Cleveland Indians, spring training, Feb. 26, 2013
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(Gallery by Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer)
Michael Brantley will missed about 10 days after suffered a spike wound from Oakland third baseman Josh Donaldson on Monday. "I'm going to miss some time," he said Tuesday. "I don't ever want to do that, but things happen."
GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Everyone agreed it was going to take time for the Indians' all center-field outfield to learn how to play together. Now it's going to take more time.
Left fielder Michael Brantley, who played center last season, will miss at least the next 10 days because of a spike wound on his left forearm that required 15 stitches to close. Brantley was injured Monday as he slid headfirst into third base after doubling home a run in a 14-10 victory over Oakland.
Brantley's left arm was wrapped to its elbow Tuesday morning when he talked to reporters. His forearm was immobilized by a splint to prevent the stitches from breaking.
"Michael won't do anything for about three days," said manager Terry Francona. "We just want to make sure the wound heals. Then he'll slowly return to activity -- lower-body exercises, one-arm swings. It will be a progression.
"I bet you it will be 10 days. I think that's a pretty good estimate."
Brantley had just sent his fourth double of the spring into left-center field to score Ryan Raburn.
"They ran a double cut with the third baseman cutting the ball off in the infield to keep it from going home," said Brantley. "There was nobody at third base. We had a race to third and on the way in, [Oakland third baseman Josh Donaldson] kind of stepped on my hand when he went to tag me and I was sliding into third base."
In his three games of the spring, Brantley is hitting .833 (5-for-6) with two RBI. He had a simple explanation, "I'm just swinging at good pitches."
Francona went into little more detail.
"I wish we could bottle where his swing is at right now," said Francona. "His first four swings of the spring were almost perfect. He hit four balls, kept everything fair, and he went from left center to the right field line.
"It was gorgeous. ... He was on time with everything."
Spring training is a week longer this year because of the World Baseball Classic so Brantley, Michael Bourn and Drew Stubbs will still have time to get their game together. Brantley, however, is already having a hard time sitting and waiting.
"I'm just disappointed I'm not going to get to play with my teammates," he said. "This spring we're all kind of jelling and meshing. We've got new faces everywhere. I'm going to miss some time. I don't ever want to do that, but things happen."
Brantley came to Arizona thinking he might lose his center-field job to Stubbs, acquired from Cincinnati in a three-team deal in December. On Feb. 10, the Indians surprised many by signing Bourn to a four-year, $48 million deal. Bourn, a two-time Gold Glove winner, immediately became the center fielder with Brantley going to left and Stubbs to right.
Two years ago Brantley was the regular left fielder so he has adjusted fairly quickly. The idea of playing in an outfield where all three starters can not only cover a lot of ground defensively, but can also steal, excites him.
"We have three guys with above-average speed," said Brantley. "We're already talking about that in the outfield every day that we don't want balls to drop."
Last season Bourn stole 42 bases, Stubbs 30 and Brantley 12. Second baseman Jason Kipnis stole 31 bases and shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera can run as well.
"When you have that much speed, and everyone uses it, it really helps the team," said Brantley. "If we're all running, pitchers have to change their deliveries and slide step."
Brantley, coming off his best season, just missed being eligible for arbitration this winter with two years and 131 days of service time. There has been talk that the Indians and his agents could negotiate a multiyear deal this spring.
"Right now it's quiet and my job is to play baseball," said Brantley. "That's all I'm here to do."
Brantley's injury gives several players a chance to show what they can do in the outfield. Ezequiel Carrera, Tim Fedroff, Ben Francisco, Matt Carson, Jeremy Hermida, Cedric Hunter, Chris McGuiness, Ryan Raburn and Mike Aviles could all see time in left or right field.
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