MESA, Ariz. — Close to two weeks after general manager Chris Antonetti said it was unlikely that Grady Sizemore would be ready for opening day, manager Manny Acta disputed that notion a bit.
“It’s not a foregone conclusion,” Acta said Thursday prior to the Indians’ 2-1 loss to the Cubs in Mesa, Ariz., “not until we see him on the field, so we can gauge how many at-bats he needs to get ready.”
At the start of camp, Sizemore (microfracture surgery left knee) was limited to agility drills and batting practice. But according to head trainer Lonnie Soloff, the three-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove award winner has increased the intensity of his agility drills and began participating in outfield activities last week.
Soloff said Sizemore would start running the bases this weekend.
Sizemore isn’t expected to begin playing in exhibition games until the third week of March, which despite Acta’s hopes, would make it unlikely that he would be ready by the start of the regular season.
Pleading the 5th
Acta said the candidates for the fifth spot in the rotation — Josh Tomlin, Jeanmar Gomez and David Huff — would each make one more start before he dwindles the field to two pitchers.
Tomlin has posted a 1.80 ERA in two exhibition appearances (five innings). Gomez, who pitched three scoreless innings Thursday and struck out three, owns a 4.91 ERA in three games (7 1/3 innings). Huff, Cleveland’s fourth starter last year, has a 5.14 ERA in three outings (seven innings).
Donald returns
As expected, Jason Donald returned to the lineup, starting at third base and playing six innings.
Donald, who missed five games after getting hit by a pitch against the White Sox, went 1-for-2, collecting the Indians’ first hit in the third, and made two plays in the field.
“He looked good,” Acta said. “He swung the bat well. We’ll get him back out there (today).”
Overloaded?
The Indians have a number of veterans in camp, including Shelley Duncan, Travis Buck, Adam Everett and Jack Hanahan. Not all of them are expected to make the club, but Acta likes having options.
“That’s depth,” he said. “Last year, we were hurt big time when those three guys (Sizemore, Asdrubal Cabrera and Carlos Santana) got hurt. We had to summon those kids from Triple-A that we didn’t feel were ready yet.”
Coming soon
Acta said Chad Huffman (right hamstring) would be available today after going through a full workout Thursday.
Huffman, who was claimed off waivers from the Yankees in the offseason, is in the mix to win the extra outfield spot.
Roundin’ third
Though the game was played in a National League park, the Cubs allowed the Indians to use a designated hitter. … Former Indians closer Kerry Wood, now with the Cubs, caught the ceremonial first pitch from the daughter of Cubs legend Ron Santo. Santo died Dec. 3. Wood pitched an inning against his former team, allowing a base hit to Buck before striking out the next three batters. … Today, 3:05 vs. Mariners at Goodyear Ballpark, WTAM 1100-AM (delay 7 p.m.). Mitch Talbot (0-0, 27.00) vs. RHP Michael Pineda (0-0, 0.00).
Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.
