Chris Antonetti, the Indians' GM in waiting, talked about the team and his new job before Tuesday's game against the A's. He's scheduled to officially replace Mark Shapiro on Nov. 1.
Incoming Indians GM Chris Antonetti (with manager Manny Acta during spring training) says he has learned from being an assistant to Mark Shapiro, but will have his own way of running the team's big-league operation.INDIANS CHATTER
Clubhouse confidential: If you want something done right, you usually have to do it yourself.
Catcher Lou Marson thought for sure he was off the hook Sunday when Jayson Nix tumbled head first into the photographer’s pit head first to catch a foul pop in the seventh inning at Comerica Park.
He thought Baseball Tonight would replace the Buehrle Meter with the Nix Meter as the standard to grade great defensive plays this season. It didn’t make it and the Buehrle’s between-the-legs flip to retire Marson in the season opener on April 5 is still the gold standard.
“I guess I’m going to have to go out and make a play by myself,” said Marson.
Plenty of elbow room: The Indians are on pace to draw 1.4 million fans this season. It would be the fewest fans to watch the Indians since they moved to Progressive Field in 1994, and their smallest attendance since they drew 1.2 million at Municipal Stadium in 1992.
Stat of the day: Lefty Tony Sipp has allowed just 16.7 percent (6-of-36) of his inherited runners to score. It’s the best percentage in the AL.
— Paul Hoynes
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Chris Antonetti, who officially replaces Mark Shapiro as general manager Nov. 1, met with reporters before Tuesday's game against Oakland at Progressive Field. Here are some of the subjects he talked about.
• Antonetti said he's assumed more and more responsibility running the baseball side of the team this year as Shapiro has become more immersed in moving to team president.
"I'm excited about the opportunity," said Antonetti. "I'm excited by the challenge. I'm confident we have the people in place to be successful. That's what we're all building toward to get back to a championship-caliber club."
Antonetti has been heavily involved in the in-season trades the Indians have made the last three years, especially this year.
"Mark has always been great about giving me opportunities to grow and develop," he said. "This year has been another step. It's probably been more incremental than anything monumental.
"The one thing you can't simulate is being in that chair making that final call. Until that happens, I can't simulate it."
When asked how his tenure as GM would differ from Shapiro's, Antonetti said, "We're different people. At the same time we have worked together for a while. One thing I can tell you that we have in common is that we're never satisfied.
Mark can tell you he's never satisfied with any area of the organization and nor am I. We try to look at each year and each juncture in time and try to improve."
• Antonetti said center fielder Grady Sizemore and catcher Carlos Santana will be ready for the start of the 2011, but might not be at full strength for the start of spring training.
Sizemore underwent microfracture surgery on his left knee on June 4. Santana had surgery on the lateral collateral ligament in his left knee on Aug. 6.
Regarding Santana, who is missing the final two months of his rookie season because of a collision at the plate, he said, "It's not ideal. We were hoping he'd get more time to transition up here.
"When you look at the range of potential outcomes when we were sitting in Fenway Park that day ... we thought there may be some jeopardy to his career and his career as a catcher. Thankfully, that doesn't appear to be the case. It appears he'll be able to make a full recovery and be ready for the start of next year."
• Alex White, last year's No.1 pick, will remain a starter with a chance to reach the big leagues next year. Antonetti added that the Indians would be happy if Drew Pomeranz, this year's No.1 pick, follows White's path next season.
White started the year at Class A Kinston and progressed to Class AA Akron.
• Regarding September call-ups, Antonetti said the Indians will balance the needs of Class AAA Columbus, which is competing for a playoff spot, and the Indians'.
"There will certainly be some guys called up before the end of the Columbus season [Sept. 6] dictated by our major-league needs," said Antonetti.
Good signs: Michael Brantley could be back in the lineup Wednesday night. He has not played since twisting his left ankle in the batter's box Thursday night at Kauffman Stadium.
He ran the bases Tuesday and took batting practice.
"I ran the bases at 100 percent," said Brantley. "I feel good."
Brantley twisted his ankle after hitting an RBI grounder in the ninth inning against the Royals. As he turned through his swing, he twisted his ankle, fell to the ground and never left the box.
"I was very concerned when it first happened," said Brantley. "I heard a pop in the ankle. Anytime you hear that, it's never good. The MRI was negative and I can work through the soreness."
Finally: The A's currently have 10 players on the disabled list. They've used the DL 23 times this year, second most in their history.