Inbox: How will Damon fit in with Tribe? Beat reporter Jordan Bastian answers fans' questions By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com | 04/16/12 1:00 PM ET Every year, the early-season "on pace for" stats always amuse me. It can be fun to throw sample size out the window and imagine for a moment that Jack Hannahan was on pace for 162 home runs and 486 RBIs after his performance on Opening Day.

Better yet, Casey Kotchman was on pace for a .000 batting average with 162 RBIs one game into the season. So what if he never got a all year. I'm pretty sure the Indians would have been happy with that type of production.

So when the Indians headed out on their current three-city tour of Kansas City, Seattle and Oakland, it was both fair and unfair to express concern over the Tribe's .176 team batting average. Was there cause for concern? Definitely. But was it right to pound the panic button and step onto the ledges in downtown Cleveland? Hardly.

Now, here we are. Cleveland is three games deeper in the schedule and has raised its team average a whopping 64 points thanks to a weekend sweep of the Royals. The Indians hit .333 (40-for-120) as a team and scored 32 runs after managing 20 in their first five games of the year. The Tribe scored at least eight runs in its first three road games of a season for the first time in team history.

Just like that, the Indians are on pace for 1,053 runs this season.

Here's the latest Indians Inbox...

With the signing of , which Tribe will most likely get designated for assignment or sent down to the Minors to clear room on the roster? Also, when Damon joins the team, will he most likely be in a platoon role in left field in which he bats against righties, or will he have the job all to himself? -- Alex K., Independence, Ohio

First things first, a disclaimer: The Indians' signing of free-agent Johnny Damon is not yet official. That said, Cleveland has indeed reached an agreement with the outfielder on a one-year contract, and the deal should be officially announced in the next day or two.

When Damon does arrive -- it could be late April or early May, depending on how much time he needs to get game ready -- the top candidates to be removed from the roster seem to be outfielder Aaron Cunningham or utility infielder Jose Lopez. Cunningham is currently the fourth outfielder, and Lopez is a backup for first, second and third base, as well as .

The reason I'm listing both of them as candidates right now is due to the fact that Cunningham is the current backup for Michael Brantley. If the Indians aren't confident that Jason Donald can serve as a backup in center -- he's an infielder by trade -- than the team might choose to keep Cunningham in the fold.

Under that scenario, Lopez would appear to be the most vulnerable. With Damon in the mix, Shelley Duncan would likely become a part-timer in left field, as well as a backup for first base and DH. Donald can also serve as a backup for second base, and third base. That makes Lopez the most expendable in terms of having defensive positions covered.

If Duncan is hitting extremely well upon Damon's arrival, I could see it starting off as a platoon situation in left field. That said, the lefty-hitting Damon actually hit better against lefties (.277) than righties (.255) in 2011. Over the past three seasons, however, Damon's splits against lefties (.274) and righties (.270) are pretty even.

I could also see a scenario where Damon becomes the regular in left field, if Duncan is struggling offensively when the veteran outfielder joins the team. Cleveland has loved having Duncan in a bench role over the past two years, and the ballclub knows he could handle such a role again if it came down to it upon Damon's arrival.

Why doesn't Duncan get any respect? Acquiring Damon will most likely reduce Duncan's time on the field, and at this early stage of the season, he is the Tribe's best bat. It must be impossible to shake the bench or platoon label. Why? -- Dan. M., Huntington Beach, Calif.

As of this writing, Duncan was hitting .320 with two home runs and six RBIs in Cleveland's first eight games this season. It's a small sample size, but it's also a continuation of the strong September Duncan had when finally given a regular role. If he continues to hit this well, the Indians will do what they can to keep him in the lineup.

Given the high volume of lefties in the starting lineup, Duncan is valuable as a right-handed bat capable of providing some power. He can get playing time in left field, or can spell a player at first base of DH, too. As noted in the previous answer, I doubt Duncan would be yanked out of a starting role if he was one of the Tribe's hottest bats at the time of Damon's arrival.

Damon even said in a recent interview that he would not expect to take playing time away from Duncan if he is still one of the team's top offensive performers. Adding a veteran bat like Damon doesn't hurt, but Cleveland isn't going to mess with something that's working just to squeeze him in the lineup. It's up to Duncan to make the decision difficult for the Indians. Would a long-term contract for starter Justin Masterson be something the Indians look at this season? -- Adian G., Bordentown, N.J.

The Indians explored a multiyear contract with Masterson's camp during , but the sides were unable to align on terms. As of right now, the sides have put the talks on hold. Under the circumstances, I'd expect the Indians and Masterson's representatives to wait to see what kind of year the right-hander has as a follow-up to his breaking 2011 showing before continuing negotiations.

I am concerned that Masterson is not a starting because of one thing: his sidearm delivery. Lefty hitters see the ball better than righty hitters. Will pitching coach Scott Radinsky have Masterson alter the delvery? -- Kristin J., San Diego

The Indians are not going to have Masterson change his pitching style at this point in his career. He was a workhorse last season, and turned in one of the best seasons among starters. He is working on improving against lefties, but the sinkerballer is so dominant against right-handed hitters that the level of concern is not extreme right now. Masterson proved that he was a solid starting pitcher last season, and he will be in that role for the forseeable future for the Tribe.

Are the Indians getting an unfair shake when it comes to hit batsmen? It seems like they always are getting the warnings and the ejections (and suspensions) while teams are free to hit Shin-Soo Choo whenever they like. Where are the ejections and suspensions for the other teams? -- Tim T., Richmond Heights, Ohio

I'm assuming you're referring to Saturday's events in Kansas City. Warnings were issued after Royals lefty Jonathan Sanchez hit Choo with a pitch, so the next incident was naturally going to warrant the greater punishment. When Jeanmar Gomez hit K.C.'s with a pitch, it made sense for Gomez and to earn ejections. As for the ejection to Hannahan, well, go back and watch the footage. I think the umpires were justified in getting him out of the ballgame out of fear of the Royals possibly retaliating further during his next at-bat. The umpires are simply trying to control the situation at that point, and I have no issue with how it was handled.

After watching the first few games of Yoenis Cespedes I really wish our Tribe could have signed him. The Indians were always on the list targeting him this offseason. Out of curiosity, just how much did the front office pursue him? Was it realistic for us? -- Jake F., Harrisonburg, Va.

I'm not sure the Indians were willing to put such an unproven prospect in their starting lineup immediately out of the gates, especially at the start of a season in which the Tribe expects to be a contender for the playoffs. And as strong as Cespedes has been so far, I'll be curious to see how he does in the second half, after learn and adjust to his approach at the plate.

In closing...

How long will everyone continue to refer to Roberto Hernandez as "The player formerly known as Fausto Carmona?" This has been a story for a few months. We get it. If the Indians are trying to get him back into the game and move beyond all of this, why doesn't everyone else? -- Jim M., Dallas

There is an old journalism rule that instructs the writer to assume the reader does not know the background to a story. That is why -- likely until Hernandez actually rejoins the team -- you will see reminders in print about his past. Besides, "Fausto Carmona" is such a cool-sounding name. We're not ready to let go of it just yet.

Indians notebook: Two-out production key to success By Sheldon Ocker KANSAS CITY, MO: Scoring with two outs is more than a luxury; it can be a necessity if a team is going to win enough games to contend for the postseason. Even in the first four games of the season, when the Indians scored a total of 14 runs, nine were driven in after there were two outs in the inning. The problem wasn’t a scarcity of two-out runs, but runs of any kind. Since then, the offense has come alive with 38 runs in the past four games, 19 scoring after the second out of the inning. The biggest rally of Sunday’s 13-7 win over the was the six-run third, when all the scoring came after two were out. Why was it the most significant rally of the game? Because it wiped out a three-run deficit and enabled the Indians to keep the lead for the duration. “Six runs after two outs was key for us,” Indians manager Manny Acta said. “And the way we did it was putting up good at-bats.” Outfielder Shelley Duncan thinks that two-out rallies depend at times on pitchers losing focus, believing that the job is done when it isn’t. “Two-out rallies are huge,” he said. “Sometimes pitchers will get two outs and let up a little. So if the next guy can put up a quality at-bat, he has a chance to start something.” Stressful punishment Acta hates being ejected. He was tossed out of Saturday night’s game in the third inning and was forced to watch the rest of the 11-9 win on television in his office or just out of sight in the tunnel leading to the dugout. “I was going crazy in the tunnel,” said Acta, who has been thrown out of seven games in his managerial career. “It’s not a good feeling.” Acta was ejected because after umpire Gary Darling warned both benches following Jonathan Sanchez’s to the knee of Shin-Soo Choo, Jeanmar Gomez retaliated by hitting Mike Moustakas the next inning. “I understand that’s the way it had to be,” Acta said. “But it’s bad, because you see every pitcher’s misses or you’re not getting calls. It’s very nerve-wracking. I’d rather be in the dugout.” Generation gap? Acta finds it mystifying that one minute players are trying to fight each other after someone is hit by a pitch, and the next minute they’re acting like friends. “They get so upset,” Acta said. “Then the same guys are hugging and kissing and laughing on the field. I still don’t get it.” Mistaken villain After Choo was hit by a pitch Saturday night, the Kauffman Stadium crowds booed him the rest of the weekend. “I can’t say anything about the fans,” Choo said. “Fans are fans. It’s OK.” Farm facts Lonnie Chisenhall and Trevor Crowe each had two doubles and Crowe added a , but Columbus lost to Louisville, 5-3, in -A. ... Anthony Gallas doubled twice and drove in a run, Jake Lowery had two hits and Jeremie Tice homered, but Carolina lost to Winston-Salem, 6- 5, in Class A. Akron Beacon Journal LOADED: 04.17.2012 the Farm: April 16, 2012 By Jim Pete Around the Farm takes a quick look at some of yesterday's performances by Indians prospects throughout the system. The positions listed below are where the player was playing in yesterday's game.

Lonnie Chisenhall: 3B, : 3-for-5, 1 R, 2 2B, 1 HR, 2 RBI:

Lonnie Chisenhall is hitting .380, with four homers, eight runs, five doubles, eight RBI, two walks and eight . He has a .404 OBP, and a 1.124 OPS after 12 games to start the international league season off for Columbus. Chiz has a four game hit streak going, with multiple hits in each game. During the four games, he’s gone 9-for-18, with three runs, four doubles, a homer and three RBI. Over his last seven games, he’s had six multi-hit games, and gone 14-for-27. Chisenhall is hitting the ball better than he has ever hit since joining the organization, and while it’s a small sample size, it’s a good sign that the third baseman is reacting to his demotion as the spring ended. Yeah, I know he has holes, but there comes a time when you just have to bring a guy up. If he keeps hitting like this, it will be sooner, rather than later. Let’s see if Chisenhall can maintain this hot start for a couple more weeks. If he does, things could get really interesting in Cleveland.

Trevor Crowe: LF, Columbus Clippers: 3-for-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 RBI, 1 K, 1 CS (3):

There are some that are absolutely sick and tired of seeing Crowe’s name caw-ing at them every night. Clearly, he could care a less. Clearly, he’s back. Tonight, Crowe continued his torrid pace to start the 2012 minor league season as though he were trying to show off two seasons in one, especially after missing most of the 2011 season due to injury. Crowe has two straight three-hit games, and three-strait multi-hit games in which he’s gone 8-for-11, with three runs, three doubles, a triple, an RBI, two walks and two K’s. Overall, the outfielder/DH is hitting .469, with a .553 OBP and a 1.396 OPS. Now, I’m not Aaron Cunningham, nor do I want to be at this point. Why? He has a Crowe breathing down his neck, and deservedly so. I’d say he’s ironed out the kinks.

Adam Abraham: DH, Akron Aeros: 2-for-3, 2 R, 1 BB:

There are flashier names in the system, nobody is a harder worker or a better professional than this guy. Abraham was the leader of last season’s Kinston Indians, who found their way into the championship game, even though they may not have been one of the top two teams in the league. Why? They were the hardest working team in the league, just like Abraham. This season, Abraham has permanently moved to first base/DH, from third base, and the Tribe is hoping that he can focus more on his offense. When he’s on, he’s a doubles machine. Tonight was his first multi-hit, multi-run game, but he may have started to come out of his opening season slump.

Matt LaPorta: DH, Columbus: 1-for-3, 2 BB, 2 K: The LaPorta watch continues, as the 1B/LF/DH has hit in nine of ten games. Justin Toole: SS, Columbus: 2-for-4, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 K: Little did we know that the only thing that Toole needed to do to start hitting was move up two levels to Triple A. In two starts, he’s gone 4-for-7. Of course, he was 4-for-5 in Carolina, so perhaps he’s just planning on hitting a ton wherever he goes. Kevin Slowey: SP, Columbus: L (1-2), 5 1/3 IP, 10 H, 6 R/ER, 3 BB, 5 K: This is two bad starts in a row for Slowey, who was brought in to be the fifth starter for the big league club. As it stands now, he may not be a top-3 starter to get a call-up should the Indians need to make a move for a starter. Hector Ambriz: RP, Columbus: 2 IP, 1 K: Ambriz gave up a run in his first outing, but in his last three, going 4 2/3 innings, his given up only one hit, and two walks, while striking out four. Not a big name, but one that could see some big league action this year. Jared Goedert: LF, Akron: 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 K: Out of nowhere, Goedert has put together a seven-game hit streak, with back-to-back two hit ballgames. Overall, he’s hitting .371 as a super-utility guy in Akron. He could be re-developing his game for another run at the bigs. Chin-Hsiu Chen: 1B, Akron: 3-for-4, 1 R, 1 2B: Chen has been lost in the shuffle since moving to first base, only hitting .250 on the season. I’m not sure he has enough offense to play first in the bigs, but perhaps Tribe management sees more than I do. It’s not like we have offensive juggernauts ahead of him. Ryan Rohlinger: 2B, Akron: 1-for-3, 1 R, 1 HR, 3 RBI: Rohlinger doesn’t look like a big power guy, but he’s hit -digit home runs in ever year in the minors since 2007. Bryce Stowell: RP, Akron: W (1-0), 3 IP, 2 H, 7 K: Yeah, Stowell is back. In three games so far this year, Stowell has gone five innings, giving up two hits without a walk, while striking out 11 total. Tonight, the power righty went three innings, showing that his arm is sound, and ready for promotion. Boy, this club is loaded with potential bullpen guys. Preston Guilmet: RP, Akron: 1 IP, 1 H, 1 R/ER, 1 HR: Guilmet has only made three appearances so far this season, and he’ll need more work to get rolling. This was the first run given up by the Aeros’ closer this season. Tyler Holt: CF, Carolina: 2-for-4, 1 R, 1 2B, 1 CS: Holt continues to put up numbers that scream for him to move up to Akron. I know that they are continuing to work on his approach at the plate, but he’s ready for the next step. He has been caught stealing four times this season so far, against only one . Jeremie Tice: DH, Carolina: 2-for-4, 1 2B, 2 RBI: Manager Edwin Martinez expects the Muddies DH to have a big offensive year, and Tice is starting to prove his manager right. He drove in the Mudcats only two runs tonight, and has a quiet three game hit streak going. Alex Monsalve: C, Lake County: 1-for-2, 1 R, 1 HR, 1 RBI, 2 BB: Monsalve finds himself back in ATF for a third straight night, with a modest three-game hit streak. He broke his multi-hit streak at two, but made up for it with his lone hit a long ball. He’s really working on his approach at the plate, walking for the seventh and eighth times tonight, against only six K’s all year. Felix Sterling: SP, Lake County: 6 IP, 2 H, 2 R/ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 1 HR: Sterling had another solid outing in his third start of the season. He still hasn’t given up more than two runs in a game, and appears to be settling into the season nicely. He did struggle finding the zone tonight with the three walks, but the Indians have to like what they see so far.

Aeros 6, Baysox 3

Looking at T.J. McFarland’s numbers in his two appearances, he isn’t piling up a lot of strikeouts. He doesn’t have to.

He’s just doing what a sinkerballer is supposed to do: Pound the strike zone and force weak grounders.

And he’s doing it about as well as anyone.

“He’s keeping the ball down and using his sinker … nothing really big. He’s just doing the little things really well,” manager Chris Tremie said. “He’s been good with his off-speed pitches, too. If he throws strikes like he is, he’ll be successful.”

McFarland is 2-0 with a 0.82 ERA and six strikeouts. No other pitcher in the Eastern League has an ERA equal to his with as many innings pitched (11).

He’s also leading the league’s best staff in ERA (2.05), a staff that has a great deal of experience at this level. McFarland is pitching well himself, and says a quality start can be contagious.

“I’ve been throwing strikes, getting after the hitters,” McFarland said. “As a team, we’ve played well, so I think that’s helped with us coming together. When you have that kind of experience, you get more comfortable and you have more confidence in your pitches.”

McFarland throws a sinker, slider and change-up and occasionally mixes in a 4-seamer. The key is throwing that sinker in the strike zone and relying on weak contact and the defense behind him to notch as many quick, harmless outs as possible.

“I’m a contact pitcher, so I rely on the hitter mis-hitting it,” he said. “I’m trying to get an out in the first three pitches so I can last longer in games.”

Last season at Akron, McFarland went 9-9 with a 3.74 ERA. He then spent two months in the Arizona Fall League to work on his mechanics across the board.

That also brought about the development of his , an important secondary pitch to keep hitters off balance for a pitcher who throws as many strikes as he does. “I think I took away from that time [in Arizona] is the improvement of my changeup,” he said. “I was able to work on everything, getting sharper. It was a good chance to face that level of competition to see if my stuff plays up to the next level. “

He’s also been tweaking his windup to better accentuate the movement on his pitches. McFarland starts from the third base-side of the rubber in almost the stretch before entering his leg-kick. The finished product looks smooth and effortless.

New to this year’s delivery is the distribution of his weight and a deeper angle toward the plate.

“I’ve been fooling around with my windup for quite a bit to have better mechanics,” he said. “This is just what I’ve come up with. It’s more of a comfort thing. And now I’m focusing on tilting so I can have a more downward angle toward the plate.”

So far this season, it’s working.

McFarland happens to fit the mold of how the Indians have shaped their rotation. As he looks up to the majors, he can’t help but be excited to see Cleveland throwing , Ubaldo Jimenez and Justin Masterson — all three pitchers who rely on their sinkers.

“It is encouraging,” McFarland said. “Obviously, the Indians like sinkerballers and that’s what I am, so it’s definitely a good thing. And watching them, it’s also a great learning experience watching all those guys do their job up there.”

McFarland is slated to face Bowie’s Jacob Pettit (1-0, 2.25 ERA) Tuesday night.

Ryan Lewis can be reached at [email protected]. Read the high school blog at www.ohio.com/preps.

Whitecaps 7, Captains 2: Lake County loses seventh straight

By David S. Glasier [email protected] You learn little about a man in good times.

The truest test comes in bad times.

Captains manager is being tested now as his team struggles mightily in its first homestand of the 2012 season.

West Michigan came to Classic Park on Monday and hung a 7-2 defeat on the Captains. It was Lake County's seventh straight loss overall and fifth straight at home.

The Captains slipped to 3-8 and are stuck in last place in the 's Eastern Division, seven games behind the red-hot Lansing Lugnuts.

The Whitecaps snapped a 2-2 tie in the top of the eighth inning when Aaron Westlake's RBI grounder off Lake County reliever Francisco Valera made it 3-2.

All doubt was removed in the top of the ninth inning, when Lake County reliever Cole Cook surrendered a to West Michigan center fielder Chad Wright.

Monday's ninth-inning meltdown came on the heels of Sunday's ninth-inning disaster, when Bowling Green sent 16 men to the plate and scored 11 runs to turn what had been a close game into a 22-12 rout.

Wallace smiled when asked if even the smallest part of him was fed up with the losing and was ready to erupt. "I never want to be OK with losing, and I don't want our guys to get used to losing,'' Wallace said. "You have to look at the big picture. We're 11 games into the season with 129 more to go. We're going to get a lot better.''

It wasn't all doom and gloom Monday for the Captains.

Starting pitcher Felix Sterling gave up a two-run to West Michigan designated hitter Dean Green in the top of the first.

After that misstep, the 19-year-old right-hander buckled down and blanked the Whitecaps through the next five frames before giving way to Valera.

"That's what separates guys in this game — the ability to make adjustments,'' Wallace said of the corrections made by Sterling.

With bats in their hands, the Captains didn't make much noise beyond Alex Monsalve's solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning.

"We just have to trust in the work we're putting in,'' Wallace said.

On the mend

Captains outfielder LeVon Washington missed his fifth straight game Monday with a nerve impingement in his hip. He'll undergo an MRI today.

The injury makes walking painful and running impossible for the 20-year-old Florida native. The Indians' second-round choice in the June 2010 draft was off to a nice start, batting .440 in six games.

Tiger ties

West Michigan is affiliated with the . The Whitecaps' roster is dotted with players whose names will be instantly familiar to fans of the Tigers.

Catcher Pat Leyland is the 20-year-old son of Tigers manager Jim Leyland. Third baseman Colin Kaline is the grandson of all-time Tigers great and Hall of Famer Al Kaline. Infielder Marcus Lemon is the son of former Tigers outfielder Chet Lemon. Pitcher Nick Avila is the cousin of Tigers Alex Avila.

Leyland and Kaline were in the starting lineup Monday. Lemon is on the suspended list for an unspecified violation of team rules.

Bats bash Clippers 7-4

By Jim Massie

The Columbus Dispatch Monday April 16, 2012 11:11 PM

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The offensive funk that plagued the Clippers during this forgettable four-game series against the Louisville Bats stuck around to the very end.

A Clippers team that barreled into the series with a 6-2 record bused to Indianapolis at 7-5 after dropping the finale 7-4 tonight at Slugger Field. Once again, the Clippers simply couldn’t buy a hit with runners in scoring position.

“I think this whole series could have been different just with our situational hitting,” manager Mike Sarbaugh said. “We didn’t take advantage of some opportunities again tonight, and it came back to bite us.

“Tonight they played better than us. Overall they played better than us the whole series. But I think we just missed a lot of opportunities that could have changed the series.”

The Clippers picked up right where they left off in Sunday’s 5-3 loss with runners in scoring position. They mustered a 1-for-15 effort in those situations in that game.

Tonight, they were 0 for 6 over the first four innings against left-hander Jeff Francis (1-1) while falling behind 3-0.

The Bats, meanwhile, made the most of their opportunities against Kevin Slowey (1-2). Todd Frazier doubled with two outs in the first to score Kristopher Negron from second base.

In the fourth, a pair of pop flies set up a bigger inning for the Bats. Paul Janish started the trouble when he lifted a high fly into no-man’s land between left fielder Trevor Crowe and shortstop Justin Toole. Neither caught the ball, and Janish rolled into second with a double.

With one out, Dioner Navarro hit a floater into short right field that fell in front of a diving Chad Huffman for a single. Janish went to third on the hit and scored on a Negron sacrifice fly.

Chris Valaika made it 3-0 by tripling over the head of center fielder Ezequiel Carrera.

“The key for them is they had two big two-out hits to score two of the first three runs,” Sarbaugh said. “That gave them some momentum.”

Left-handed-hitting Lonnie Chisenhall, who doubled in his first two at-bats, hit a two-run home run against Francis in the fifth to cut the deficit to 3-2.

“I just think Lonnie looks very comfortable right now,” Sarbaugh said. “He had three hits off a lefty tonight in his first three at-bats. Then the right-hander (Josh Judy) comes in and he lines out to right.

“He hit four balls on the screws tonight. He looks good. The one thing I like is he’s using the whole field, and that’s really important for him.”

The Bats scored four runs in the sixth with the help of two-out hits from Frazier and Danny Dorn. The Clippers replied with two runs in the eighth. Crowe’s third hit of the game, a triple, drove in the first one. Toole then broke the 0-for-7 string with runners in scoring position by doubling. But Travis Webb entered and struck out Carrera and Cord Phelps, ending the game with the Clippers 1 for 10 in that clutch category

LaPorta returns to lineup tonight

By: Jim Massie

The Columbus Dispatch - April 16, 2012 18:04 PM

Matt LaPorta is back in the Clippers lineup tonight in Louisville after missing the past two games with a contusion on his right hand.

LaPorta was hit by a pitch in the opening game of the series with the Bats on Tuesday. He took batting practice yesterday and pronounced himself ready.

He is batting fourth tonight as the Columbus designated hitter.

Shortstop Gregorio Petit is missing a second consecutive game with a strained left biceps. He suffered the injury swinging the bat in Wednesday's game. Justin Toole is playing shortstop tonight.

The Clippers need a win tonight to split the serie 2-2. Kevin Slowey is starting against Louisvile's Jeff Francis.

Mariners offense is still down...but they're not alone (plus minor-league reports) Posted by Larry Stone Here is the Mariners minor-league report for today, for Sunday and for Saturday. In case you're wondering why Taijuan Walker skipped his start, it's apparently because he developed a stiff neck. So far, the Mariners' offensive numbers through 11 games look depressingly familiar -- a .232 batting average, .267 on-base percentage and .356 slugging percentage for an OPS of .620. That compares to last year's .233/.292/.348 at season's end for a .640 OPS, and 2010's .236/.298/.339 (.637). They are scoring runs at a clip of 3.6 per game, compared to 3.4 last year, and 3.2 in 2010, so there's that. They've walked just 18 times in 371 at-bats ('s emphasis on aggressiveness at the plate come home to roost?), and hit only seven homers. Kyle Seager leads the Mariners with his .763 OPS, and that ranks just 84th among major-league players. Miguel Olivo's .274 OPS ranks 191st -- out of 193 qualified players (ahead of only Ryan Raburn's .241 and Marlon Byrd's .212). It's just 11 games, and offensive numbers always go up as the weather heats up. But as Wedge continues to talk about all the signs he's seeing of a drastically improved offense, it's not manifesting itself yet on the field. But the early trend around baseball is that offense is down everywhere compared to last year -- when scoring dipped to a two-decade low. The folks at High Heat Stats recently did this study, comparing early-season offense last year to early-season offense this year, and you can see that's it is plummeting again. Through the first 172 games played this season compared to last year's first 172 games, scoring is down 11 percent, batting average is down 7 percent, home runs are down 3 percent, and strikeouts are up 8 percent. So signs are already pointing to a continuation of the offensive decline that has been seen ever since MLB began tightening up on performance-enhancing drugs. Again, it's early, and the bats are going to pick up around baseball. Whether they will pick up in Seattle -- as Wedge keeps insisting is going to happen -- is the burning question of 2012. Seattle Times LOADED: 04.17.2012 Early returns on leading off may be deceiving By Geoff Baker Nine pitches into the opening at-bat of the game, Chone Figgins flied out to left field. Another goose egg in the daily hit count of the new Mariners and a continued dip of an early season on-base percentage now below .300. But what his personal statistics don't show is how the next two batters both got hits off starter Graham Godfrey, or that the pitcher would be forced to leave after five innings because of his escalating pitch count. Figgins and those who believe in him as a leadoff hitter are hoping his approach will eventually lead to desired results. And with Figgins, the patient, pitch-taking style that made him so dangerous with the Angels has been redeployed this season. "I think that's the thing," he said. "I look at leading off the game as, 'Let me see what he's got for the day,' " Figgins said of opposing pitchers. "And as the game goes on, depending on the situation, I'll be aggressive versus not being as aggressive. But at first, I'll try to set the tone for the team." Figgins leads the team in pitches taken per plate appearance at 4.20, and a whopping 5.36 pitches per plate appearance when he leads off a game. That 4.20 number puts him 36th out of 188 major-league hitters entering play Monday. It's almost the same as his great contract year with the Angels in 2009, when he averaged 4.22. Last season, Figgins dropped to 4.10 after registering 4.14 in 2010 during his first year with Seattle. The difference between 4.20 and 4.10 might not seem like much, but it actually amounts to Figgins seeing about 60 additional pitches over the course of a typical 600 plate- appearance season. His 5.36 pitches per plate appearance leading off a game will result in about 220 more pitches in that situation per season than his 4.10 number would. Ichiro last year saw only 3.51 pitches per plate appearance from the leadoff spot, meaning about 420 fewer pitches over a full season than Figgins is on pace to see. And seeing more pitches — especially to start a game — gives hitters coming up next the chance to look at an opposing pitcher's arsenal. For Figgins, the added pitches he sees should — in theory — help him earn more walks, or get better pitches to hit in later at-bats. He says his chances actually get better the deeper into a count he gets — even with two strikes — because a pitcher will eventually throw him something over the heart of the plate. But the whole package still isn't working out as well lately as he'd like it to, with his numbers starting to slip. "I've been swinging the bat well, but there are still some things that are off," he said. "I'm chasing a couple of pitches I don't normally chase. I missed most of the season last year ... so I'm still a hair off. ... My zone's a little big right now." Figgins will enter the game Tuesday night against the at Safeco Field with just a .250 batting average, a .298 on-base percentage (OBP) and an on-base-plus-slugging percentage (OPS) of .639. That's an improvement over his .188 average, .241 OBP and .484 OPS last year, but still not enough to truly justify moving him into the leadoff spot instead of Ichiro. Last year, Ichiro hit .272 with a .310 OBP and a .645 OPS in the leadoff position. Not only is Figgins seeing more pitches, he's also driving the ball better now that the hip labrum that sidelined him much of last year is a thing of the past. His line-drive rate is 29 percent compared to just 18 percent last season. Mariners manager Eric Wedge said these are good signs, as is how comfortable Figgins seems in his familiar leadoff role. Wedge dismisses those who suggest a player's spot in the lineup should have minimal impact on performance. "They don't know what the hell they're talking about," Wedge said. "So, whoever they are, you can tell them that I said that." Of course, it's still early. And that's why Figgins — and the Mariners — keep trusting the process. "The main thing is that I'm healthy and now I can perform," Figgins said. "I'm driving some balls, and that's what I want to get back to. If I keep doing that, I should be fine." Seattle Times LOADED: 04.17.2012

What's the vibe in ChiSox clubhouse? Ken Rosenthal White Sox general manager Ken Williams doesn’t want to compare his new manager, Robin Ventura, to his old one, Ozzie Guillen. No, Williams is moving forward, talking about the present, not the past.

A rival executive takes a less diplomatic view, saying that Guillen was an “inefficiency” who prevented the White Sox from reaching their full potential. Things certainly are quieter under Ventura, who has yet to say anything about Fidel Castro or even Starlin Castro. And the Sox are 5- 3 after winning two of three from the mighty Tigers.

C’mon, Ken, it’s a different vibe, isn’t it?

“You know, it’s really difficult for me to (say) that and not have people make comparisons to what was last year and the year before,” Williams said. “I’m trying to be as cognizant of that and respectful as I can. I want to answer everyone’s questions. But at the same time, people want to make that correlation. The comparison is not fair.

“All I care about is the team doing what we have to do to win. We have to play better fundamentally across the board to have any hope of competing with the Tigers in our division. We have a talented team. Some people have missed that a little bit. Amidst all the stuff going on, we have some talented players.”

Talented players going about things properly.

The White Sox are scoring only four runs per game, ahead of only the Mariners, Twins and Athletics in the American League. They’re striking out at a higher rate than any team in the AL. But they’re fourth in the league with a 3.34 ERA, and overall, Williams likes what he sees.

“We’ve faced a good Texas team, a good Detroit team. They pitch, especially the Texas team,” Williams said. “I expected slow starts offensively, but as I told Robin, we could have lost all three games in Texas (instead of two) and I would have sent him the same message: I like the fight that I am seeing.

“Guys are grinding away at-bats. Even with the strikeouts, they’re working counts, fouling off tough pitches against tough pitchers, giving themselves up to move runners. Good old-fashioned baseball.

“There is little margin for for us. We’re like those teams that beat our team when we were more talented. Every time I go to Minnesota and I look up at those division banners, I think we had a better team that year and that year and that year – talent-wise. But they won.

“How did they win? That’s something Robin and I talked about the very first day when we talked about him taking the job. They committed to it. They committed to being a good and fundamentally sound team.”

The White Sox finally are making the same commitment.

Draw your own conclusions.

FIRST MEA CULPA OF 2012?

Well, I still don’t like when teams hire managers who lack previous managing or coaching experience; the job, in my view, is too difficult for a novice.

Yet, even at this early stage, Ventura and the Cardinals’ Mike Matheny appear ready to prove me wrong, in part because I failed to appreciate unique qualities that both men share.

As one rival executive points out, both Ventura and Matheny were accomplished players who enjoyed long careers. Their respective experiences provide both with a certain calmness; managing will not define who they are.

Williams points out something else that I missed – both Ventura and Matheny played in the cities where they now manage. They understand the fan base, the expectations. In turn, people know who they are, what they’re about.

Matheny benefits from inheriting such a professional roster, Ventura from being the anti-Ozzie. I’m sure both will make rookie mistakes. But my initial analysis was incomplete, and quite possibly incorrect.

METS CREATING NEW PERSPECTIVE

The Mets’ party line all spring was that the team might be better than people think. Few bought the argument as the club stumbled to a 9-20 record in the Grapefruit League. But Mets officials believed that some of their veterans would bounce back and some of their youngsters would emerge as solid major leaguers.

Sure enough, that is exactly what happened as the Mets opened with a 6-3 record against three quality division opponents – the Braves, Nationals and Phillies.

The Mets’ 2.48 ERA is second in the NL only to the Nats’ 1.99 mark. Left-hander Johan Santana and third baseman are off to strong starts, as are two younger players, shortstop Ruben Tejada and center fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis.

Once Ike Davis, right fielder Lucas Duda and left fielder Jason Bay start to hit more consistently – “if” is the more appropriate word for Bay – the offense could be formidable.

“We’ve played 5 percent of the season,” general manager Sandy Alderson said. “But we’re hoping with what happened over the first 10 days or so, people will begin to see the potential of this team differently than they did in spring training.

“. . . It may be that the other distractions surrounding the Mets before spring training and going into spring training – the Madoff situation, the uncertainty of minority investors, the reduction of payroll – all of these things conspired, if you will, to color the general consensus of the team as opposed to a straight baseball evaluation.

“I don’t know. Our spring training record didn’t help. But we are and hopefully our fans are beginning to have a different take on this team than they did a month and six weeks ago.”

CLOSER ROULETTE

As usual, there has been no shortage of ninth-inning trauma to start the season. Consider the early issues of some big-name closers who joined new teams.

THIS WEEK'S BOW TIE

See what charity this represents, see the bow ties Rosenthal has worn and learn about BowTie Cause.

*Ryan Madson, Reds: Tommy John surgery, out for season.

*Andrew Bailey, Red Sox: Right-thumb surgery, out 3 to 4 months.

*Heath Bell, Marlins: 0-for-2 in save opportunities.

*, Rangers: Two blown saves, each coming on the second day of back-to-back appearances. (Nathan succeeded in such a situation Sunday, pitching a 1-2-3 ninth for the save against the Twins.

“What a crapshoot,” one exec says. “And you wonder why teams want to put (Neftali) Feliz, (Chris) Sale, (Daniel) Bard, etc., in the rotation.”

THE AMAZING CHIPPER

Perception doesn’t always match reality in baseball, but the facts support that Braves third baseman often comes off the disabled list with a bang.

Jones, 39, has hit remarkably well throughout his career in his first game after a DL stint, batting .404/.442/.745 in 52 plate appearances, according to STATS LLC – and producing five home runs and 12 RBIs in 12 games.

To think, those numbers do not include performances such as Sunday’s, when Jones hit a three-run homer after missing two games due to fluid around his surgically repaired left knee.

Call it a gift, a knack, an ability to rise to the occasion.

Jones still has it.

DARVISH: WORK IN PROGRESS

A scout who saw Rangers right-hander Yu Darvish against the Twins on Saturday was not especially impressed.

“He’s going to give up a ton of hits,” the scout said. “A lot of his are very straight. The guy is supposed to throw hard. But he basically pitched at 89 to 92, touching 93-94. That’s pretty good in Japan. It’s not very good here.

“He has a good cutter, a good . But when he gets in trouble, he turns into a breaking-ball guy – nibble, nibble, he won’t let it go. He reminded me of Dice-K.”

Darvish’s results in his first two starts – 17 hits allowed in 11 1/3 innings, nine strikeouts, eight walks – support the scout’s contentions.

Darvish, however, noted after Saturday’s game that he is still adjusting to the majors, and the Rangers believe his stuff and performance will improve once he settles into a routine and develops a better feel for what he wants to achieve.

He certainly is capable of better – he struck out 11 in six innings March 30 in a Cactus League game against the Rockies.

“I think it’s safe to say that Mr. Darvish was as advertised,” Rockies manager Jim Tracy said that day. “Tremendous arm speed, a great mix or pitches, pitches to both side of the plate.” THE ROCKIES: TEAM IN TRANSITION The Rockies’ wobbly start is not exactly a surprise, given the inexperience of some of their starting pitchers. But this is a team that could improve in the second half and emerge as a force in 2013.

The expected return of lefty Jorge De La Rosa from Tommy John surgery could give the Rockies a post-All-Star rotation of righties Jeremy Guthrie, Jhoulys Chacin and Juan Nicasio and lefties De La Rosa and Drew Pomeranz (and yes, maybe lefty Jamie Moyer still could fit, too)

At that point, the Rockies also would have three other potential starters stashed at Triple-A – right-handers Tyler Chatwood and and lefty Christian Friedrich – as well as several other promising youngsters close to making an impact.

Catcher Wilin Rosario, outfielder/first baseman Tyler Colvin and lefty reliever Rex Brothers could assume more prominent roles as the season progresses, and Double A third baseman Nolan Arenado and shortstop/ Josh Rutledge could push for major-league jobs.

Not everything will go according to plan; not every young player will follow an upward path. Still, the Rockies could win 80 games and consider their season a success if enough of their youngsters show progress.

VICTOR: ADDING TO THE MAYHEM IN MOTOWN?

It’s a little early for the Tigers to count on Victor Martinez, but his potential return in late August could leave manager Jim Leyland with a fascinating lineup decision.

Bat the switch-hitter Martinez fifth, behind the right-handed Miguel Cabrera and left-handed Prince Fielder? Or put him between the two to make it even more difficult for opposing managers to match up their relievers, knowing Martinez’s career splits are fairly even?

The only negative to Martinez’s return is that the Tigers would become even slower and less athletic. Andy Dirks, their most frequent DH thus far, is an average runner, which on the Tigers makes him look like Jose Reyes.

MORE REDS ABOUT TO GET PAID

Rival executives still can’t figure out how the Reds will manage their future payrolls.

The team not only committed a combined $297.5 million to first baseman Joey Votto and second baseman Brandon Phillips, but traded three prospects and righty Edinson Volquez for right-hander Mat Latos, who is eligible for arbitration for the first time next off-season.

Center fielder Drew Stubbs, right-hander Mike Leake, outfielder Chris Heisey and right-handed reliever Logan Ondrusek also will be first-time eligibles in 2012-13, according to Cot’s Baseball Contracts.

AROUND THE HORN

* I wrote extensively about the Angels’ last-minute push to sign free-agent left-hander C.J. Wilson on Saturday, but the team also made all the right moves early.

The Angels were the first team to call Wilson on the first day of free agency. They also impressed him by taking him to the exclusive Soho House restaurant in West Hollywood. Wilson does not eat dairy or chicken, and he said the Angels were attuned to his dietary preferences.

“They were really on it,” he said.

* The Dodgers are 9-1 in part because they’re 6-1 against the hapless Padres. But in a way, the Dodgers’ play is merely an extension of how they finished last season, when they went 45-28 after July 6.

“We’ve limited our mistakes,” general manager Ned Colletti said. “It might be the best I’ve seen us, especially defensively, in a long time.”

* The White Sox bullpen looks like a force even following the trade of closer Sergio Santos to the Blue Jays for a highly regarded prospect, right-hander Nestor Molina.

The bullpen, third in the AL in ERA, includes three rookies – left-hander Hector Santiago and righties Addison Reed and Nate Jones – and another relatively inexperienced pitcher, righty Zach Stewart.

“For 12 years, we’ve put together a solid pitching staff in a small ballpark,” GM Ken Williams said. “We’ve got a little bit of history. We kind of know what we’re doing. But unless people prove it, nobody gives you the benefit of the doubt. Now we’re at least showing enough early on to get the benefit of the doubt.”

* Yankees manager , who managed Miguel Cabrera with the Marlins in 2006, is among those who are confident that the Tigers’ slugger will succeed at third base. “If he can figure it out, he’s going to figure it out,” Girardi said. “He’s one of the smarter players I’ve been around.”

* The Rangers won’t exactly lack for options if Joe Nathan falters in the closer’s role.

Right-handers Mike Adams and Alexi Ogando have combined to allow two runs in 12 1/3 innings, striking out 10, walking none.

Adams has thrown 74 of his 98 pitches for strikes (76 percent), Ogando 63 of 88 (72 percent).

The Texas relievers have combined for 24 strikeouts and just one walk.

* A scout had an interesting take on Orioles catcher Matt Wieters, who is starting to look like a perennial All-Star:

“He must be a guy people like,” the scout said. “Throw it down the middle to him with two strikes, and if he takes it, the umpires call it a ball. They give him pitches at the plate. And he gets pitches for his pitchers.”

* And finally, Phillies lefty Cole Hamels has allowed 14 hits, including two homers, in 12 1/3 innings, but here’s the statistic that stands out most as he heads toward free agency: 19 strikeouts, one walk.

Ka-ching!

A triple play, a machine and more Jayson Stark What a weekend.

A team pulled off a triple play and a walk-off win in the same inning. Aaron Harang did something that Sandy Koufax, and Fernando Valenzuela never did. It was a Friday the 13th for the ages. And if is now in favor of having the adopt the DH, you could understand why.

Fortunately, our Useless Information Department investigators were out in force. So let's take a look at all that madness.

Triple-double department

Now here's something you don't see every day: On Sunday, the Dodgers turned a triple play in the top of the ninth inning, then won on a walk- off hit in the bottom of the ninth.

Los Angeles Dodgers

Here's what you need to know about that crazy daily double:

• The Dodgers were the first team to cram a triple play and a walkoff win into the same inning since the 1942 Cubs pulled off that trick against the Reds on Aug. 22, 1942 -- except the Cubs did it in the 11th inning. They turned a triple play on a popped-up bunt in the top of the 11th, then manufactured the winning run off Reds reliever Junior Thompson in the bottom of the 11th.

• But it's even more rare for a team to do something like that in the ninth inning. Retrosheet has assembled box scores dating all the way to 1918. And the Dodgers are the ONLY team with a triple play and a walk-off hit in the ninth inning of any game in the last 95 seasons.

• Dee Gordon was in the middle of that triple play, then got the walk-off hit in the bottom of the ninth. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Gordon was just the second player in the last 15 seasons to participate in a triple play at any point in a game, then get a walk-off RBI later in the game. The other : Prince Fielder, for the Brewers, on Sept. 6, 2009. Prince's triple play, for the record, came in the top of the sixth inning.

• Dodger Stadium has been around for 50 years, but this was just the fifth triple play turned there -- and only the second by the Dodgers. To put that in perspective, the Dodgers played 45 seasons in Ebbets Field -- and there were eight triple plays there.

• Finally, the legendary Bill Chuck reports this was just the second 2-5-6-3 triple play ever. The other? It took place on May 21, 1950 (Cardinals versus Phillies).

Nine lives department

Speaking of great Dodgers feats … here's one that eluded Koufax, Kershaw, Fernando, Drysdale, Nomo, Hershiser and every other luminary ever to throw a pitch for the Dodgers -- until Friday.

But on an incredible Friday night at Dodger Stadium, Harang struck out nine hitters in a row. Nine. So how astounding was that?

• Harang had gone 42 consecutive starts without striking out nine hitters in a game -- then he struck out nine hitters in a row. Of course he did.

• Only four other starting pitchers in history have ever struck out at least nine straight hitters. And it's quite the funky list: Your record holder is Tom Seaver (10 in a row in 1970). The three others with nine: in 2009, in 2009 and Mickey Welch in 1884. Bet you never thought you'd ever read those names in the same sentence.

• But what did Harang do that those other men did not? He got his first nine outs of the GAME via those nine punchouts in a row (after a leadoff single). Hard to do, friends.

• Our favorite streak guru, Trent McCotter, checked in with all the relief pitchers who ever whiffed at least nine in a row (though obviously not in one game): Eric Gagne (10; May 17-21, 2003), Ron Davis (9; May 4-9, 1981), Armando Benitez (9; Sept. 8-14, 1998) and Joaquin Benoit (9; May 17-23, 2010).

• And who's the only starting pitcher ever to pile up nine straight K's over multiple games? It was none other than Stephen Strasburg, over the first two starts of his career, June 8-13, 2010.

• Want to guess the last right-handed starter before Harang to have nine strikeouts through the first three innings of any game (not necessarily in order)? Good luck. It was the Astros' Don Wilson, on July 14, 1968. Wilson wound up punching out 18 that night.

• But Harang didn't even get a win in this game, because the Padres scored five runs off the L.A. bullpen in the last three innings to tie the game -- only to give the game back to the Dodgers on another bizarre feat. The Dodgers had two outs in the ninth and nobody on; two Padres relievers then walked four hitters in a row. According to SABR's Bob Timmerman (via Dodgerthoughts.com's Jon Weisman), it was the first game to end on four straight walks since May 19, 1989, when the Giants walked the Mets' Lenny Dykstra, Tim Teufel, Howard Johnson and in succession with two outs in the 10th.

• One thing Harang did do, though, was wind up with 13 strikeouts -- on Friday the 13th. He was the first pitcher to whiff 13 on any Friday the 13th, according to Elias, since Dwight Gooden did it June 13, 1986.

Lucky 13th department

While we're on the subject, the Useless Info Department loves Friday the 13th. Who the heck knows why? All we know is, there was some awesome Friday the 13th fodder this year. So here it comes:

• Nine hitters who wear No. 13 made it into their teams' lineups on Friday the 13th. It sure wasn't unlucky for them. Each of them reached base at least once. And they combined to go 14-for-38 (.368), with three homers, two doubles, four RBIs and six runs scored.

• One of those No. 13's, , hit his first home run of the year on Friday the 13th.

• Another No. 13, Freddy Galvis, hit the first homer of his career on Friday the 13th.

• Yet another No. 13, Starlin Castro, had his first three-hit game of the year on Friday the 13th.

• But the greatest Friday the 13th tale of them all took place in Washington, where Jayson Werth got a Friday the 13th walk-off hit -- in the 13th inning. After Elias reported that he was the first hitter to get a 13th-inning walk-off on Friday the 13th since Wilver D. Stargell in 1963, Nationals media-relations whiz John Dever went back and took a look at Stargell's hit -- and found that the guy who scored on Stargell's hit happened to be . Who just happens to be (wait for it) Jayson Werth's grandfather. Pretty cool, huh?

Almost perfect department

Then there was Matt Cain, whose one-hitter against the Pirates on Friday provided all sorts of amazing tidbits:

• Before this night, there had only been six games in history in which the only hitter standing between any pitcher and a was the opposing pitcher. But Cain made it seven, thanks to a sixth-inning single by Pirates pitcher James McDonald. Elias reports this was the first game to meet that description since Sept. 21, 1986, when a Bob Knepper hit cost San Diego's Jimmy Jones a perfecto -- in the first game of his career.

• The other five games in history in which the only man to reach base was the pitcher, courtesy of Trent McCotter:

Hooks Wiltse, Giants, July 4, 1908 Clyde Shoun, Reds, May 15, 1944 Carl Erskine, Dodgers, June 19, 1952 Ralph Terry, A's, Aug. 22, 1958 Gary Peters, White Sox, July 15, 1963

• Cain was also the first pitcher in Giants history to throw a one-hit shutout in the home opener. And it only took them 130 home openers. But it's not as if all those other teams do it every year either. Cain was the first pitcher to throw a one-hitter in a home opener for any National League team, according to Elias, since Hippo Vaughn did it -- for the 1918 Cubs.

Useless info dept.

In other news …

• As the Seattle Times' Larry Stone reports, Felix Hernandez's first three starts of the season all came against Oakland. Then again, Bartolo Colon's first three starts all came against Seattle -- both due to the miracle of Opening Day in Japan. So how rare is that? According to Elias, they're the first pitchers to make their first three starts of the season against the same team since Kevin Brown faced the then-Devil Rays three times in a row in 2004.

• As loyal reader Christopher Soderstrom reports, Twins reliever Jeff Gray is suddenly piling up wins. And who saw that coming? This is Gray's fifth team in five seasons. And in 68 appearances covering nearly 1,400 pitches for the other four teams, he'd collected exactly one win. Then, last Wednesday and Thursday, he vultured TWO wins in 24 hours -- while throwing a total of THREE pitches. It's a beautiful sport, ain't it?

• Finally, it took him eight seasons and 1,500 plate appearances, but Red Sox sprint champ finally stole the first base of his career Friday. But I bet you'd never guess he ranked only third among active Zero Heroes in most career trips to the plate without a steal. Your leaders, according to Lee Sinins' Complete Baseball Encyclopedia:

Chris Snyder -- 0 SB in 2,191 PA David Ross -- 0 SB in 1,777 PA …

And counting.