First base will become a little more crowded when Matt LaPorta returns from Class AAA Columbus today.
Matt LaPorta is scheduled to rejoin the Indians today in Chicago.CHICAGO, Ill. -- First baseman Matt LaPorta rejoined the Indians today. He was scheduled to be in the starting lineup at U.S. Cellular Field, but was later removed to give him time to get settled in.
The Indians optioned LaPorta to Class AAA Columbus on Aug. 30 to make room for right-hander Jeanmar Gomez. It was a susprising move because LaPorta was one of the few right-handed hitters in the lineup and major league rosters expanded to 40 players on Sept. 1.
LaPorta could have forced the Indians to send someone else down if he had performed better at the plate. That was not the case.
He was sent to Columbus hitting .238 (76-for-319) with 11 homers and 44 RBI. LaPorta's on base percentage was .289. He struck 79 times and dcrew only 20 walks.
LaPorta opened the season as the starting first baseman, but gradually lost playing time to Carlos Santana, who swung between catcher and first base.
When LaPorta was sent down, he was in a 8-for-35 slump.
The Indians needed the right-handed hitting LaPorta to be a presence in a lineup filled with left-handed hitters. But left-handers have been a mystery to LaPorta this year. He's hitting .205 (16-for-78) with one homer and eight RBI against lefties this year.
Santana has been starting at first since LaPorta's demotion. Lately Shelley Duncan has played some first with Santana catching to give Lou Marson a break. LaPorta's return will give manager Manny Acta another option.
As for next season, LaPorta still figures to play a big part in the Tribe's plans if he is able to become a more consistent hitter. If not, they still hold an option on him for 2012, which would allow them to send him to the minors and go out and find a more productive right-handed hitter.
Tonight's lineups:
Indians (70-71): CF RF Kosuke Fukudome (L), 2B Jason Donald (R), SS Asdrubal Cabrera (S), 1B Carlos Santana (S), DH Shelley Duncan (R), 3B Lonnie Chisenhall (L), C Lou Marson, LF Trevor Crowe (S), CF Ezequiel Carrera (L) and RHP Jeanmar Gomez (2-2, 4.11).
White Sox (72-70): LF Juan Pierre (L), SS Alexei Ramirez, 1B Paul Konerko (R), DH A.J. Pierzynski (L), RF Dayan Viciedo (R), CF Alejandro De Aza (R), C Tyler Flowers (R), 3B Brent Morel (R), 2B Gordon Beckham (R), LHP Mark Buehrle (11-7, 3.34).
Lineup notes: White Sox infielder Brent Lillibridge done for the year after suffering broken hand from a Josh Judy pitch on Thursday night.
Umpires: H Alfoso Marquez, 1B Ed Hickox, 2B Ed Rapuano, 3B Brian O'Nora.
Him vs. me: Carlos Santana is hitting .571 (4-for-7) with an RBI against Buehrle. Gomez has never faced the White Sox.
Quote of the day: "It took me seventeen years to get three thousand hits in baseball. I did it in one afternoon on the golf course," Hall of Famer Hank Aaron.
Next: Fausto Carmona will face Chicago's Phil Humber on Saturday afternoon at 4:11 p.m. WTAM/FOX-Ch. 8 will carry the game.
Source: http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2011/09/first_baseman_matt_laporta_set.html
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