Manager Manny Acta likes what Asdrubal Cabrera has given the Indians since returning to the lineup on July 20 following surgery on his broken left forearm.
Indians manager Manny Acta admires how Asdrubal Cabrera has worked to return to the lineup after his broken arm in May.INDIANS CHATTER
Clubhouse confidential: Chris Gimenez's homer Friday night gave him 10 for the season, nine in Class AAA Columbus, one in the big leagues. Anything is possible now.
“I hit 26 homers in 2007 [20 at Class A Kinston, six at Class AA Akron],” said Gimenez. “The last three years I've been stuck on nine each year. I kept telling my wife, it's going to be a big deal if I can get 10. That means I'm over the hump. I'm pumped about it.”
So for Gimenez, his homer Friday was a perfect 10.
The bigger they are...: Acta on Washington National phenom Stephen Strasburg facing possible Tommy John surgery on his right elbow: “The same thing happened to Hector Rondon a few days ago. The great thing about it is that kids are coming back from Tommy John surgery with a higher percentage of success.
“It's never good news, but back in the day there were no MRIs. When a guy had an injury like that, he had to pitch through it or end his career. God bless technology.”
Stat of the day: Friday night was only the second time Matt LaPorta and Michael Brantley, according to Elias, drove in more than one run each in the same game for the Indians. They were each acquired from Milwaukee in 2008 for CC Sabathia.
— Paul Hoynes
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Asdrubal Cabrera continues to try and fit into his new role as a leader on the Indians, even though manager Manny Acta doesn't think he's completely healed from the May 19th surgery that reassembled his broken left forearm with screws and a metal plate.
Cabrera went into Saturday's game against Kansas City hitting .261 (35-for-134) with nine runs, one homer and 13 RBI in 34 games since coming off the disabled list on July 20. Cabrera broke his left forearm in a collision with Jhonny Peralta behind second base on May 17 at Tropicana Field.
"He's a key for our club offensively and defensively," said Acta. "He's got big-time character. To me, he's probably not 100 percent strength-wise from that surgery from the left side, but he's a gamer.
"He really went after it in that rehab. He came back earlier than expected. He's the guy I want to be out there all the time. That's why I feel he can be one of the leaders going forward."
Cabrera was supposed to miss eight to 10 weeks with the injury. He rejoined the lineup July 20, an absence of just over eight weeks.
When the Indians started trading their veterans at the end of July, Acta said he was counting on Cabrera to fill the leadership void.
"He's taking steps toward that," said Acta, "but it's very tough for these kids when they're that young and they don't have that many years in the big leagues to become vocal and try to tell people what to do it.
"He's taking small steps toward it. We don't want to force it on him and put him in an uncomfortable position with his teammates."
Cabrera, who doesn't appear to say a whole lot, is one of the few Indians left from the team that made it to the ALCS in 2007.
"He's very quiet in English, but he's not quiet in Spanish," said Acta. "He's got the energy. He wants to play every day. He's not afraid [to say something]. He's got a lot of the qualities you look for and he's been on this club just about as long as anybody. He was here when the Indians were in the postseason in 2007."
Cabrera is hitting .274 (74-for-270) overall with 14 doubles, one triple, two homers and 20 RBI. He's hitting .289 (26-for-90) right-handed and .267 (48-for-180) left-handed.
Traffic jam: In Friday's lopsided win over the Royals, the Indians had 24 baserunners. They had 28 total in their three-game series against Oakland.
Short and to the point: The postgame press conference with KC manager Ned Yost following Friday's 15-4 loss lasted 79 seconds. Sounds about right.
Sore wrist: Switch-hitting second baseman Cord Phelps, hitting .317 (71-for-224) at Class AAA Columbus, has been getting some time off because of some hand and wrist issues over the last three weeks.
The wrist is getting better, but Phelps hasn't been swinging right-handed.
Testing, testing: Aaron Laffey pitched a scoreless eighth inning Friday night as Columbus lost to Louisville, 2-1. He struck out one in continuing his rehab from a tired left shoulder.
"He's not 100 percent," said Acta.
Anthony Reyes, recovering from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow, continues his rehab at Class AA Akron. Acta says the Indians have three options with Reyes when his rehab runs out: Bring him to Cleveland, send him to Goodyear, Ariz., or shut him down for the season.
Talk, talk: No.1 pick Drew Pomeranz will be on SiriusXM MLB Network's Minors/Majors show Sunday at 9 a.m. EDT. It's on XM Channel 175.
Power vs. pop: Toronto's Jose Bautista, who leads the big leagues with 42 homers, hit 16 homers in July. Shin-Soo Choo entered Saturday's game leading the Indians with 15 homers for the season.