Even if Asdrubal Cabrera and Grady Sizemore were in the lineup, Carlos Santana would still be an important part of the order.
Carlos Santana's bat is too potent to use low in the order, even if Asdrubal Cabrera and Grady Sizemore were healthy.PITTSBURGH — If Asdrubal Cabrera and Grady Sizemore -- the first two hitters in Manny Acta's ideal lineup -- were still healthy, rookie Carlos Santana wouldn't be hitting third, but don't jump to any conclusions.
It doesn't mean Acta would protect the prized prospect at the bottom of the lineup as Mike Hargrove did with Jim Thome, Manny Ramirez and many others when the Indians were producing big-league hitters like a large man eats doughnuts.
"If Cabrera and Sizemore were here, [Santana] was probably going to hit in the fifth hole," said Acta. "It wasn't like he was going to be at the bottom.
"We really felt that this guy, offensively, was ready. Mike Sarbaugh, our Triple-A manager, said, 'There's no need to fear. You can put this guy between those two lefties [Shin-Soo Choo and Travis Hafner].' That's something we've been looking for."
Santana, since getting called up June 11, is hitting .273 (6-for-22) with three doubles, one homer and four RBI (going into Friday's game). He's struck out twice and walked four times.
"He's not a total hacker," said Acta. "He knows the strike zone pretty good. He's not feeling for the ball either. This guy takes a very healthy hack, and he's not one of those guys who swings and misses a lot."
Acta is not worried about Santana handling the pressure of the No. 3 spot.
"He's very confident in his ability," said Acta. "I don't think we're in that situation where it's packed with pressure. We're not one game out. In order for you to be one game out some day, we need him in our lineup."
Brainstorming: GM Mark Shapiro was in Pittsburgh on Friday to check out PNC Park and the Pittsburgh Penguins' Consol Energy Center. The Indians are looking for ways to reshape Progressive Field.
View full sizeGeneral Manager Mark Shapiro.Progressive Field has 150 suites. Newer ballparks have closer to 50. The Indians are trying to find ways to make better use of that space.
The Indians also are talking about removing the glass wall at the Terrace Club restaurant to bring diners closer to the game.
These will be some of Shapiro's projects when he becomes team president at the end of this season.
Fine kettle of fish: The Pirates entered Friday's game having lost 11 straight, while the Indians have lost four straight.
Acta said there was no mention of the Pirates' losing streak in his pregame scouting meeting.
"We don't even bring that up," said Acta. "We have our own four-game losing streak. At some point, they had to be playing good because they've lost 11 in a row and we only have two more wins than they have."
Looking for work: Mike Redmond is no longer Fausto Carmona's personal catcher. Santana caught him for the second straight game Friday.
View full sizeIndians catcher Mike Redmond, left."Santana is the catcher of the future here," said Redmond. "He's got to get out there and play. I certainly understand that."
Redmond said he will catch David Huff tonight. He caught Carmona in spring training and in his first 12 starts this season as Carmona rebounded after two years of struggle.
"I feel good that Carmona, while I was catching him, got off to a good start," said Redmond. "That's all that matters. Not only for us, as a team, but the organization needed him to go out there and become the pitcher that we know he can be."
Finally: Choo hasn't homered since June 1, a stretch of 36 at-bats entering Friday's game. ... Trevor Crowe started in center field Friday after missing two starts to rest a bruised right knee. ... The Pirates' Ryan Church and Lastings Milledge hugged Acta before the game. They played for him in Washington.