Seen and heard before Tuesday's Tribe-Phillies game at Progressive Field.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Heard and seen before Tuesday's opener of the short two-game series against Philadelphia.
Clubhouse confidential: Center fielder Michael Bourn will play several minor-league games as part of a rehab assignment -- but he is not at that stage. Bourn has been on the disabled list since April 15 because of a lacerated right index finger that required five stitches.
"It's frustrating to watch games, but I don't have a choice," Bourn said. "The finger is getting better, but there's still stiffness."
Bourn is hitting .333 in 10 games. He was spiked while diving into first against the White Sox on April 14.
Unhappy Jack: During a pregame meeting with reporters Tuesday, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel spoke of a lonely former pupil. Jim Thome, the Tribe's all-time leader with 337 homers, is working out, waiting for a call to resume his career. Thome played a combined 58 games for Baltimore and Philadelphia last season.
Thome, 42, has hit 612 homers in the majors.
"Jimmy still thinks he can play," Manual said. "He misses the game. Baseball is his identity. He's kind of having a hard time adjusting."
Stat of the day: The Indians entered Tuesday having scored 70 percent of their runs in 30 percent of their games.