The Indians don’t expect to have star shortstop Francisco Lindor back until at least the end of April, president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti revealed in a radio appearance on WTAM 1100 this afternoon (Twitter link via WKYC-TV’s Nick Camino). Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer tweets that Lindor has been diagnosed with a “mild” high left ankle sprain and won’t resume running for another week to 10 days. The Indians are expected to provide a more concrete timetable on Lindor’s return as soon as tomorrow, Hoynes noted earlier.
Lindor’s injury troubles began in February when the team announced that a calf strain would shelve him for seven to nine weeks, thus putting his availability for Opening Day in jeopardy. The 25-year-old appeared to have a chance to return on the low end of that timetable, but the team announced just prior to Opening Day that Lindor had incurred a new ankle injury in a baserunning mishap during a game on March 26.
The absence of Lindor, one of baseball’s premier all-around talents, is a brutal blow to an Indians lineup that has looked punchless thus far in the young season. Cleveland opened the 2019 campaign with Eric Stamets and Brad Miller lined up in the middle infield, Roberto Perez behind the plate and bounceback hopeful Hanley Ramirez at designated hitter.
Cleveland still has the dangerous Jose Ramirez near the top of the batting order, but they’ve struck out at a 32.6 percent clip as a team and plated just 10 runs through their first four games. Obviously, that’s a microscopic sample and not cause for panic, but the lack of proven bats around the diamond for the Indians is nevertheless glaring. With Lindor sidelined, they’ll need some combination of Jake Bauers, Tyler Naquin, Carlos Santana and the elder Ramirez to step up in the middle portion of the order. It’s possible that longtime Rockies slugger Carlos Gonzalez, currently with the Indians’ Triple-A affiliate, could also emerge as a candidate to join the big league roster.
Offensive question marks aside, Cleveland’s brilliant rotation and a generally weak division should still keep the club in the playoff mix. Cleveland is also fortunate to face a light schedule this month, with the only matchups against expected contenders coming in the form of a three-game set against the Braves from April 19-21 and a four-game set in Houston from April 25-28. Beyond those two series, the Indians will face the Blue Jays, Tigers, Royals, Mariners and Marlins this month.
He is fun to watch, sucks that he got hurt. Bad for baseball when stars aren’t healthy.
Sucks for my fantasy team too
Geeze Louise,
Every team seems to have the Domino effect.
It just never used to be like that. Do they exercise or not, what are the trainers doing?
Well I wasn’t finished, lol, wanted to edit. oh geeze!
Really? In a 162 game season guys will get hurt, especially run fast and stepping on an elevated object like a base while they’re to round a 90 degree turn.
Don’t think we are even close to 7 games.
So players are only able to get injured much later in the season, not playing a summer game in winter weather, ok….
@Polish
I don’t think you understand
Goto’s point. You are very
angry about a fact based
post.
Indians have good training staff and excellent Cleveland based medical. That makes for surprise when player of Lindor type greatness seems for to be rushed back to field. Reinjury before full heal is what causes long term, sometimes life long, linger problem.
Yoda explains injuries.
Yoda would be clearer.
Explains Yoda, yes do he…..
Will the Twins do anything with this April advantage?
Without lindor I don’t think there’s much of a gap between those two clubs. Cleveland has a clear rotation advantage and The twins have a clear offensive advantage. If this is an injury that nags all season or costs him anymore time than this I wouldn’t be surprised if the twins edge them out.
Totally depends on their SP’s not named Berrios. Falvey did a good job adding bats in the offseason, but FAILED to land the 1 “make a difference” SP that’s needed to make a serious run for the division title
It’s possible Cargo could emerge as a candidate? I think it’s guaranteed he’ll be on this team as soon as possible
He’s not in the middle of the lineup. When he comes back he is in the leadoff spot. Do your research!
He doesn’t lead off, more in the 2, 3 or 4 hole which would be middle of the order.
Actually he does. Solidified the lead off spot last season.