CPD
Spring's here: Tribe assembles for camp
Thursday, February 14, 2008 Paul Hoynes
Plain Dealer Reporter
The Indians begin defense of their AL Central division championship and their last spring training in Winter Haven, Fla., today with pitchers and catchers reporting for spring training at Chain of Lakes Park.
Players will get physicals Friday and the first workout is scheduled for Saturday. The Indians, who won their first division championship last season since 2001, will move to Goodyear, Ariz., for spring training in 2009. They have trained in Winter Haven since 1993 when they moved from Tucson, Ariz.
All-Star catcher Victor Martinez, who led big-league catchers in homers and RBI last year, has been in Florida since Feb. 5. Other early arrivals include pitchers Masahide Kobayashi, Jake Westbrook, Scott Elarton, Tom Mastny, Jeff Harris, Scott Lewis, Aaron Laffey and Jeff Stevens. Kobayashi is a veteran from Japan. Westbrook is one of the Indians' top starters, while Laffey will be competing for the fifth spot in the rotation.
Mastny spent all last season in the bullpen, while Elarton, Harris, Lewis and Stevens are spring training invitees.
Outfielder Shin-Soo Choo, recovering from Tommy John surgery on his left elbow, was among the early arriving position players. Position players report Tuesday with full squad workouts starting Feb. 21.
Cont...