The Indians' race for third base has been among three players since Jhonny Peralta was traded July 28. It's apparently going to stay that way, for better or worse, through the end of the season.
Andy Marte has the reputation as the best defensive third baseman on the Indians' roster, but he has struggled in the last month, as have Jayson Nix and Luis Valbuena.ON DECK: INDIANS VS. OAKLAND A’S
Where: Progressive Field.
When: Tuesday through Thursday.
TV/radio: SportsTime Ohio; WTAM AM/1100.
Pitching matchups: LHP Gio Gonzalez (10-8, 3.39) vs. RHP Fausto Carmona (11-11, 4.14) tonight at 7:05; RHP Trevor Cahill (13-5, 2.54) vs. RHP Mitch Talbot (8-10, 4.23) Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. and RHP Vin Mazzaro (6-5, 3.56) vs. RHP Justin Masterson (4-12, 5.33) Thursday at 7:05 p.m.
Season series: The Indians have lost four of six games to the A’s. The A’s lead, 246-214, overall.
Indians update: Coming off an embarrassing 1-5 trip through Kansas City and Detroit. They were swept by Detroit, getting outscored, 19-3, in three games. In their only victory on the trip, they made five errors.
A’s update: They’re putting together a nice second half despite having 11 players on the disabled list. Indians are hitting .222 against Oakland. Gonzalez is 2-0 against the Indians this season and hasn’t allowed an earned run in 13 2/3 innings.
Injuries: Indians — C Carlos Santana (left knee), RHP Anthony Reyes (right elbow), CF Grady Sizemore (left knee) and LHP Aaron Laffey are on the disabled list. CF Michael Brantley (left ankle) day to day. A’s — RHP Andrew Bailey (right intercostal), 3B Eric Chavez (neck), RHP Joey Devine (right elbow), RHP Justin Duchscherer (left hip), OF Connor Jackson (abdominal strain), 2B Adam Rosales (right ankle), RHP Ben Sheets (right elbow), OF Matt Watson (kidney stones), RHP John Meloan (right elbow), LHP Joshua Outman (left elbow) and OF Ryan Sweeney (right knee) are on the disabled list.
Next: Royals visit for three-game series starting Friday.
— Paul Hoynes
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians, in an effort to find clarity at third base, feel they already have enough players trying to win the job for next season.
So prospects Jared Goedert and Lonnie Chisenhall will end their season at Class AAA Columbus and Class AA Akron, respectively, without an invitation to join the big-league club in September. The last 38 games of this dreary season at the hot corner belong to Jayson Nix, Andy Marte and Luis Valbuena.
It is not the most pleasant of thoughts. The Tribe's three third basemen have combined for nine errors in 24 games since the player they replaced, Jhonny Peralta, was traded to Detroit on July 28. Peralta made five errors in 91 games at third this season. Since the trade, Nix has made five errors, Marte three and Valbuena one.
There been more traffic going through Indians third basemen than drives on the Shoreway at rush hour.
"The guys we have here will continue to get opportunities at third base," said incoming General Manager Chris Antonetti. "When the season is over, we'll discuss whether we feel confident with our internal options or do we have to look externally."
Goedert, who started the season at Class AA Akron, is hitting .277 (73-for-264) at Columbus. He's hit 35 doubles, 25 homers and driven in 77 runs between Akron and Columbus. He's also made 20 errors, 16 at Columbus.
Manager Manny Acta said Sunday that one of the problems in promoting Goedert is that he's not on the 40-man roster.
"I don't think Goedert's 40-man roster status is an issue," said Antonetti. "We have a limited number of games to play. There's no way you can give a guy a fair chance in four, five or even 20 games.
"With three guys it's hard to get everyone playing time. It would be hard to add a fourth."
Chisenhall, the Indians' No.1 pick in 2008, is hitting .273 (109-for-309) with 20 doubles, two triples, 15 homers and 72 RBI at Akron. He's made 16 errors.
"Lonnie still has some development to do," said Antonetti. "He still has to go through the rigors of the minors."
Infielders Cord Phelps and Jason Kipnis are having good seasons at Columbus and Akron, respectively, but the organization feels they're best suited for second base.
That brings the issue back to Nix, Marte and Valbuena. Marte is the only regular third baseman of the three. Nix and Valbuena are transplanted second basemen. Third base has not treated any of them well.
Nix is getting the most playing time of late because he's hit better than Marte and Valbuena. In Sunday's 8-1 loss to Detroit at Comerica Park, he fell head first into a camera bay next to the Tigers' dugout in the seventh inning making a great catch of Don Kelly's foul ball.
"Those aren't the plays you're expected to make," said Nix.
The ones a third baseman is expected to make have been a problem.
"I haven't played there a whole lot in my career," said Nix. "Switching positions is never easy and going from one side of the infield to the other, everything changes.
"I know I've had some tough times there. I feel I'm getting more comfortable every time I'm out there. I know over time I can play there and be comfortable there."
The biggest difference between third base and the middle infield positions is the speed of the ball.
"You have no time to think," said Valbuena. "At second base, you can think before the ball gets to you. At third base, you think before the pitch and just react."
Acta calls Marte his best defensive third baseman, but he's made three errors since Peralta was traded and nine in 23 games overall.
"I know and the whole world knows that Andy Marte is a good defensive third baseman," said Acta. "He's just in a funk right now."
If Nix, Valbuena and Marte can't fill the role of stopgap third baseman next season, they can try the free-agent market. Some potential candidates would include Peralta, Garrett Atkins, Geoff Blum, Jorge Cantu, Pedro Feliz, Jerry Hairston Jr., Bill Hall, Wes Helms, Brandon Inge, Mike Lowell, Melvin Mora, Miguel Tejada, Juan Uribe and Ty Wigginton.
Right now, the job belongs to Nix, Marte or Valbuena. They just have to take it.
"This is an opportunity for someone to seize that position," said Antonetti.
Arm to remember: Newly-acquired Zach McAllister could be one of the Tribe's September call-ups.
The Indians obtained the 6-5, 230-pound right-hander from the Yankees on Friday to complete the Austin Kearns trade. McAllister, 22, is scheduled to make his first start for Class AAA Columbus on Wednesday.
"We're going to need starting pitching in September," said Antonetti. "Some of our starters are fatigued. Others will be limited by innings."
McAllister is eligible for the Rule 5 draft in December. That means the Indians must decide if they should protect him on the 40-man roster.
He was 8-10 with a 5.09 ERA in 24 starts for Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre at the time of the trade. He struck out 88, walked 38, allowed 165 hits and had a WHIP of 1.53 in 137.2 innings.
If McAllister and Carlos Carrasco get called up, they should be able to replace any starters who have to be shut down or skipped.
Finally: The Indians have re-signed right-hander Saul Rivera and sent him to Columbus. Rivera was in spring training with the Indians and opened the season with Columbus. He was traded to Arizona on May 17, and the Diamondbacks designated him for assignment in June and he was released earlier this month.