CLEVELAND — It is not a platoon situation in left field for the Indians. It is an “Acta” situation.
“By being the manager and playing whoever I want,” said Indians manager Manny Acta on how he would decide on his starter in left field on a day-to-day basis between right-handed hitting Austin Kearns and left-handed hitting Travis Buck. “We’ll go more by matchups. We’re going to see Buck but it’s not a straight platoon situation. They’re going to share time over there.”
With Grady Sizemore mending from microfracture surgery, Michael Brantley shifted to center field, while Kearns entered spring training as the projected starter in left.
An impressive spring training performance from Buck, not only won him a job as an extra outfielder, but it propelled him into the picture in left with Kearns. The Indians most likely want to see what Buck can do with a decision to be made on a roster spot once Sizemore is activated.
If Buck proves he is worth keeping, another utility player, infielder/outfielder Shelley Duncan’s roster spot is most likely in jeopardy.
Grady gab
Sizemore played seven innings Tuesday for Triple-A Columbus, going 0-for-4 with a run in an exhibition game against The Ohio State University at the Clippers’ Huntington Park.
Sizemore is expected to begin a minor league rehab assignment with Double-A Akron on Thursday, but Acta said there is still no exact timetable for his return.
“It’s more about building him up to be able to play nine innings,” Acta said. “It’s not a certain amount of at-bats. It’s building up his stamina, really, so when he does come up, we don’t have to deal with that stuff.”
Sizemore has predicted that he will return before May.
Reliever Joe Smith (strained abdominal) also appeared in the exhibition game in Columbus, pitching a scoreless inning without allowing a hit and striking out one.
The right-hander will join Sizemore in Akron on Thursday and could be activated the following week.
Bonus bat
Defensive-minded third baseman Jack Hannahan brought his hot bat from Arizona.
One of the Indians’ top offensive producers this spring, Hannahan, a career .224 hitter in two-plus seasons in the big leagues, batted .364 (4-for-11) with a home run and three RBIs over the first three games.
He has been flawless in the field.
“Whatever Jack brings to the table offensively, we’ll take it. It’s a bonus,” Acta said. “We just really wanted a guy who could pick it at third base and help our pitchers.”
Cold front
It has been chilly for all four of the Indians’ season-opening games at Progressive Field — 42 degrees at first pitch Tuesday — but Acta isn’t complaining, and doesn’t think anyone else should, either.
“It’s been this way for 100 years in baseball at this time of the year,” Acta said. “It’s never easy but you figure it’s equal. You might as well deal with it until summer shows up.”
Roundin’ third
Entering Tuesday, the Indians led the American League with 17 runs after the fifth inning. … Three of Cleveland’s four minor league affiliates — Columbus, Akron and Single-A Lake County — begin their regular seasons Thursday. Advanced Class A Kinston opens Friday. … Tonight, 7:05, STO/WTAM 1100-AM/WEOL 930-AM. Talbot (first start) vs. Matsuzaka (first start).
Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. Fan him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.
