The draft begins Monday. The Indians, with the fifth overall pick, have some interesting choices in front of them. Will they make the right one?
Florida Gulf Coast University left-hander Chris Sale could be a target of the Indians in Monday's first round of the amateur draft.CHICAGO -- MLB's first year player draft begins Monday and the Indians will be picking fifth overall. It's their highest pick since they took Paul Shuey with the second overall choice 18 years ago in 1992.
Various mock drafts, including Baseball America, link them to a variety of players. A name that keeps appearing next to theirs is left-hander Chris Sale from Florida Gulf Coast University.
Juan Pierre wasn't pleased with this missed bunt in the third inning of Saturday's game. In the seventh inning Pierra struck out when he bunted foul with two strikes.
INDIANS CHATTER
Clubhouse confidential: Just when it looked like Travis Hafner was starting to chip away two years of rust, he got stuck out in the rain again.
After hitting .321 (25-for-78) with five doubles, two homers and 10 RBI in May, Hafner entered Saturday night’s game against Chicago in an 0-for-19 slump.
“For a while he looked like he was putting it together,” said manager Manny Acta. “He had a high on-base percentage and was swinging the bat better. He’s struggling right now with his timing at the plate. He’s got to get his hands set and be ready for the pitch.”
Hafner ended the slump with a ninth-inning double.
Speaking of slumps: Acta was asked about Shin-Soo Choo’s recent 0-for-17 skid.
“That was the best slump I’ve ever seen in my life,” said Acta. “The guy was lining bullets all over the place at least two times a day.”
Choo homered against Jeremy Bonderman on Tuesday in Detroit. He went 2-for-4 Saturday night.
Stat of the day: Aaron Laffey made his first start at Class AAA Columbus on Friday. He went 4 2/3 innings and allowed two runs on seven hits in a 5-0 loss to Indianapolis. The Indians sent Laffey to Columbus to get stretched out as a starter after opening the season in the bullpen.
— Paul HoynesReportedly the Indians do like Sale, but they like other pitchers just as much if not more. The question is, will any of those pitchers be available?
Washington, Pittsburgh, Baltimore and Kansas City have the first four picks. The Royals could take Sale with the fourth pick. Baseball America's latest mock draft has them making just such a choice.
Sale, a 6-6, 180-pound left hander, went 11-0 with two saves and a 2.01 ERA in 17 appearances this year. He led the nation with 146 strikeouts, while walking 14. His strikeout to walk ratio was 10-to-1.
The Indians are also considering a position player. Texas-Arlington outfielder Michael Choice, Arkansas third baseman Zach Cox and University of Miami catcher Yasmani Grandal are possibilities. Baseball America says Cox and Grandal are seeking above the slot signing bonuses which could cause them to slip in the draft.
The Tribe's fear in this draft is that even though it his a high pick, thanks to 97 losses last year, there are only a few high-ceiling players. After that the talent levels off.
Amateur scouting director Brad Grant, running his third draft for the Indians, says its a deep draft and that should allow the Indians to infuse talent into the organization.
The first day of the draft, covering the first three rounds, will be televised by MLB-TV and take place in Secaucus, N.J. Travis Fryman, Class A Mahoning Valley manager, will represent the Indians. The last two days will be conducted by conference call.
Reason to hope: Sandy Alomar Jr., the Indians' first base coach and former catcher, is proof that there is life after microfracture surgery.
Center fielder Grady Sizemore had microfracture surgery on his left knee Friday and will be sidelined for the next six to nine months. Alomar had the same surgery twice on his left knee while playing for the Indians.
"The doctors said I'd be out six months," said Alomar. "I made it back in three months. I had a divot in my bone. At that time no one in baseball knew what it was. I had to have surgery because I couldn't squat down to catch."
Alomar had it for the first time before the 1995 season. Dr. Richard Steadman, who operated on Sizemore in Vail, Colo., operated on Alomar. He had it done again in 1999.
"If you get that thing done, you should be OK," said Alomar, referring to Sizemore. "I played all the way from 1995 until 2007 and I was catching. The guy Steadman is pretty good. He operated on Carlos Beltran, too, and he's just about ready to come back for the Mets."
Microfracture surgery makes tiny fractures in the joint, causing it to bleed and create a scab. That scar replaces loose or damaged cartilage that's been removed through surgery or injury.
Under review: What kind of player is rookie shortstop Jason Donald?
"We haven't had enough games to determine that," said manager Manny Acta. "Donald is up here because Asdrubal Cabrera got hurt. He would be in Columbus if that wasn't the case.
"We're in the process of evaluating him. ... We don't know if he's going to be an everyday player. We're still evaluating that, too."
Finally: Indians relievers, entering Saturday's game, had allowed 31 earned runs in 21 1/3 innings in seven games on this trip. ... SportsTime Ohio will show the Tribe's game against Boston on Monday. ESPN was originally going to televise the game, but dropped the broadcast.