GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Carlos Carrasco already has a new baby daughter. By the end of spring training, he’ll have a new job as well.

Carrasco

For the first time in his professional career, Carrasco, one of the gems from the Cliff Lee trade with the Phillies, will open the season as a full-time member of a starting major league rotation.

After watching an impressive stint from the 24-year-old right-hander in 2010, Cleveland manager Manny Acta is eagerly anticipating Carrasco’s arrival.

“I think Carlos is an exciting guy to watch,” Acta said of the Venezuelan-born pitcher, who went 2-2 with a 3.38 ERA in seven starts for the Indians last year. “I think Carlos has the potential to be one of the finer arms in the American League.

“We expect big things from Carlos this year.”

Thanks to his performance on the big league level and a solid effort at Triple-A Columbus (10-6, 3.65 ERA, 25 starts) last season, Carrasco came to training camp with secured spot in the Cleveland rotation. Unlike the threesome of Josh Tomlin, Jeanmar Gomez and David Huff, Carrasco did not have to win a job.

“As a player, I’m much better than I was last year, and more confident, but I think that’s natural,” said Carrasco, who endured a rough road during his debut season in the big leagues, when he went 0-4 with an 8.87 ERA in five starts in 2009. “You can say I’m more established, but my goal is the same as last year, to get better.”

It’s been an up-and-down exhibition season for Carrasco, who left the team for the birth of his daughter Camilia, following his first appearance of the spring.

In five starts, Carrasco is 0-2 with a 7.56 ERA.

What’s been a bit alarming is his tendency to give up the long ball. Carrasco has allowed a team-high six home runs in 16 2/3 exhibition innings, two apiece in his last two outings. He was the starter in the Indians’ 8-7 win over the Royals on Wednesday at Goodyear Ballpark, allowing six earned runs on nine hits and two walks in just 4 1/3 innings.

Getting taken deep was a problem during his seven-start stint in Cleveland last year as well. He surrendering six homers over 44 2/3 innings.

Acta, however, is focusing on the positives he saw from his pitcher in 2010.

“He pitched brilliant for us last year in six of those seven starts,” he said. “I don’t care how many home runs he gave up. As long as Carlos keeps the ball down, he’s going to be fine.”

Carrasco is also choosing to concentrate on what he believes will be a positive future.

“I feel I am able to be more focused on the job I have to do,” he said. “I’m not worried about the other stuff. Knowing a team believes in you makes a big difference.”

Back out there

Grady Sizemore (microfracture surgery left knee) played in a minor league game at Goodyear, going 1-for-3 with a walk against the White Sox’s Triple-A team.

On his single, Sizemore stretched it into two bases when Chicago’s left fielder bobbled the ball.

“It was a pretty good test for Grady today,” Acta said. “He had to stop and go and he took the extra base without an issue. Those are things you can’t anticipate or practice. That was good to see.”

“I had some good ABs,” Sizemore said. “I still feel a little uncomfortable in there. It’s going to take some time.”

Sizemore is expected to play center field for the second time Saturday against the Giants at Goodyear Ballpark (10:05 p.m.).

If there are no setbacks, Sizemore said he thought he would make his regular season debut before May.
“It all depends on how I feel,” he said.

Acta said there is no timetable for Sizemore’s first big league game.

“I want him back as soon as possible, as long as it meets our medical parameters.”

Opening line

The Indians announced that the April 1 season opener at Progressive Field (3:05 p.m.) against the White Sox is sold out.

During the pregame festivities, a special tribute will honor Indians legend Bob Feller, who passed away Dec. 15, 2010.

The Indians will honor Feller all season long by wearing special patches on all of their game uniforms with his famous leg kick windup and No. 19.

Also, SportsTime Ohio announced that it will broadcast a public memorial service for Feller at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Cleveland Heights, March 31, at 11 a.m. STO will replay the broadcast at 6 p.m.

Baseball social

New at Progressive Field this year will be a Social Suite that caters only to social media users, replacing the social media site last year that was located in the bleachers.

The Indians will also offer ticket discounts available only to Facebook and Twitter users.

Team President Mark Shapiro and general manager Chris Antonetti have joined Acta on Twitter.

Roundin’ third

• Acta said he would announce his final starting pitcher today from a field of Josh Tomlin, Jenmar Gomez and David Huff, and the order of the rotation.
• The Indians signed left-hander Jesse English to a minor league contract Thursday. English, a 27-year-old reliever, appeared in seven games for Washington last year (0-0, 3.86 ERA), spending the majority of 2010 at Triple-A Syracuse, where he went 2-1 with a 5.03 ERA in 19 games, before undergoing season-ending surgery to remove bone chips from his left elbow.
• The Indians are expected to announce another round of cuts today.
• Today, 4:05 vs. Brewers at Maryvale Baseball Park (Maryvale, Ariz.), no television or radio. Mitch Talbot (1-0, 7.94) vs. Chris Narveson (0-0, 6.48).

Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.

By Ann Sanner

COLUMBUS — College students might think their dining hall food tastes like prison grub. In Ohio, that could become reality.

Looking for ways to save money, the state’s correction department and Ohio State University are exploring whether to buy food jointly and in bulk.

Sure, not all the dining options of prison and college are identical. Sushi isn’t served in the slammer; it is on campus.

But despite the prison grub reputation in popular culture as slop slapped on a plate, food served behind bars and on campuses may not be all that different now.

Tacos, pasta and pizza are dished out in the cafeterias of prisons and the university alike, with some overlapping ingredients even though the recipes probably differ.

That’s a menu lineup that stands in contrast to the images in Ohio State senior Ben Wallace’s head — though the 23-year-old biology major admits his knowledge of prison meals comes from the movie “The Shawshank Redemption.”

“I would just imagine that it’s more canned food and stuff that’s preserved,” said Wallace, of Findlay.

Budget woes have cash-strapped states such as Ohio searching for extra bucks. In Connecticut, the governor has proposed a budget that raises taxes on everything from personal income to haircuts. Florida’s governor wants to reduce fees paid to Medicare providers such as hospitals and nursing homes.

Still, inmates and students at one of the nation’s largest universities noshing on the same eats?

It’s possible, Ohio State spokeswoman Shelly Hoffman said. “But eggs are eggs, milk is milk, bread is bread,” she said.

No other states have prisons and universities buying food together or considering such plans, as far as the National Conference of State Legislatures knows.

Ohio State and the prison system are in the early stages of drafting a proposal, so it’s unknown which foods they could buy together. But both parties contend that a purchasing partnership wouldn’t make the meals less tasty or snacks less savory.

“It’ll change how much we spend on it,” Hoffman said. “It would not change quality.”

New Republican Gov. John Kasich wants to sell five state prisons to private operators. He also is proposing to cap university tuition increases at 3.5 percent, leading the schools to look for other ways to shore up money.

The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction could save $2 million a year by jointly buying its food with Ohio State University and changing its menus, spokesman Carlo LoParo said.

Until the proposal is completed, Hoffman said, it’s difficult for the university to know its savings. The school doesn’t anticipate slashing food prices as a result of any savings. Any extra dollars would go back into its “academic mission,” Hoffman said.

The idea was one of more than 1,000 suggestions made when the prison system asked its staff for ways to save money, LoParo said.

“We thought it was a good idea,” he said. “We explored it, and indeed we can.”

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — This is the new start Travis Buck was looking for.

“Baseball’s fun again,” said Buck, who is in camp with the Indians, attempting to win a job as an extra outfielder, following an unceremonious ending to his tenure with the Oakland A’s. “I feel like a little kid out there. The last couple years baseball was not fun. I dreaded going to the field, the numbers weren’t there and I was hurt all the time.

“I’ve been through this whole camp and have not had one negative thought. It’s so positive. This is a great place for me to be. It’s definitely showing.”

On a different team and with a new mindset, Buck, whom the Indians signed to a free-agent minor league contract this offseason, has flourished in his new environment.

The 27-year-old Buck has been arguably Cleveland’s top offensive player this spring, batting .435 (20-for-46) with four home runs and 12 RBIs in 16 exhibition games. He leads the Indians in virtually every offensive category, including homers, RBIs, hits, doubles (4), runs (12) and total bases (36). Only Lonnie Chisenhall, the top prospect in the organization, has a higher batting average and slugging percentage.

“Obviously the hard work is paying off,” said Buck, who was not in the lineup Wednesday after hitting two homers Tuesday in Cleveland’s 7-3 win over the Diamondbacks in Scottsdale, Ariz. “I’ve done a lot of work in the cages, trying to perfect my swing. It’s definitely very encouraging to see the results.”

The exhibition performance has thrust Buck to the forefront of his race with Shelley Duncan, Chad Huffman and Ezequiel Carrera for the extra outfielder spot on the 25-man roster. If Buck hasn’t already won the job, it would be more than a surprise.

“I’m not really looking toward that,” Buck said. “I’m just going to go out there and play my game every single day and kind of let the chips fall where they may. That’s the one thing I’ve learned, to never be satisfied.

“I’ve kind of relaxed in the past and have seen things take a completely different turn. There’s no letting up from here on out for the rest of my career.”

After a banner season during his rookie year (2007) with the A’s — .288, seven homers and 34 RBIs in 82 games — things turned sour for Buck in Oakland.

Injuries forced him onto the disabled list in each of the past three seasons, with his production plummeting as well.

He played in a total of 74 games from 2008-09 and just 14 last year, with his batting average climbing no higher than .226 in any of the three seasons.

“It all came together as one,” said Buck, who was released by the A’s after opening the season on the big league roster in each of his four years in Oakland. “Things going on there really screwed with my mind. I learned how powerful the mind was. The nagging injuries I had were caused by so much stress that I was putting on myself and the environment I was in.

“Ever since Day 1 over here, I dropped all the baggage at the door.”

With his down days in Oakland behind him, Buck is focusing on his future. It might include wearing an Indians uniform in the regular season opener, April 1 at Progressive Field.

“This is a new beginning,” Buck said. “It’s a new organization. Seeing how I’m feeling, the play is speaking for itself.”

It’s a safe bet that the Indians are listening.

Back to business

Grady Sizemore will return to the field today, serving as the designated hitter in a minor league game in Goodyear.

Manager Manny Acta said Sizemore, who is expected to play every other day until the end of spring training, will get at least five at-bats in the minor league game.

Looking good

Carlos Santana played first base for the third time Wednesday in the Indians’ 8-7 victory over the Royals at Goodyear Ballpark. He showed no effects from offseason knee surgery, stealing a base and legging out a triple during a 2-for-3 performance.

“The first thing I thought was, ‘nice surgery,’” Acta said. “If that’s not proof that he’s done with his rehab, I don’t know what is.”

Santana, who is expected to bat third in the order, is hitting .308 (12-for-39) with four doubles, a homer and five RBIs in 14 exhibition games.

Roundin’ third

Indians starter Justin Masterson and relievers Chris Perez and Tony Sipp will pitch in minor league game today in Goodyear. … Tonight, 10:05 vs. Giants at Scottsdale Stadium (Scottsdale, Ariz.), WTAM 1100-AM (live). David Huff (1-1, 8.25) vs. Barry Zito (2-0, 2.30 ERA).

Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.

INDIANS (12-11-2) 8, ROYALS (14-10-1) 7

HITS: Michael Brantley, Shin-Soo Choo, Carlos Santana and Luis Valbuena all had multihit games. Choo had three hits, including an RBI single that tied the game at seven in Cleveland’s three-run eighth inning. … Reliever Tony Sipp got the win after pitching a scoreless ninth inning and striking out two of the three batters he faced. … Prospect Cord Phelps produced the game-winning hit with an RBI triple in the the ninth that scored pinch runner Jack Hannahan.

MISSES: Carlos Carrasco’s fifth exhibition start did not end well. After allowing just a run over four innings, the right-hander surrendered five in the fifth, as the Royals forged ahead. He pitched for the cycle and allowed a pair of home runs. … Lou Marson went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts and is batting .160 (4-for-25) with seven strikeouts in 13 games.

MANAGER’S MOMENT: “Carlos started well, but he kind of hit a wall in that fifth inning,” Acta said. “He was up in the zone and they hit him.”

ATTENDANCE: 2,762 at Goodyear Ballpark.