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I spent all winter waiting for spring training, and now I find myself even more anxious to get through it and get started with the regular season. Three more weeks until the games start counting, fellas. Until then, here's what's going on around baseball:
Yesterday's game: Indians 4, Padres 2
It was Jason Lukehart's fantasy game yesterday, as Carlos Santana and Francisco Lindor both homered to lead the Tribe to a solid victory of San Diego. Trevor Bauer had another good showing, striking out four batters over five innings. It was one of the better all-around wins for the Indians this spring.
Indians news & notes
Bauer finds success in pound-the-zone strategy | Indians.com - Bauer's approach all spring has been just to throw strikes. I guess that is not a thing other pitchers try to do? But I digress. After a bit of a bumpy road in the first inning of yesterday's game, Bauer settled in and cruised through five. I know I'm not the only one who thinks it's great to see the way Bauer is settling in with the Tribe, showing a level of comfort that some wouldn't have expected given the bad wrap he got in Arizona.
Bad day kept getting worse for Walters | Cleveland.com - Zach Walters started Thursday by cutting his elbow on the soap dish in the shower, and ended it with news that he would miss three to four weeks with a high-grade oblique strain. Walters is obviously frustrated, especially given how hard he feels he's worked this offseason. Also, apparently, everyone else on the team has the flu.
Swisher eyes Opening Day return | Did The Tribe Win Last Night? - An offseason of knee surgery was somehow still better than the rest of the 2014 season was for Nick Swisher. Best case scenario for Swish at this point is a run at the DH role. But is all the grit in the world enough to get him back by Opening Day?
Running the bases on a lazy Sunday | Indians Baseball Inside - Al Ciamachella ruminates on the positive outlook of the national sports media regarding the 2015 Indians. Specifically, he focuses on hot-shot prospect Francisco Lindor as well as current major league hot shots like Yan Gomes.
Tidbits from around MLB
Bryant putting on a show, putting pressure on Cubs | CBS Sports - Kris Bryant is destroying the Cactus League. He also plays for the Cubs, so that means this is the most important story of the spring. But seriously, he may be forcing Chicago's hand into bringing him up earlier than planned.
Moncada comes from Cuba shrouded in mystery | Fox Sports - He's supremely talented, handsome, and just 19 years old. But so little is known about his past. The only thing more mysterious than his past may be what his future holds.
Veterans looking for big league jobs | Sports On Earth - Barry Zito is trying to make a comeback with the A's in 2015, and he's just one of many veterans trying to reclaim their former glory. Do any of them have a legit chance to be great again? Which ones will the Cleveland.com commenters be wishing the Indians signed?
Baseball has trouble keeping children interested | Boston Globe - Nick Cafardo often gets the scoop on trades and rumors, but his opinion pieces leave a lot to be desired. Today, he whines about batters taking too many pitches and managers using the shift too often just to hurt poor, poor David Ortiz.