29-year old starting CF Grady Sizemore is going to miss Opening Day and probably longer after straining his back fielding grounders a couple of weeks ago.  The Indians signed Sizemore to a 1-year deal over the winter and I thought it was a bad idea due to his recent injury history and lack of production.  Sizemore played in 71 games for the Indians last year and he was 60 for 268 (.224 avg, .706 OPS) with 34 runs scored, 10 homers and 32 RBIs.  In his last three years with the Tribe, Sizemore has played in 210 games in which he is 195 for 832 (.234 avg) with 122 runs scored, 28 homers, 109 RBIs and 17 stolen bases.  He is a shadow of the player he once was.  From 2005-2008, Sizemore averaged 159.8 games played, 116.0 runs scored, 21.8 homers, 81.3 RBIs and 28.8 stolen bases per season.  Sizemore has now played in 892 games in his first 8 years with the Tribe and he is 948 of 3,527 (.269 avg, .830 OPS) with 601 runs scored, 139 homers, 458 RBIs and 134 stolen bases.  I have a hard time believing that Sizemore will ever be the player he once was for the Cleveland Indians.

UPDATE:  (3/1/2012) – Grady Sizemore will now miss the next 8-12 weeks after having a surgical procedure done to his lower back.  It’s look like the Indians wasted the $5 million bucks they signed Sizemore for over the winter.

UPDATE II (4/4/2012) – The Indians have placed Grady Sizemore on the 60-day disabled list, which will keep him out until at least June.

The Cleveland Indians have lost 29-year old lefty swinging outfielder Shin- Soo Choo for the rest of the year due to an oblique muscle.  Choo played in 85 games this year for the Indians and he was 81 for 313 (.259 avg, .733 OPS) with 37 runs scored, 8 homers, 36 RBIs and 12 stolen bases.  Choo now played in 530 games in his first six years with the Indians and he is 567 for 1,926 (.294 avg, .865 OPS) with 301 runs scored, 67 homers, 306 RBIs and 64 stolen bases.  Hopefully 2012 will be much better for Choo as he will start it with a clean slate.

24-year old righty starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco is undergoing Tommy John Surgery next Wednesday in New York.  He will miss the rest of this year and probably the whole 2012 season for the Indians.  Carrasco pitched in 21 games (all starts) for the Indians last year and he was 8-9 with a 4.62 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP.  He has now pitched in 33 games (all starts) for the Indians in his first three years with the team and he is 10-15 with a 4.93 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP.  This is going to hurt the Indians in 2012 as Carrasco was going to be a part of the starting rotation.

The Indians have placed starting RF Shin-Soo Choo on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to August 28th, with a strained left oblique.  Choo has played in 84 games for the Indians this year and he is 81 for 312 (.260 avg, .736 OPS) with 37 runs scored, 8 homers, 36 RBIs and 12 stolen bases.  This has been a lost year for Choo due to injuries and off the field problems (DUI).  Still, the Indians would have a much better chance of running down the Tigers in the A.L. Central with him rather than without him.

The Indians have placed 26-year old righty starting pitcher Josh Tomlin on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to August 25th due to right elbow soreness.  Tomlin has pitched in 26 games (all starts) for the Indians so far this year and he is 12-7 with a 4.25 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP.  The Indians have called up 25-year old lefty reliever Nick Hagadone to replace Tomlin on the pitching staff.  Hagadone came into this season as the Indians’ #10 prospect according to Baseball America.  He can over in the Victor Martinez deal with the Red Sox a couple of years ago.  Hagadone has pitched in 44 games (0 starts) in AA+AAA-ball this year and he is 6-4 with 4 saves, a 2.65 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP.  He has only given up 54 hits in 68 innings in the minors this year while whiffing 74 batters, as he has been impressive in the minors so far this year.  Hagadone has now pitched in 103 games (47 starts) in his first five years in the minors and he is 10-14 with 5 saves, a 2.82 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP.  Hagadone will be working out of the bullpen for the Indians.