Cascade’s Sizemore likely to miss Indians’ opener
Published 8:37 pm Friday, February 24, 2012
PHOENIX — Grady Sizemore’s latest comeback already has stalled.
The Cleveland Indians’ oft-injured, hard-luck outfielder is hurt again.
Sizemore, a graduate of Cascade High School in Everett, likely will miss opening day with a strained lower back, an injury the former All-Star sustained while fielding ground balls as he prepared for what he hoped would be a healthy season.
“I feel awful for the guy,” Indians general manager Chris Antonetti said Friday.
The Indians revealed Sizemore’s injury one day before they hold their first full-squad workout. The club re-signed Sizemore as a free agent in November after choosing not to exercise a $9 million option in his contract. But the Indians decided to bring him back with a one-year, $5 million contract loaded with incentives that could have earned him an additional $4 million.
Now, there’s no telling when Sizemore will be ready.
Antonetti, though, will never count him out.
“One thing about Grady is he is very tough-minded,” Antonetti said. “He is an exceptionally diligent guy. He will overcome it and I’m confident he’ll be able to get back and still contribute.”
Indians trainer Lonnie Soloff said Sizemore will not do any baseball activities over the next few weeks.
Sizemore has undergone five surgeries the past two years and played in just 210 games over the past three seasons because of injuries. His full-speed-ahead style may have caught up with the 29-year-old, who once played in 382 consecutive games and endeared himself to Cleveland fans with hustle that could turn a double into a triple or save an extra-base hit by crashing into the outfield wall to make a catch.
Sizemore played in just 71 games after beginning last season on the disabled list. He made three trips to the disabled list and underwent right knee surgery on Oct. 3, just days after his season ended with a .224 batting average, 10 homers, 32 RBI and zero steals.
Indians manager Manny Acta hasn’t seen a completely healthy Sizemore since joining Cleveland two seasons ago.
“(Former manager Eric Wedge) was a lucky man — a blessed man — to be able to see this very talented guy get out there every day and enjoy it,” Acta said. “I haven’t had that luxury so far, but I enjoy the human being and I’ve seen him from the other side. … But, you know what? It’s a long season. Just because he’s not ready by opening day doesn’t mean he’s not going to come on strong and contribute to our ballclub.”
With Sizemore sidelined, the Indians likely will move Michael Brantley from left field to center. Shelley Duncan, Ryan Spilborghs, Felix Pie and former Everett Community College standout Aaron Cunningham are among the team’s options in left.
