Special_K19
04-25-2003, 11:49 AM
Wedge keeps positive on limping Bradley
04/25/03
Seattle - Manager Eric Wedge can't say for certain, but he doesn't think Milton Bradley's hamstring injury will put him on the disabled list.
Among the Indians' top five goals when the regular season started was keeping Bradley off the DL. A series of injuries and operations limited Bradley to 98 games last year. Wedge and General Manager Mark Shapiro believe that if Bradley can play between 150 and 160 games this year, his statistics will be impressive.
They have been to date. Bradley is hitting .375 (30-for-80) with 16 runs, 10 doubles, three homers and seven RBI. But last night was the second straight game he's missed because of a strained right hamstring.
"Milton has been great about this," said Wedge. "He has played through nagging injuries. He has really matured as a big-league ballplayer. He knows he's a vital part of this team. For him not to be able to go these last two days, I know it's real."
Wedge said Bradley has been playing with the injury for at least 10 days.
"When he scored in the ninth inning on Tuesday, he tweaked it," said Wedge. "But he says it felt better today."
Karim Garcia made his second straight start in center last night against Seattle.
"I came up as a center fielder," said Garcia. "It's always been the easiest position for me to play. Eric Wedge played me in center field in Buffalo. He knows I can play there."
When Garcia made his big-league debut with the Dodgers, he weighed 190. He now weighs 224 pounds.
Another step:
Jason Bere threw all his pitches in a bullpen session yesterday. He'll throw a simulated game Sunday in Oakland. If all goes well, the Indians will probably make a decision early next week on where he'll go for a rehabilitation start.
"I threw my breaking ball and it felt pretty good," said Bere. "I just took it easy and worked on my pacing. I tried to stay nice and fluid."
Bere strained his right rotator cuff right before the season opener and has been on the disabled list ever since.
Another pitch:
Closer Danys Baez says he has to take his save situations "one pitch at a time."
He's had a tendency to try to do too much with one pitch, like a slumping batter trying to hit a five-run homer.
"I have to calm down," said Baez. "I have to remember to pitch, not just throw the ball as hard as I can."
Baez is 0-2 with two blown saves in his last three appearances. In Tuesday's 8-5 loss to Seattle, he gave up a game-winning grand slam to Mike Cameron in the ninth.
"I remember last year when Bill Selby hit a grand slam off Mariano Rivera, and he's the best closer in the game," said Baez. "Things like that are going to happen. I just have to keep my mind strong for the next time my team needs me."
Voices of the game:
Mike Lansing, who went to spring training with the Indians last year and played at Class AAA Buffalo, is doing some TV work for ESPN.
Finally:
Greg LaRocca and Jody Gerut had two hits each as Buffalo beat Scranton Wilkes-Barre, 5-1, Wednesday night. Left-hander Jason Stanford allowed one run in 6Ðinnings for his first victory over the season. Victor Martinez has a seven-game hitting streak. . . . Right fielder Luke Scott had two hits and drove in four runs as Class A Kinston beat Salem, 7-2. Right-hander Brian Slocum pitched five innings for the win. . . . Jack Cressend, trying to come back from surgery on his right shoulder, is scheduled to report to Kinston from extended spring training. Cressend pitched with the Twins last season and was claimed on waivers by the Tribe.
04/25/03
Seattle - Manager Eric Wedge can't say for certain, but he doesn't think Milton Bradley's hamstring injury will put him on the disabled list.
Among the Indians' top five goals when the regular season started was keeping Bradley off the DL. A series of injuries and operations limited Bradley to 98 games last year. Wedge and General Manager Mark Shapiro believe that if Bradley can play between 150 and 160 games this year, his statistics will be impressive.
They have been to date. Bradley is hitting .375 (30-for-80) with 16 runs, 10 doubles, three homers and seven RBI. But last night was the second straight game he's missed because of a strained right hamstring.
"Milton has been great about this," said Wedge. "He has played through nagging injuries. He has really matured as a big-league ballplayer. He knows he's a vital part of this team. For him not to be able to go these last two days, I know it's real."
Wedge said Bradley has been playing with the injury for at least 10 days.
"When he scored in the ninth inning on Tuesday, he tweaked it," said Wedge. "But he says it felt better today."
Karim Garcia made his second straight start in center last night against Seattle.
"I came up as a center fielder," said Garcia. "It's always been the easiest position for me to play. Eric Wedge played me in center field in Buffalo. He knows I can play there."
When Garcia made his big-league debut with the Dodgers, he weighed 190. He now weighs 224 pounds.
Another step:
Jason Bere threw all his pitches in a bullpen session yesterday. He'll throw a simulated game Sunday in Oakland. If all goes well, the Indians will probably make a decision early next week on where he'll go for a rehabilitation start.
"I threw my breaking ball and it felt pretty good," said Bere. "I just took it easy and worked on my pacing. I tried to stay nice and fluid."
Bere strained his right rotator cuff right before the season opener and has been on the disabled list ever since.
Another pitch:
Closer Danys Baez says he has to take his save situations "one pitch at a time."
He's had a tendency to try to do too much with one pitch, like a slumping batter trying to hit a five-run homer.
"I have to calm down," said Baez. "I have to remember to pitch, not just throw the ball as hard as I can."
Baez is 0-2 with two blown saves in his last three appearances. In Tuesday's 8-5 loss to Seattle, he gave up a game-winning grand slam to Mike Cameron in the ninth.
"I remember last year when Bill Selby hit a grand slam off Mariano Rivera, and he's the best closer in the game," said Baez. "Things like that are going to happen. I just have to keep my mind strong for the next time my team needs me."
Voices of the game:
Mike Lansing, who went to spring training with the Indians last year and played at Class AAA Buffalo, is doing some TV work for ESPN.
Finally:
Greg LaRocca and Jody Gerut had two hits each as Buffalo beat Scranton Wilkes-Barre, 5-1, Wednesday night. Left-hander Jason Stanford allowed one run in 6Ðinnings for his first victory over the season. Victor Martinez has a seven-game hitting streak. . . . Right fielder Luke Scott had two hits and drove in four runs as Class A Kinston beat Salem, 7-2. Right-hander Brian Slocum pitched five innings for the win. . . . Jack Cressend, trying to come back from surgery on his right shoulder, is scheduled to report to Kinston from extended spring training. Cressend pitched with the Twins last season and was claimed on waivers by the Tribe.