Five things to watch during first week of Indians' Cactus League games
GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- With everyone in camp and workouts a week old, spring training enters the next stage on Tuesday as the Indians begin Cactus League play against the Reds.
While some teams face a college team or hold an intrasquad scrimmage first, Terry Francona is not a big fan of either and expects his team to be a little rusty in the early going.
"The timetable is pretty much about right. Whoever invented this was ahead of the curve," he said. "I think the first week there will be some rust which is expected. As guys get into it, the game will start slowing down a little bit."
The Indians were 20-9-2 in spring training last year and then proceeded to go 11-17 in April. That's just a subtle reminder that what happens in Arizona and Florida is not a precise indicator of how the season will go.
By the end of Thursday, both teams will have seen plenty of each other. The Goodyear training partners meet in the first three games, and the Indians will play the first five spring training games at Goodyear Ballpark. SportsTime Ohio will air the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday games starting at 3 p.m.
Here are five things to watch for the first week of games:
PACE OF PLAY: Teams get their first taste of the new initiatives this week. The biggest ones are hitters being required to keep a foot in the batters' box at all times and the 2 minute, 25 second break between innings being officially timed. The timers will be on the outfield scoreboard and behind home plate.
For some of the longtime veterans, keeping at least one foot in the box will be the biggest adjustment but there is an adjustment period for spring training and the first month.
Said Francona: "They (Major League Baseball) are really good at explaining stuff. If we get guys to adhere to the rules and others don't then it makes it harder for us? I think the changes are good."
WORKING IN VETERANS: Michael Bourn and Michael Brantley won't play on Tuesday. Bourn's first action will be on Wednesday and Brantley will go on Thursday. Corey Kluber will pitch in a simulated game on Tuesday and makes his first Cactus League start on Saturday against the Dodgers.
Second baseman Jason Kipnis could see some playing time this weekend while Brandon Moss and Nick Swisher aren't likely to go until at least midway through the month.
EYES ON THE ROTATION: All five contenders for the final spot will be in action the first four games and will work two innings apiece.
Zach McAllister gets the start on Tuesday while Josh Tomlin and T.J. House will pitch on Wednesday. Bruce Chen is expected to be the second pitcher on Thursday, and Danny Salazar will start on Friday against Kansas City.
"That's by design. We want to get them stretched out and see what they can do," pitching coach Mickey Callaway said. "It is going to be a battle royale for that last spot."
TIME FOR THE YOUNG GUYS: The first week or two is a prime opportunity for the younger prospects on the roster to get some at-bats. Francona has seen most of the non-roster guys because they have been in camp before but this will mark the first time that the coaching staff has had a chance to evaluate James Ramsey.
Acquired in last season's trade with St. Louis for Justin Masterson, Ramsey batted .284 at Triple-A Columbus and took part in the Winter Development Program at Progressive Field in late January. He will play all three outfield spots during spring training.
Zach Walters, who the Indians received in the Asdrubal Cabrera trade with the Nationals, will play first base in Thursday's "B" game against the Reds and will get some time at shortstop. He is expected to play in the outfield later in the spring.
LINDOR TIME: In his first major-league camp last season, Francisco Lindor took part in 11 games and was 6-for-19 with a home run and five RBI. Francona has often said the first two weeks of spring training that one of his goals is to get to know Lindor better before he is sent back to Columbus.
Said Francona about Lindor: "He is grasping things quickly, and that bodes well for us. He is a fun kid to be around and the bar is set high. He just needs to play; that's the big thing. If you get a guy up too quick and he gets beat up, that's not development. Being 21 and in Triple-A he saw a lot of things for the first time. He handled himself well but there's still a lot of learning is going on."
