’ top 50 prospects, as Tony Lastoria writes about No. 20, catcher Chun-Hsiu Chen, and about No. 21, right-handed pitcher Zach Putnam.

A story on Indians pitcher Anthony Reyes, by Jordan Bastian of MLB.com.

A list of remaining options for Indians players, on Indians Prospect Insider.

Game story on the Indians exhibition season opener by Sheldon Ocker of the Akron Beacon Journal.

Ten questions with Indians pitching prospect Matt Packer, on MiLB.com.

Indians notes, leading off with the question mark position of third base, by Tony Lastoria of Indians Prospect Insider.

 

Published: Monday, February 28, 2011, 6:52 PM     Updated: Monday, February 28, 2011, 8:30 PM

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Fausto Carmona, the just-officially-named Opening Day starter, made his spring training debut and pitched two scoreless innings as the Indians routed the Cincinnati Reds, 12-0, in the second exhibition game of the spring on Monday.

Carmona allowed a walk and a single in facing eight Cincinnati hitters. Travis Buck and Jason Kipnis  homered for the Indians, and Jordan Brown tripled in a pair of runs as the Tribe evened their spring record at 1-1.

Taking the fifth? Right-hander Jeanmar Gomez, a candidate for the No. 5 spot in the rotation, followed Carmona with two scoreless innings. Gomez gave up two hits but was helped by an inning-ending double play grounder in the fourth.
“I liked the way they both attacked the strike zone,” manager Manny Acta said of Carmona and Gomez.

Spelling relief: Seven Indians pitchers combined to shut out the Reds: Carmona, Gomez, Tony Sipp, Nick Hagadone, Jason Germano, Frank Herrmann and Josh Judy.

Does Buck stop here? Outfielder Travis Buck, once a top prospect in the Oakland organization, made the most of Monday’s start. He had three hits, including a solo home run.

Witness Kipnis: Former Arizona State star Jason Kipnis, who batted .311 in 79 games at Akron last year, hit his first spring training homer in the eighth off Cincinnati’s Chad Reineke.

The error of their ways: They don’t call it spring “training” for nothing. The Reds were guilty of five errors. Two came on consecutive plays in the Indians’ eighth.

Flame-throwing lefty vs. patient lefties: Kipnis and top prospect Lonnie Chisenhall faced hard-throwing Cuban lefty Aroldis Chapman in the sixth. Chapman, who threw 32 pitches in the inning, walked both.

Arms race: Carlos Carrasco will start against the Los Angeles Dodgers Tuesday at Goodyear Ballpark. Left-handed starter David Huff is also expected to pitch.

Published: Monday, February 28, 2011, 11:51 AM     Updated: Monday, February 28, 2011, 4:46 PM

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Anthony Reyes, who missed the 2010 season rehabbing from reconstructive surgery, will rest his arm for a few days after experiencing soreness in his elbow.

“We just want to be on the safe side,” the 29-year-old Reyes said Monday before the Indians played the Reds at Goodyear Ballpark. “They said flareups are going to happen.”

Reyes was examined by Dr. Lewis Yocum in Arizona.

“The ligament is still good,” Reyes said.

Reyes, who opened camp as a candidate for the No. 5 spot, had reconstructive elbow surgery in June of 2009. He rehabbed in Goodyear all last spring and part of the summer before making two starts for the Arizona Rookie League Indians in July.

He then had two rough starts for Class AA Akron before being shut down for 10 days with soreness in his back. After a final poor start on Aug. 11, Reyes’ season was over.

Published: Monday, February 28, 2011, 10:31 AM     Updated: Monday, February 28, 2011, 4:48 PM

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — This is a daily briefing on the Cleveland Indians in spring training as they prepare for the 2011 season

Feb. 28, Day 14:

What: Cleveland Indians (0-1) vs. Cincinnati Reds (1-0) at Goodyear Ballpark at 3:05 EST.

Who’s pitching: Fausto Carmona will start for the Indians against Cincinnati’s Bronson Arroyo. Jeanmar Gomez will follow Carmona. Also pitching: Rafael Perez, Frank Herrmann, Tony Sipp, Jason Germano, Josh Judy and Nick Hagadone.

Indians lineup vs. Reds: Michael Brantley CF, Lonnie Chisenhall 3B, Shin-Soo Choo DH, Chad Huffman LF, Travis Buck RF, Jayson Nix 2B, Jordan Brown 1B, Lou Marson C, Luis Valbuena SS.

Keep an eye on: Shin-Soo Choo, who did not play in Sunday’s opener (left elbow soreness), is expected to be in the lineup as a DH.

Yesterday: The Indians lost to the Reds, 7-6 when right-hander Alex White allowed two runs in the ninth.

Tomorrow: The Indians will play the Los Angeles Dodgers at Goodyear Ballpark. Carlos Carrasco will start for the Indians. Also pitching: Kevin De La Cruz, David Huff, Doug Mathis, Zach McCallister and Chris Perez.

There’s a noticeable absence, an emptiness this year at training camp that the Cleveland Indians will never fill.

Bob Feller isn’t around.

The late Hall of Fame pitcher, who played his entire career with Cleveland and whose ties with the organization spanned more than 70 years, was honored Sunday before the Indians opened their exhibition season with a 7-6 loss to the Cincinnati Reds.

Feller, who died in December at the age of 92, epitomized the Indians. Whether throwing out the ceremonial first pitch on a humid afternoon in Florida, signing countless autographs or simply by being the sometimes irascible Bob, Feller — the Tribe’s beloved No. 19 — was a rite of spring for Cleveland fans, who idolized the legendary right-hander and American original.

He’s gone now. The Indians miss him.

“You can’t help but notice that he’s not around,” Cleveland manager Manny Acta said. “He was a presence. I remember back in the days when we would go to Winter Haven, he’d be around playing catch. There never has been a Hall of Fame-caliber guy who you identify so much with one franchise.

“Bob meant a lot to us.”

The Indians are planning a season-long tribute to Feller, who won 266 career games and is regarded as one of the game’s greatest pitchers.

During pregame ceremonies, a touching video was played on the scoreboard chronicling Feller’s storybook life. As players from both teams stood on the baselines, photos appeared of Feller as Iowa farmboy, teenage pitching wonder, eight-time All-Star and war hero. He was the first major leaguer to enlist for active duty at the outset of World War II.

Before the first pitch, a large banner with Feller’s name and number was unfurled beyond the outfield wall. It also read: “Always in our hearts.”

Feller’s 19, outlined in blue, is spray painted on the grass between home plate and the first-base coach’s box, across the diamond in Goodyear Ballpark from where the Reds are honoring late manager Sparky Anderson with his familiar No. 10, framed in red.

Anderson, who led Cincinnati to back-to-back World Series titles in the 1970s, died on Nov. 4. The Reds, who share their spring home with the Indians, will honor Anderson on Monday.

Their passings were followed by the death of Hall of Famer Duke Snider, one of Brooklyn’s “Boys of Summer” who died Sunday at the age of 84.

“The game has taken a hell of a hit lately,” said Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Brennaman, who called the Reds-Indians opener. “Bob Feller dying and Duke passing away and Sparky Anderson going. We’re just losing some really great people.”

The Indians and Reds were both without major components for their first spring game.

Cincinnati’s opening-day starter Edinson Volquez was scratched because he has not yet had his work visa approved by the U.S. government. A native of the Dominican Republic, Volquez has a traveler’s visa but it does allow him to perform in games before paying customers.

The club does not know when Volquez, who served a 50-game suspension last season for violating baseball’s drug policy, will have his work visa approved. It’s possible he may have to return to his homeland to get the paperwork accepted.

“It’s out of our hands now,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said.

On Sunday, Volzquez stayed behind at the team’s complex and pitched two innings to minor leaguers.

The Indians kept outfielder Shin-Soo Choo out of the lineup as a precaution because of a sore left elbow. Choo had Tommy John surgery on the elbow in 2007, but said the discomfort he’s feeling is due to starting his throwing program too early before camp.

“We just want to keep him off the field for a couple days,” Acta said. “We do have to be careful. We pretty much won more games than any team last spring and it didn’t mean a thing. I need him when the season starts.”

Cleveland can’t be too cautious. The club is already without center fielder Grady Sizemore, who is recovering from offseason knee surgery and may not be ready for opening day.

Notes: Reds LHP Matt Maloney, trying to hang on as a fifth starter or land a bullpen job, started and pitched two scoreless innings. … Indians C Carlos Santana was encouraged after playing two innings, his first action since injuring his left knee on Aug. 2 in a home plate-collision in Boston. … Dave Sappelt, the Reds’ minor league player of the year last season, hit a two-run homer in the ninth for the Reds. … Cincinnati trailed 6-1 in the eighth, but scored six runs in its final two at-bats.