Sunday News and Notes: Regrouping after Saturday's debacle

Yesterday's Game

Bullpen unable to protect Kluber | indians.com

Tigers feast on atrocious bullpen, beat Indians 9-6 - Let's Go Tribe

Detroit Tigers hammer Cleveland Indians bullpen in 9-6 victory (photos) | cleveland.com

We've been spoiled the last couple years, in that generally the Indians haven't blown a late lead, or have at least kept the score where it was so that the offense had a chance to come back. Yesterday, when Jerry Sands gave the Indians the lead in the bottom of the sixth, the Indians should have been primed for a win, given the recent history of the clubs' bullpens.

But just about every historically reliable reliever gave up a run yesterday, whether it was Scrabble, Bryan Shaw, or Cody Allen. Cody's ninth-inning meltdown was frustrating, as the Indians had just tied the game in the eighth.

Indians News

Gomes helped off field after spraining right knee | indians.com
The most troubling happening of the game, though, was Yan Gomes being helped off the field after a play at the plate. An MRI will be done today to determine the damage to his knee, so it's rather pointless to speculate with the actual results to know so soon, but the possibility of losing one of the best players on the club for the season is borderline terrifying. Not only is Gomes one of the best defensive catchers in baseball, but he's one of the best hitters on the club, and one of the few good right-handed hitters on the roster. His absence would mean even more opponents will throw left-hander after left-hander against this lineup late in the game.

Brantley out of lineup again with back issue | indians.com

And speaking of troubling news, Brantley's back acted up again yesterday, and he'll be out at least for today's in an attempt to give him three straight days of rest. Michael has had the back issue through Spring Training, and while the Tribe medical staff doesn't think it's a serious issue, the fact that it has lasted this long is discomforting.

Why aren't Cleveland Indians flying true colors at Progressive Field? Hey, Hoynsie! | cleveland.com

A reader wonders why the Indians aren't flying the actual pennants instead of placing facsimiles on the "boxes" in the upper right field deck. Bill Veeck famously buried the 1948 championship pennant after the Indians were eliminated in 1949, and no one has found it since, but even if that pennant still existed, the team would still have gone with the 2-d versions.

Latest 25-man/40-man rosters

The Indians are at the very least going to have to call up a catcher for today's game, unless Gomes' MRI come back showing no internal damage. Carlos Santana could serve as an emergency backup, perhaps to get through today's game, but I wouldn't count on him returning to regular catching duties. That would mean either Brett Hayes or Adam Moore will be called up to back up Roberto Perez. Both catchers have similar career profiles: a year or two as major-league catchers, then minor-leaguers with an occasional callup. Tony Wolters is on the 40-man roster, but the Indians aren't going to call him up to sit on the bench.

The club could also use another pitcher for today's game given how the bullpen has been used the past couple days. Austin Adams, who made the Opening Day roster, was sent down Friday, but hasn't pitched yet, so if the Indians do place Gomes on the DL they could recall him even though it hasn't been 10 days yet.

But the issue with bringing up both a catcher and a pitcher would mean that (1) the Indians would have to option another player to the minors to make room on the 25-man roster, and (2) designate someone for assignment to make room for Hayes/Moore on the 40-man roster. If the MCR reveals serious damage, the Indians could place Gomes directly onto the 60-day DL, creating space for Hayes/Moore. If the damage isn't serious, they would have to designate someone for assignment (Charles Brewer), place Gomes on the 15-day DL, then call one of the AAA catchers to the 25-man roster. Adding the pitcher would mean sending an additional player to the minors, which almost have to be Kyle Crockett, as I don't think anyone else in the bullpen has an option.

Either way the Indians are going to have make a difficult decision before today's game. They may just stick with the pitching that they have with tomorrow being an off day, and hope that TJ House goes fairly deep into the game.

Update:

Moves: --Gomes 15-day DL (R. knee sprain) --Crockett optioned to AAA --Adams recalled from AAA --Marcum contract purchased --Brewer released

— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) April 12, 2015

So for today at least Carlos Santana will be the backup catcher. I would expect Adams to be optioned back out after the game to make room for a catcher.

Extent of Yan Gomes' injury is still being determined. Updates as they become available.

— #Jerry (@Indians) April 12, 2015