CF Grady Sizemore (right knee) remains sidelined

Indians CF Grady Sizemore (right knee) remains sidelined.

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Indians center fielder Grady Sizemore is not in the lineup for a game against the Mariners this afternoon at Progressive Field. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 -- provided the weather cooperates.

Sizemore injured his right knee Tuesday night during a slide into second base and has not played since. The Indians were rained out Saturday.

Sizemore is listed as day-to-day with a contusion. He resumed baseball activities Friday.

Lenny's gem: Upon entering the pressbox this morning, SportsTime Ohio analyst Rick Manning was approached by a member of the Seattle media.

 "Rick, didn't you catch the last out of Len Barker's perfect game?'' the man said.

  More than a few people ended up asking Manning to reflect on May 15, 1981, when Barker set down 27 straight Blue Jays in a 3-0 victory at Municipal Stadium. Manning's routine grab in center field sealed it.

 "I can't believe it's been 30 years,'' he said. "That's a long time when you think about it.''

 Manning recently watched a replay of the game with his grandson, A.J.

 "It was fun to go through it again because you forget things -- at least I do,'' he said.

 Manning did not need a refresher in how well Barker pitched. "Large Lenny,'' relying primarily on a fastball and 12-to-6 curve, struck out 11.

 "He overmatched guys,'' Manning said. "His stuff got better as the game went on. He had everything rolling. I was in the perfect spot to see how good he was.''

  With two outs in the ninth, pinch-hitter Ernie Whitt popped to center.

 "I knew it was over as soon as the ball left the bat,'' Manning said. "Some guys don't want the ball hit to them in that situation, but I did. Absolutely. I didn't care if it was in the infield, I was going to get it.''

 Beyond Manning's play, outs that stood out included third baseman Toby Harrah catching a foul pop over the rail and second baseman Duane Kuiper ranging to his left to throw out Alfredo Griffin by a step.

 "There were some good defensive plays, but I don't think there were any great plays,'' Manning said. "That speaks to Lenny's dominance.''

 From the national perspective, Barker's masterpiece sticks out in part because Toronto's starting third baseman was Danny Ainge, who eventually carved his niche in the NBA as a player and executive.

 "He looked awkward playing baseball,'' Manning said. "You knew he wasn't going to be a baseball player. He made the right decision by going to the NBA.''

 Manning batted leadoff and went 1-for-4 with a run.

 Lineups:

Mariners -- 1. Ichiro Suzuki rf; 2. Chone Figgins 3b; 3. Justin Smoak 1b; 4. Jack Cust dh; 5. Miguel Olivo c; 6. Carlos Pegueno lf; 7. Brendan Ryan ss; 8. Michael Saunders cf; 9. Jack Wilson 2b; and Michael Pineda rhp.

Indians -- 1. Michael Brantley cf; 2. Asdrubal Cabrera ss; 3. Shin-Soo Choo rf; 4. Carlos Santana c; 5. Travis Hafner dh; 6. Orlando Cabrera 2b; 7. Matt LaPorta 1b; 8. Jack Hannahan 3b; 9. Austin Kearns lf; and Josh Tomlin rhp.

 

Source: http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2011/05/cf_grady_sizemore_right_knee_r.html

Scotland Tim Cahill European Union Chamonix Yorkshire David Lynch