Stache Power in a Tribe Win; Vizquel in the lineup

Even though I can't see either game, is it a little sad that I was more excited to see Sal Fasano facing us than I am of Omar?

Don't get me wrong, Omar is the boss, but maybe it was the fact that I listened to Sal hit the jack yesterday when I was driving back home.

Honestly. I screamed "MUSTACHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!" as Jimmy Rosenhaus said the ball cleared the fence. Then I just did a quick fist pump and went back to driving before A) I drove off the freeway or B) Was spotted acting like a maniac by another driver.

Sal never hit a homerun with the Indians last year, so I never got to use the line.

SUPER STACHE POWER!

But you damn well know it's appropriate for that situation.

From my understanding though, there were other people playing in that game, one that the Indians won, so I probably should get to that.

This game saw a lot of action from starters and regular players. Colorado, which played people like Garrett Atkins pretty much played six full innings. Ubaldo Jimenez and Aaron Cook split the first six. While the Indians let Luis Valbuena, playing second, and Carlos Santana, DHing, play the entire game.

Jhonny Peralta did the damage to Cook with a two-run shot and a 2-3 day. Stephen Head had the other big hit knocking in two runs. Tony Graffanino who started in left went 2-3 with a run batted in and Chris Gimenez, who took over for Head in right knocked in the othe run.

Oh and Head slid into the wall on a catch he made, he was fine though after being looked over. It was after that he proceeded to knock those runs in.

Trevor Crowe did a great job from the leadoff spot, reaching base with two hits and scoring both times.

Wilson Valdez who took over for Crowe in center managed to misplay a ball, not sure if the sun was to blame or not. But I do believe it led to Rich Rundles then giving up that jack to Sal Fasano with a man on. I think Carlos Gonzalez was on third with one out, so Fasano was probably just trying to lift it and ended up hitting one out.

Jeremy Sowers and Zach Jackson did absolutely nothing to seperate themselves from anyone else or each other. Both pitched two innings, with Jackson getting the start this time around. Both gave up four hits and an earned run, and both walked one. The one difference was Jackson striking one out.

Wedge said the following about both pitchers, which further proves no progress was made.

"I thought they both had pretty good fastballs and for the most part trusted their stuff," said the Indians manager.

Everyone else who pitched was dandy (minus Rundles of course). Jensen Lewis made quick work of the Rockies in the fifth inning, and I mean quick work. He struck Clint Barmes out on three pitches to leadoff the inning. The inning flew by like that.

Vinnie Chulk, Kirk Saarloos and yes, even The Brother of Kansas City Chiefs Starting Quarterback all went an inning without a run. Only the later gave up a hit.

Oh I almost forgot... Andy Marte made his debut and he went 0-1. Congrats big guy.

Your, what is becoming daily, injury update on relief pitchers goes like this.

Adam Miller's finger is just bothering him, okay?

"This is the first time since the surgery that [the finger] has given me any problems," Miller said. "It's early in Spring Training, and it's just a little soreness, so I want to be smart about it. I don't want to do anything dumb."

Rather safe than sorry. Miller says he feels great, physically too, aside from the finger. He'll rest for a few more days and Lonnie Soloff has him on anti-inflamatories.

Meanwhile, Kerry Wood looks fine and reportedly feels great. Feels great? Really? His words, not mine or anyone elses.

He threw a 40 pitch session yesterday and provided quite the awesome quote.

"If I throw more than 40 in one inning," Wood said, "we probably lost."

That is so something Joe Borowski would say.

It's the second 40-pitch session in three days. He'll do live BP on Wednesday, possibly make his debut next week and just like that, it appears as if the whole back thing is already in the past, so simmer down.

A non-player injury to tell you about.

If you didn't hear, Bud Black, manager of the San Diego Padres got hit with a wild-bat and has some injuries to his writsts I believe.

Well Columbus Manager Torey Lovullo got hit now as well.

The broken bat of Trevor Crowe flung past the dugout and hit the protective net, but that protective net didn't exactly help Lovullo, who was standing in the dugout. The bat hit him above the eye and had he not been wearing sunglasses, could have been injured worse.

Lovullo was in practice on Monday though, closed up with nine stiches. Ouchies.

Interesting how the choice to extend the nets to above the dugouts has now bit the Indians (or whoever the hell designed the field) in the ass.

From bitting in the ass to pain in the ass. No not really...

Injury news other-wise of players who are 'coming off' injuries of sorts.

Travis Hafner has Friday in his sights for his debut.

Tomorrow is the debut of Anthony Reyes, who ended the year without pitching because of a pre-caution. He has probably been held out until now for the same reason as Cliff Lee, a normal spring.

With the likes of Reyes and Lee now in the fold and innings increasing, that means less chances for the likes of Sowers, Aaron Laffey, Jackson, David Huff and Scott Lewis to prove they can win the final rotation spot.

To which Carl Willis says that we'll see all five candidates at least two more times this spring.

Grady Sizemore could be DHing by mid-week.

They say that stuff about a healthy baby is a happy baby, or whatever.

Hopefully a happy Jhonny Peralta is a friggin awesome Peralta.

"They tell me I get to be at shortstop," said Peralta. "And they don't say nothing about playing third base. I'm happy because shortstop is the position I like to play. When you change positions it's very hard."

THEY DON'T SAY NOTHING!!!! Someone has to help the guy out with his English, he's been here awhile.

He also said he's felt lighter and stronger (if that's possible) than any spring in the past and he's very pleased with his physical and mental state coming into this season.

A new Indians Inbox is up. Thankfully CastroTurf manages to keep the "BLARBLAHRBGGGGPAAAYROLL!!!!!!! CHEAP SOBS" comments to a minimum on a week-to-week basis. Where as Hoynes likes to put five in every damn edition.

Instead, Castrovince takes a brilliant question about the five best and five worst acquisitions the Indians have made.

A surprise at number five on the worst, DAVID DELLUCCI. Haha, he's still on the team and Castrovince is already crowning him as king of the garbage heap.

AC says 100 hits for Marte with the Indians and asks if you remember any of them.

I do... He hit a triple once. He also hit a homerun at a game I was at. I forget who it was against though. I know we won.

That's all I remember... I don't even think the fact that I remember he hit a triple once counts either, cause I'm not specific.

And of course, we have a game to play today at Goodyear. It's against our opening day opponents, the Texas Rangers, and an older friend than Sal Fasano, Omar Vizquel.

Omar is probably using this opportunity with Texas as a stepping-stone into management.

"I should be managing by then [five years from now]," Vizquel said Friday. "I don't know . . . depending on this year . . . whether it will be the last one [as a player] or not."

"They're going to ask me to play second base and guide the youngster," Vizquel said, the owner of 11 Gold Gloves. "Kind of make him believe he belongs in the big leagues. . . . He's going to be good. He's just really young."

"The Youngster" is Elvis Andrus and in the video in that link Vizquel mentions who his mentor was in Seattle.

He is saying Harold Reynolds.. But I swear it sounds like he is saying Harold Raimis. Who has directed a few episodes of The Office and who more noticably to most was in Ghostbusters.

So there you have it. Omar's mentor was Dr. Egon Spengler.

I really probably shouldn't have done that, but a young Harold Ramis kind of looks like Omar. Kind of.. Not totally.. Okay? Jeeze.

Anyway Omar has a dream of capturing an anaconda. He didn't actually capture one like the one in the movies, but he did catch a 12 footer in the offseason. And don't fear, if he were to go into the HOF, he'd be going in as an Indian.

Vizquel is in the lineup today and here is what the Indians lineup looks like.

CF Michael Brantley, 2B Asdrubal Cabrera, LF Ben Francisco, DH Kelly Shoppach, 1B Beau Mills, RF Matt LaPorta, 3B Wes Hodges, C Chris Gimenez, SS Wilson Valdez.

Starting is Aaron Laffey, with the following available to pitch: RHP Rafael Betancourt, RHP Matt Herges, RHP Masa Kobayashi, RHP Juan Salas, RHP John Meloan, RHP Tomo Ohka, RHP Greg Aquino, LHP Ryan Edell and RHP Ed Mujica.

Juan Salas will make his debut today for sure.

Finally. I'd like to mention this rather important piece of news. I'll be a part of the Indians team headed up by MVN/Seamhead's Michael Taylor over at Baseball Digest's new online website. BD is fresh off it's launch so check it out. El-Blogo isn't going anywhere though. I'll still be making your lives a living hell.

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