Cleveland Indians: Andres Gimenez laying claim at SS, lefties on parade

Cleveland Indians (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
Cleveland Indians (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /
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Call the ghost of Ted Williams, because two Cleveland Indians are batting1.000

The Cleveland Indians continue Spring Training, winning Game No. 3 in a 6-1 victory over the Mariners.

1. Andres Gimenez couldn’t be off to a hotter start in his quest to win the starting shorstop job. He went 2-for-2 with a homer on Tuesday. Overall, he’s 4-for-4 with 2 RBIs.

No, Cooperstown still doesn’t call after three games in March. That said, the way Gimenez is playing is better than the alternative. The 22-year-old doesn’t have to be perfect, but he’s got to make it impossible for the Indians to start him off in Columbus.

2. And if middle-infield really gets your jets going, take note of Gabriel Arias. He’s 5-for-5 in two games played. He had a 3-for-3 day against the Royals on Monday.

Add it all up, if you dare, and the two big shortstop prospects the Indians have acquired in the last nine months are 9-for-9.

3. Southpaws were on parade in Game No. 3, with lefties Oliver Perez, Kyle Nelson and Anthony Gose pitching in order following a two-inning start from Adam Plutko.

The name were all watching is Gose, who is a converted outfield capable of throwing straight gas. with a slider to boot. He struck out one and gave up two hits.

You won’t see me call Oliver Perez old, mainly because he’s my age. With Tom Brady winning the Super Bowl, youth, like beauty, is now in the eye of the beholder. He threw an inning, struck out one and allowed just a hit. Classic Perez

Perhaps the most underrated bullpener in camp may be Kyle Nelson. Cleveland’s gotta take a lefty on the roster…Nelson fanned two in his frame.

4. Could George Valera be here sooner than expected? I write that knowing full well his minor-league resume outside of the Arizona Rookie League consists of 52 games between Mahoning Valley and Lake County.

That said, the Indians thought enough of him to invite him to Summer Camp and then the alternate site in 2020.

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There’s no way he breaks camp with the team, and even seeing him in 2021 isn’t realistic. But 2022? Not bad, considering he doesn’t turn 21 until November.