On Bobby Bradley’s chance and 4 other things about the Cleveland Indians in spring training – cleveland.com

MESA, Ariz. — Does weight or opportunity matter the most for Bobby Bradley? Or is it a little of both?

Bradley hit his second home run of the spring on Friday afternoon. It came at an opportune time for the Indians, who saw a 5-4 lead expand to 8-4. They eventually beat the Cubs, 10-4, in a spring game at Sloan Park.

In his three previous springs with the Indians, Bradley has come to camp at various weights. None of them made him the right fit for the Indians except for a 15-game stretch in 2019. Things could be different in 2021.

Bradley dropped 35 pounds over the winter. He says he did it right this time, running early in the morning in his hometown of Gulfport, Mississippi. He’d spend one week a month at high performance sports facility in Baton Rouge to make sure he was on the right path. The weight came off, but this time he kept his strength.

“I just feel lighter on my feet,” he said. “My first step has gotten a little bit quicker and I feel like I’ve gained a little bit of range out in the field … and I’m just a little more mobile at the plate.”

The Indians have removed all the gatekeepers they used to have at first base: Carlos Santana, Yonder Alonso, Mike Napoli, etc. This spring it appears the job will go to either Bradley or Jake Bauers.

Bradley has one minor-league option left. In his career he has hit 147 homers in the minors and one in the big leagues. This is the best chance he’s had of making the opening day roster and home runs like Friday’s only help his cause.

No: 1: Lefty contender

Aaron Civale and his new delivery was the story of Thursday’s 5-1 win over Milwaukee. Civale retired 12 straight in three innings of work.

Lefty Logan Allen relieved and retired six straight, but that was somewhat overlooked by everyone but those who matter.

“I think it’s a little early to talk about that,” said manager Terry Francona when asked if Allen was in contention for the rotation. “I think the thing that we’re really excited about is the position he’s put himself in with his body and watching him throw the ball.

“He’s a little different pitcher than we saw last year and that gets exciting. If we have to end up making decisions because too many guys played well or pitched well, that would be a really nice problem to have.”

Allen has lost 35 pounds since Spring Training II in July.

“You know, you can tell he feels better about himself,” said Francona. “He’s grown up. You see that with guys. They mature. That’s part of growing up. But guys find another gear that they didn’t know they really had, and he going through that now and it’s fun to watch.”

No. 2: State of the 26-man roster

Francona was asked if the Class AAA season being delayed for at least a month would affect how a team puts together its 26-man roster. If a player has a good spring, would his team keep him in the big leagues so he could continue to play? Or would they send him to the alternate training site for at least a month where game action would be limited at best?

Francona didn’t think that would be the case, but said there is a concern because players at the alternate site would probably be limited to intrasquad games.

“I do think the guys that are in that camp will have a little bit of an advantage because they did it last year,” said Francona. “They know what to expect and it’s not going to be all year, so they know they have games coming, which I think will be really welcome for them. I know, listening to the stories from last year, spending two months at that site was not a cakewalk. I can understand that. So I think the fact that games will be coming will certainly help.”

No. 3: Vaccination time

Francona, bench coach DeMarlo Hale, pitching coach Carl Willis and long-time clubhouse attendant Hank Mancini received their first of two coronavirus vaccine shots on Friday. They’re scheduled for their second shot later this spring.

Asked how he was feeling after the shot, Francona said, “Kinda like I always do: not very energetic and a little sick to my stomach.”

No. 4: And finally

Civale (12 up, 12 down Thursday vs. Milwaukee) and Yu Chang (two homers, three RBI vs. Brewers) received MVP awards and $50 each from Francona on Friday morning. … Lefty Scott Moss will make his first start for the Indians on Saturday when he faces the White Sox and Renaldo Lopez at Goodyear Ballpark at 3:05 p.m. ET. WTAM will carry the game. … Right-handers Nick Sandlin and Eli Morgan threw batting practice Friday. They have yet to appear in a game. Sandlin was sick and Morgan came to camp with a sore right arm. Morgan, in his first spring on the 40-man roster, is about 10 days behind the rest of the pitchers. He could pitch in games next week. … Napoli, a big part of the 2016 World Series Indians team, is on the Cubs’ coaching staff. … Cameron Maybin, who spent 14 games with Class AAA Columbus in 2019, started in left field for the Cubs. He’s in camp on a minor-league deal.