Indians right-hander Carlos Carrasco has been slowed by inflammation in his right elbow (and, earlier, a hip flexor strain) this spring. And while an MRI confirmed that Carrasco is not dealing with any structural damage, president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti told reporters today that it could be a “stretch” for Carrasco to be ready for Opening Day (Twitter thread via Mandy Bell of MLB.com). Carrasco will be held back from throwing for a few more days.
It’s mixed news for Indians fans, as nothing from Antonetti’s comments suggested that Carrasco is expected to require a significant absence. But the Cleveland organization already has Mike Clevinger on the shelf as he recovers from surgery to repair a partial meniscus tear, and this winter’s slate of rule changes upped the minimum IL stint for pitchers from 10 days back to 15 days. If Carrasco is indeed placed on the injured list, that stint can still be backdated up to three days, but he’d be looking at missing at least the first dozen days of the 2020 campaign.
With Clevinger and Carrasco perhaps both sitting on the IL to begin the season, the Indians will likely give 2019 breakout righty Shane Bieber the Opening Day nod. He’d be followed by a quartet of relatively inexperienced arms: Aaron Civale, Zach Plesac, Adam Plutko and Logan Allen. (Civale has been bothered by a groin issue himself, though Antonetti indicated today that he’s expected to be ready for the opener.)
The Indians’ rotation is in somewhat of a transitional state — at least as pertains to the final couple of slots. Each of Bieber (controlled through 2024), Clevinger (controlled through 2022) and Carrasco (signed through 2023) should be locks for the next few years, health permitting. However, two of Civale, Plesac, Allen, Plutko and prospects Triston McKenzie and Scott Moss will likely be counted on to eventually seize permanent starting jobs. Viewed through that lens, even brief absences for the club’s top arms early in the season could serve as a continued audition for many arms the organization hopes will emerge as core pieces.
That’s alright, because opening day is also questionable.
NBA, NFL, MLB, Japanese league and KBO… who’s next ?
CPBL too
Austin’s enormous two-week SXSW (“South by Southwest”) Film and Music Festival has been cancelled. Huge blow. Loss of hundreds of millions in revenue.
Does MLB cancel season? Delay season and Play a shortened season? Play all games in Arizona Florida where weather is hot and they have a fanbase then move up north to home parks in May June? Play empty parks but still get tv money which is most important? A lot of possible solutions.
Me personally since I have been old enough to know I don’t touch anything I have to. I will open doors with feet or elbow and pinky finger as a last resort. Wash my hands before I eat anything. Tens of thousands die from the flu, heck I don’t even want to catch a cold. But sitting so close in large numbers increases chance of getting sick. Some lil brat coughing and sneezing on you. If there is a season teams should buy back tickets for fans who decide it is too risky to attend the games. If not I can see lots of lawsuits.
probably just a delay first. even if they expect to cancel in the end that’s probably the best policy.
Wrestlemania in Tampa
Francona already announced Bieber as the opening day starter last Friday.
While he hasn’t impressed this spring or in his final starts of last season, I imagine Jefry is still in consideration for starts despite being low in the depth chart and while likely playing the role of swingman.
of course he is. by the time opening day gets here, I’m sure a couple more names will get hurt
That’s part of the game bro
It’s insane how many starters have gone down before the season started. This has to be unprecedented; whether teams are just getting continually more cautious or it truly has been an anomaly is difficult to discern, but it’s noteworthy nonetheless.
Personally, I’d rather see them cancel games completely rather than play them in empty stadiums. This COVID-19 issue is going to get worse before it gets better, so there’s a good chance most MLB games will be played in front of no fans for the foreseeable future (through April at least). If it wasn’t for the tv revenue, I’m sure owner would prefer the games get cancelled too as there must be a sizable cost to opening and staffing the park even if no fans are allowed in.
No cancellations. Play the games. Offer mlb.tv at a bargain rate and let everyone watch on there, while giving regular subscribers a partial refund.
That would only work if they also dropped their blackout restrictions. Otherwise nobody who would’ve gone to the game will be able to watch the game on MLB..TV
Agreed just cancel the first 4-6 weeks of the season. It’s already too long. Moving games, not allowing fans doesn’t seem like the answer.
Love this thread! Great ideas and right on point.
The Indians should have a promotional “cookie” day. First 10,000 fans through the gate get a cookie that looks like Carlos Carrascos face.
I like the idea…..but that cookie would last about 10 seconds, less if it’s chocolate chip.
Plesac looked good last year. I don’t see him as a ?. They have a handful of talented young pitchers. You would think 1 of them can pitch to a 4 or 5 something era and be a 5th starter. Indians are one of the best ran teams, I have total confidence they will be alright.
If MLB plays games this season with no fans allowed in the stadiums, it will just help prove that ticket sales are only a small part of team revenue. And it will be all the more laughable that people defend the Dolan’s cheapness with attendance numbers.
The real money is made from TV and radio contracts, not attendance.
Owners have speculated for years now that they don’t need anyone at all in attendance to make huge money.
They might break even with no fans. Depends on the team. I am not doing the research or math for exact numbers but Rays generate around 50 million from attendance, Cards 250 million, Yankees Dodgers 300 to 400 million. Basically the more people who attend your games and more expensive ticket prices are determines how much ticket sales matter.
I dunno about playing in empty parks. The players still get paid, are they going to take less salary since teams are making less money? I don’t think so.
I wonder if as many people will watch the games on TV when there are no fans in the stadiums.
Deciding if I should keep Carrasco in my keeper league. I have him at $20. If I don’t I take a $5 penalty in cap space, but it would also net me $15 in cap space. Since he’d be off the books.