SB Nation Cleveland - Indians Spring Training 2012: Ubaldo Jimenez Plunks Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies Incensed

Indians Spring Training 2012: Cleveland Finished In Last Place In The Cactus League

2012-04-04T22:11:37Z

The Cleveland Indians finished the spring season 7-22, good enough for last place in the Cactus League standings.

Not only have the Indians been playing poorly, they have suffered setbacks and injuries that will impact the team negatively. Roberto Hernandez, formerly known as Fausto Carmona, is stuck in the Dominican Republic with visa issues stemming from using a false identity.

Grady Sizemore is out for the first two to three months of the season after undergoing major back surgery. Justin Masterson struggled in his five spring starts, registering an ERA of 9.00. Ubaldo Jimenez also pitched poorly in Cactus League play, adding insult to injury when he earned a five-game suspension for intentionally throwing at former teammate Troy Tulowitzki.

The pitching of steady veteran Derek Lowe (0-1, 3.50 ERA, 18 IP) and youngster Jeanmar Gomez (1-1, 1.37 ERA, 19.1 IP), who was named the fifth starter in the Indians pitching rotation, has been a bright spot.

Cleveland hosts the Toronto Blue Jays Thursday on Opening Day. Justin Masterson will start for the Indians.

For more news, analysis, and discussion on the Indians, visit Let's Go Tribe. For all your MLB news and notes as the season gets underway, keep up with Baseball Nation.

2012 Indians Spring Training, Cactus League Standings

2012-04-02T23:04:31Z

The Cleveland Indians completed a dreadful spring Monday at Goodyear Ballpark, defeating the Cincinnati Reds, 2-1. Right-handed pitcher Josh Tomlin pitched five innings, allowing one run on three hits.

The spring season was highlighted by injuries, the suspension of Ubaldo Jimenez and a 7-22 record good enough for last place in the Cactus League. The Indians have one more exhibition game before Opening Day on Thursday. Via Jordan Bastian of MLB.com:

Indians up next: With the Cactus League schedule complete, the Indians will travel to Zebulon, N.C., for a 2 p.m. ET exhibition contest against high-Class A Carolina, a new affiliate for the Tribe. Veteran sinkerballer Derek Lowe, who will enter the year as the No. 3 starter, is slated to start for the Indians. Left-handed pitching prospect Scott Barnes -- ticketed for Triple-A Columbus -- will get the nod for the Mudcats.

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MLB:

Indians Spring Training 2012: Cleveland's Cactus League Schedule Winds Down

2012-04-02T14:00:31Z

The 2012 Major League Baseball season is literally right around the corner, but there are still a handful of Spring Training games that need to wrap up before the first pitch can be thrown in ballparks across the country.

For the Cleveland Indians, a Cactus League finale with the Cincinnati Reds later this afternoon is the last exhibition game remaining before the team prepares for its regular season opener. Now that the Indians have solidified their 25-man roster, and also shelled out a little bit of cash to ensure that star shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera will be around for a while, the focus now shifts to finding the proper roles for all 25 players that will see the field to kick off the year.

Remaining Cactus League Schedule

Opponent: Cincinnati Reds

When: April 2nd

Where: Goodyear Ballpark, Goodyear, Arizona

First Pitch: 1:05 pm MT

VIDEO: Ubaldo Jimenez Plunks Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies Manager Calls Him 'Gutless'

2012-04-02T12:53:48Z

There were some fireworks in Scottsdale on Sunday as Spring Training and the Cactus League wind down. Ubaldo Jimenez, former Colorado Rockie, plunked Troy Tulowitzki on the elbow, immediately inciting a bench-clearing confrontation. There's apparently some discord between the two, especially with the way Ubaldo exited last summer at the deadline. Jimenez said the pitch got away from him, but Rockies' manager Jim Tracy begged to differ - going off on his former ace to the Colorado media.

Video and Tracy quotes after the jump:

Via ESPN:

Tracy is the same manager that pitched Jimenez on the day he was traded - when it became abundantly clear he was being shipped off. That move upset Indians brass, but he's certainly on his high horse now:

"It's the most gutless act I have seen in 35 years of professional baseball. I have lost all respect for him. To do something like that and walk down off the mound, and if there's any suggestion whatsoever that the ball got away, I don't want to hear any of that (expletive). He intentionally threw at him. He should be suspended. I am going to be very disappointed if he doesn't get suspended. He deserves to be."

Via Troy Renck

Tribe skipper Manny Acta said it was the first time he'd seen a bench-clearing during Spring Training, but according to the Plain Dealer's Paul Hoynes, there was clearly some tension heading into the exhibition game:

This spring Jimenez said being with the Indians was like being in "heaven' compared to playing with the Rockies.

Tulowitzki fired back.

"If someone doesn't want to be here," Tulowitzki told the Denver Post, "we always say, 'Please, go up to the manager and tell him you want to leave or that you don't think this is the best place for you.' That was kind of the case with him."

Adding to the intrigue, apparently commissioner Bud Selig was in attendance as well. It likely will not take long for the league to impose some sort of disciplinary action, if they deem that it was intentional.

Read what Baseball Nation's Rob Neyer had to say about the incident.

Indians Spring Training 2012: Asdrubal Cabrera Will Reportedly Sign Two-Year, $16.5 Million Extension

2012-04-01T19:09:35Z

The Cleveland Indians are on the verge of locking down one of the most promising breakout performers of 2011, as Fox Sports' Jon Morosi is reporting the Indians and shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera are nearing a two-year, $16.5 million extension.

Source: #Indians on verge of two-year, $16.5 million extension with Asdrubal Cabrera. That would cover 2013 and 2014 -- one free agent year.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) April 1, 2012

The 26-year-old Cabrera hit .273 with 25 home runs and 92 RBI in 151 games for the Indians last season, and despite tailing off with a sub-.240 average in the final two months of the year, played like one of the better infielders in the American League. This extension will keep him in Cleveland for the 2013 and 2014 seasons, giving him a chance to test the free agent market in 2014 before he reaches 30.

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Indians Spring Training 2012: Jose Lopez In, Spilborghs & Accardo Cut

2012-04-01T18:34:57Z

The Cleveland Indians solidified their 25-man roster on Sunday, cutting outfielder Ryan Spilborghs and reliever Jeremy Accardo in favor of the trio of Aaron Cunningham, Jose Lopez, and Jairo Asencio. The Plain Dealer's Paul Hoynes tweeted that the trio landed the final spots on Cleveland's roster heading into the season, which made veterans like Spilborghs and Accardo expendable.

Aaron Cunningham, Jose Lopez and Jairo Asencio make last 3 spots on #Indians 25-man roster. Spilborghs and Accardo cut.
— paul hoynes (@hoynsie) April 1, 2012

Spilborghs, who hit .279 with ten homers and 39 RBI for Colorado in 2010, was expected to provide depth as both a contact hitter and rangy defender in the outfield. He struggled mightily in the spring, however, hitting just .174 and slugging a mere .217.

The 30-year-old Accardo sported a 1.00 ERA in eight games for the Indians in spring training, and struck out six batters in 9.0 innings pitched. He owns a 4.22 career ERA and has pitched for four MLB teams, but will now be in search of his fifth.

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Cleveland Indians Pitcher Jeanmar Gomez Injures Hip

2012-03-30T22:18:22Z

Cleveland Indians pitcher Jeanmar Gomez was injured turning a double play in the fourth inning of the Indians Cactus League game against the Cincinnati Red Friday and had to leave the game, according to Jordan Bastian of MLB.com.

Head athletic trainer Lonnie Soloff told an AP reporter that RHP Jeanmar Gomez injuried his hip on the play. No more details yet.
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) March 30, 2012

Gomez has been pitching his way into the Indians rotation this spring, posting a 1.69 ERA in 16 innings prior to Friday. On Thursday, David Huff, also competing for the fifth spot in the rotation, strained his right hamstring, effectively taking him out of the competition. Derek Lowe also injured himself in a split-squad game on Thursday, but manager Manny Acta is no concerned by it.

Kevin Slowey, also competing for the final spot in the rotation, will start on Saturday. If Gomez's injury is serious, he may back into the rotation.

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Indians Spring Training 2012: Tribe Making Roster Cuts In Preparation, Russ Canzler Among Them

2012-03-30T17:22:07Z

As Opening Day approaches (for most of the MLB, sans Athletics and Mariners), teams are making cuts and optioning players left and right to set their roster and lineups. For the Indians, a flurry of moves went down over the last 2 hours. According to CBS Cleveland, pitchers Chris Seddon and Nick Hagadone have both been sent to the minors. Hagadone is significant in particular, as he was in the mix to battle for a spot in the bullpen.

Also of particular note was Russ Canzler, who can play the infield and the outfield. As the piece from CBS Cleveland notes, Canzler did a lot and some thought he might make the roster. That being said, there's always some casualties during these cuts, and he can always prove his stuff during the season and see some action.

Other moves include catcher Luke Carlin, infielder Andy LaRoche, and pitchers Chris Ray, Chris Seddon and Robinson Tejada re-assigned to Minors camp. That's a lot of pichers cut, and there's likely more to come. As Jordan Bastian notes on Twitter, there's still a bullpen spot available, with Jairo Asencio, Frank Hermann and Jeremy Accardo in the mix for that job.

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