Johnny Damon is slowly getting his swing back. It looks like he'll have more time to do that than the Indians originally thought.
View full sizeJohnny Damon's third home run as an Indian on Wednesday drove in Casey Kotchman (left) and continued his solid work in June. He is hitting .295 with a .392 on-base percentage and a .892 OPS since May 30.HOUSTON, Texas -- It looks like Johnny Damon is going to be around for a while.
Damon is starting to hit and Grady Sizemore still hasn't started running after a setback several weeks ago in his recovery from back and knee surgery. When the Indians signed Damon on April 17, it was agreed that he could seek his release based on his playing time. The agreement was made in case Sizemore returned and Damon was pushed to the bench in a crowded outfield.
It's been more than two months since Damon signed and there's still no hint of when or if Sizemore will return. The only thing that is clear is that he won't be back before the All-Star break, which begins July 9.
"I'm still optimistic that Grady will be able to contribute this year," said GM Chris Antonetti, who signed Sizemore to a one-year, $5 million deal. Sizemore took batting practice during the last homestand and he's been able to throw, but he hasn't resumed running.
Damon, meanwhile, is hitting .295 with a .392 on-base percentage and a .892 OPS since May 30. He's hitting only .203 (25-for-123) overall after hitting .171 (14-for-82) in May.
"I know a lot of people are just going to be looking at the batting average, but I can point out at least five games over the last 10 days where Johnny has had something to do with us winning the ballgame," said manager Manny Acta after Damon's two-run homer Wednesday in a 8-1 win over Cincinnati. "His hits have been huge for us. He's doing it at the right time and I hope he continues doing it."
Still, the left field picture is not good. Damon, Shelley Duncan and Aaron Cunningham have failed to produce consistently. It would not be surprising if the outfield undergoes some changes because of a trade instead of a return by Sizemore.
Testing, testing: Don't look for DH Travis Hafner to come off the disabled list during this 10-game trip through Houston, New York and Baltimore. But he could be ready for a rehab assignment during the next 10 days.
He's been on the disabled list following arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.
On a roll: Justin Masterson, who threw a three-hitter Wednesday in his first complete game of the season, has nine quality starts in his last 11 appearances. He has pitched at least six innings in each of those 11 starts.
Person of interest: The Boston Globe is reporting that the Indians are one of the teams interested in Red Sox infielder Kevin Youkilis.
Youkilis, 33, is hitting .174 (8-for-46) in June with no homers and one RBI. He's making $12 million this year and can be a free agent in 2013 if the Red Sox don't pick up a $13 million option.
No.1 pick traded: The Indians dealt first baseman Beau Mills to Cincinnati for cash considerations late Thursday night. The Reds sent Mills to Class AA Pensacola.
Mills was the Indians' No.1 pick out of Lewis-Clark State College in 2007. He never played above Class AAA. This year Mills was hitting .197 (25-for-127) with four doubles, seven homers and 21 RBI at Columbus. He had 34 strikeouts and seven walks.
Party invitations: Tribe prospects Francisco Lindor and Jesus Aguilar have been picked to play in the All-Star Futures Game in Kansas City on July 8 as part of the All-Star Game festivities.
Lindor and Aguilar will play on the World Team against Team USA at 5 p.m. at Kauffman Stadium. The big league All-Star Game is July 10.
On Wednesday, Lindor, 18, started at shortstop and batted leadoff for the Class A Midwest League East All-Stars. He went 2-for-4 and batted leadoff. The Indians' No.1 pick in 2011 is hitting .285 (71-for-249) with 13 doubles, three triples, four homers and 23 RBI in 60 games at Class A Lake County.
Aguilar, a 6-3, 257-pound first baseman, was signed out of Venezuela as a non-drafted free agent in 2007. The 21-year-old right-handed hitter is batting .295 (66-for-224) with 41 runs, 17 doubles, two triples, six homers and 30 RBI in 65 games at Class A Carolina.
Finally: Shin-Soo Choo, since moving into the leadoff spot on May 14, is hitting .307 (43-for-140) with 30 runs, 15 doubles, five homers, nine RBI and four steals. His average has jumped from .236 to .276.
On Twitter: @hoynsie
Source: http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2012/06/johnny_damon_riding_a_producti.html
No comments:
Post a Comment