Manny Acta delivers a message to the Indians on Friday. He tells them to snap out of their Tigers-induced hangover and refocus on finishing the season with a winning record and in second place in the AL Central.
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. — Indians manager Manny Acta met with his players before Friday night's series opener against the Minnesota Twins. He told them to put their old goals aside, concentrate on new ones and get over their Tiger-induced hangover.
The old goal was to win the American League Central Division. They opened this three-game series a Detroit victory away from being eliminated for the division title. They still were kicking in the wild-card race, but that is mostly a mirage.
"I wanted them to know that I know how they feel because I felt it, too, after the last series against Detroit," said Acta. "You see your dreams and goals shattered. You go through a few days where it's like a hangover."
It's unclear if Acta passed out Alka-Seltzer to his players, but he was definitely trying to deliver a message for the final 15 games.
"I told them they have to get right back up because there are a lot of games left and a lot of things to play for," said Acta. "You just have to shift your goals. We're not going to win the division, but second place is up for grabs.
"It's very important for us to finish the season with a winning record. Those are part of the goals I'm talking about. You can't just have one goal and that's it. If you can't accomplish it, you're going to be crushed. We have the right to shift goals, and right now finishing second, having a winning record figures into it. "
The Indians entered Friday's game with just two victories in their past 10 games. That included the Tigers' three-game sweep at Progressive Field from Sept. 5 through Sept. 7 that dropped them 9 1/2 games out of first.
Testing, testing: Josh Tomlin will throw his second bullpen session today to test his strained right elbow. If he passes that test, he'll throw a simulated game next week in Cleveland.
If that goes well, he could start one of the games in the Tribe's day-night doubleheader against the Twins on Sept. 24.
Third baseman Jack Hannahan, scheduled to join the Indians at Target Field this weekend, will remain in Cleveland rehabbing a strained left calf muscle.
"He hasn't run the bases yet," said Acta. "If he came here, he wouldn't be able to play."
Hannahan could get back in the lineup next week when the Indians play nine games in seven days in their last homestand of the season. They have day-night doubleheaders against Chicago on Tuesday and the Twins on Friday.
Special night: The Indians will honor Jim Thome this coming Friday at Progressive Field before they play the Twins. Ticket sales are already close to a sellout.
Thome has hit only one homer since he returned to the Indians in an Aug. 25 deal with the Twins. Before Friday night's game, he talked about whether he would try to play against next season or retire.
"I haven't thought about it," said Thome, 41. "I'm very blessed that I've been able to play as much as I have this year. Let's face it, teams have to call. You've got to get into the winter and see where you stand with that.
"Once I get home and sit down with my wife, similar to last year, we'll see where I'm at."
Thome became just the eighth major-leaguer in history to reach 600 homers earlier this season with the Twins. If he does return, it will be with the thought of trying to win a World Series.
He's been to two with the Indians in 1995 and 1997. He hasn't been back.
"That's what makes going back to Cleveland so unique," he said. "The opportunities we had in the 1990s, going to two World Series. The thing is you never know if you're going to go back.
"It would be a dream to win a World Series. Getting back to coming back every year, maybe that's what has driven me to keep coming back."
Finally: Kosuke Fukudome will resume his duties in right field following Shin-Soo Choo's season-ending left oblique injury Thursday in Texas. Fukudome was scheduled to move to left field when Choo was activated. He has never played left field in the big leagues. . . . The Twins announced catcher Joe Mauer is done for the season because of pneumonia.
To reach this Plain Dealer reporter: phoynes@plaind.com, 216-999-5158
On Twitter: @hoynsie