CPD
Cleveland Indians Insider: help for right field, platoon on hold
Thursday, April 17, 2008Paul Hoynes
Plain Dealer Reporter
The Indians have yet to send an SOS to Ben Francisco at Class AAA Buffalo. Jason Michaels, half of the left-field platoon, is hitting .097 (3-for-31) and right fielder Franklin Gutierrez entered Wednesday night's game against Detroit hitting .171 (7-for-41).
"We're not there yet," said manager Eric Wedge. "We're a couple of weeks in. I respect the length of the season. I also respect the urgency of each and every game. It's a fine line you have to walk.
"You have to walk it with the right heartbeat. That's something people tend to forget. You've got 162 games. You've got to play with a sense of urgency, but you've got to play with a sense of calm."
Francisco, who hit .362 (17-for-47) in spring training, is hitting .222 (10-for-45) with two RBI at Buffalo.
Like Francisco, Michaels had a great spring. It has not carried into the regular season.
"He's pressing," said Wedge "He's far enough along in his career, and mature enough, where he knows better than that. Guys get in a hurry to try and make up. You can't do that. You've got to take care of today."
Gutierrez, like Francisco and Michaels, had a strong spring. He had three hits in the season opener and hasn't done much sense.
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