Lou Marson makes a rare start behind the plate, but Carlos Santana is still in the lineup at first base.
Manny Acta and the Indians still think Lou Marson can be an everyday catcher in the big leagues.MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., Mo. -- Game 21, Sunday, April 24: Carlos Santana, the hardest working man in show business, is making his third start of the season at first base
Sunday for the Indians. Lou Marson, meanwhile, is making just his fifth start as Santana's backup at catcher.
This is the Indians 21st game. Santana has started 20 of them -- 16 at catcher, three at first and one at DH.
Manny Acta likes Santana's bat in the lineup, slumping though he maybe, and it sounds like he has no plans of changing that.
"Cal Ripken played over 2,000 straight games. Miguel Tejada played over 1,000 games in a row," said Acta, when asked if he was planning to rest Santana. "We've already had a couple of days off. We've played only 20 games. He'll get his days off."
Marson entered Sunday's game hitting .357 (5-for-14) with three doubles and four RBI. He came into spring training trying to be more aggressive at the plate.
"He hasn't played enough to see if that has carried into the regular season," said Acta. "We know that Lou is better that what we saw last year. We know that Lou projects to be at sometime an everyday catcher in the big leagues.
"Last year he was one of those guys just getting his feet wet in the big leagues. It's not easy. It will come with time."
Santana, like Marson, was thrown into the deep into the big-league pool last year. He entered Sunday's game in a 8-for-55 slump. On Saturday, Santana said one of the tough things about his start this year is that he's facing a lot of pitchers for the first time.
Acta didn't buy that. He pointed out that Shin-Soo Choo is slumping as well and the Indians right fielder knows all the pitchers in the AL.
"Santana is human," said Acta. "There are a lot of players right now that are struggling. It's part of the numbers in baseball. It's very tough for guys to go from Day One hitting .400 and then drop to .390 like George Brett did way back when.
"They adjust to you, you make adjustments to them. You have a good week, you have a so-so week, you have a very good week. I'm not magnifying any of that stuff. It would be one thing if Carlos was being flat-out overmatched. He's not being overmatched."
Today's lineups:
Indians (13-7): CF Grady Sizemore (L), SS Asdrubal Cabrera (S), RF Shin-Soo Choo (L), 1B Carlos Santana (S), DH Travis Hafner (L), 2B Orlando Cabrera (R), LF Michael Brantley (L), C Lou Marson (R), 3B Jack Hannahan (L) and RHP Carlos Carrasco (1-1, 4.85).
Twins (8-12): CF Denard Span (L), LF Jason Repko (R), RF Jason Kubel (L), 1B Justin Morneau (L), 2B Michael Cuddyer (R), DH Jim Thome (L), 3B Danny Valencia (R),
C Drew Butera (R), SS Alexi Casilla (S) and RHP Carl Pavano (1-2, 5.47).
Him vs. me: The Twins starting lineup entered today's game hitting .192 (5-for-26) vs. Carrasco. Indians second baseman Orlando Cabrera is hitting .355 (11-for-31) against Pavano.
Lineup notes: Lefties are hitting .311 (14-for-45) against Carrasco. Righties are hitting .240 (12-for-50) against him. The Twins lineup has four lefties and one switch-hitter in it.
Lefties are hitting .208 (11-for-53) vs. Pavano. Right-handers are hitting .282 (11-for-39) against him. The Indians lineup features five lefties, two right-handers and two switch-hitters.
Umpires: H Tom Hallion, 1B Bill Miller, 2B Alan Porter, 3B James Hoye.
Next: The Indians are off Monday and open a three-game series against the Royals on Tuesday at Progressive Field.
Source: http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2011/04/just_call_him_everyday_carlos.html
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