CLEVELAND – Is there an issue with the pitcher’s mound at Progressive Field? The Indians don’t think so, but they might get an argument from some of their opponents.
For the second time in a week, an opposing pitcher – Wednesday’s Mets starter Jon Niese — complained about the mound, ushering Cleveland’s grounds crew on the field to repair his front-foot landing area.
In the series finale with Washington on Sunday, Nationals phenom Stephen Strasburg had similar issues, calling the grounds crew onto the field for assistance on two separate occasions.
It’s enough to make grounds crew chief Brandon Koehnke’s head spin.
“I think it’s an individual thing,” said Indians manager Manny Acta. “We haven’t had any of our guys stop the game and complain about it. I think our grounds crew has done a tremendous job. It may be that some guys just have longer strides than other guys.”
Left-hander David Huff, Strasburg’s counterpart Sunday, also went to bat for the grounds crew when asked if he had a problem with the mound.
“Absolutely not,” Huff said. “I think we have one of the best grounds crews in baseball. You’d have to ask (Strasburg). I don’t what his problem was.”
But Mitch Talbot, who started against Niese on Wednesday, had a different take.
“It’s kind of weird, but if a guy’s not feeling comfortable (on the mound), I don’t blame him,” Talbot said. “I probably would have done the same thing.”
First and foremost
Trevor Crowe missed his second straight game with a bruised right knee, but Acta said the center fielder was available to pinch hit and that he anticipated him returning to the lineup tonight.
Austin Kearns played center for the second straight night, while shortstop Jason Donald hit leadoff. Donald is one of five different players to bat in the first spot for the Indians this season.
“Our leadoff options (Asdrubal Cabrera and Grady Sizemore) are on the DL and Crowe follows them and he’s not in the lineup,” Acta said. “So, basically, that’s what it is. It’s tough to find a team that is five-deep in the leadoff spot.”
Pronk-less point
Acta confirmed that Travis Hafner would not play first base in Cleveland’s upcoming interleague road games, meaning the designated hitter will be relegated to a pinch-hitting role over the next nine games.
“It would be unfair to try to give him a million ground balls over there to get him ready,” said Acta of Hafner, who has not taken fielding practice at first all season, nor played there in a big league game since 2007. “He hasn’t worked at first base and he’s coming back from that shoulder surgery.”
Acta said he would make an effort to keep Hafner’s timing down in the National League parks.
“What we’re going to try to do is get him an at-bat every single day,” Acta said.
Perfect practice
In preparation for the interleague road games, Indians pitchers and infielders practiced bunt situations prior to Thursday’s game.
“I just want to make sure guys are aware that we are going to be playing in the National League and we’re going to see a lot of bunt plays,” Acta said.
The Indians didn’t handle bunt situations well in the series opener with the Mets on Tuesday, failing to cover first on one bunt and committing an error on another.
Next up
The Indians start a nine-game interleague road swing with a three-game series in Pittsburgh that begins tonight at 7:05.
Fausto Carmona (5-5, 3.23 ERA) opens the set for Cleveland, opposing LHP Paul Maholm (4-4, 3.63).
Huff (2-8, 5.82) will go for the Indians on Saturday (7:05 p.m.) against RHP Jeff Karstens (1-2, 4.50), while Justin Masterson (2-6, 5.02) starts Sunday (1:35 p.m.), the Pirates countering with RHP Brad Lincoln (0-1, 7.50).
Minor details
The Indians’ minor-league affiliates owned the second-best record in baseball (160-119) through Wednesday, trailing only San Francisco (168-113). Entering Thursday, Cleveland and Seattle were the only big league teams with all of their minor-league affiliates sporting records above .500.
Roundin’ third
The Indians signed their 12th-round draft pick, Tyler Cannon, a shortstop out of the University of Virginia. They also signed non-drafted free agent Casey Gaynor, a RHP out of Rutgers. Cleveland has signed 10 of their 50 draft picks but none of its top 10 selections. … Tonight, 7:05, STO/WTAM 1100-AM/WEOL 930-AM.
Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.
