Leo: Clipping To Opening Day

As the season draws closer, there is more news to pass along. Therefore, the blog will start to get a bit busy. Here is the latest…

* Many Clippers season ticket holders stopped by Huntington Park on Saturday to pick up their tickets, check out the ballpark, and participate in some fun activities. The weather cooperated and a good time was had by all.

* Manny Acta stated that the first round of cuts in Major League camp could come as early as Friday and he didn’t disappoint.

* RHP Corey Kluber, RHP Hector Rondon, and INF Jared Goedert were placed on the Clippers roster. Rondon is out for the season after having Tommy John surgery last August.

* Jared Goedert suffered a strained right oblique muscle last week. He is expected to miss at least two weeks of action. He has been ticketed for Columbus, but his injury may temporarily alleviate the clogged depth chart if he isn’t ready to break camp with the rest of the team. Lonnie Chisenhall is expected to be the Clippers main man at the hot corner with Goedert, Cord Phelps, and possibly Jack Hannahan in the mix as well.

* Jason Donald’s hand injury could make the Indians battle for third base and interesting one. Donald seemed to be the favorite, but that could change. Chisenhall, Phelps, Valbuena, and the rest will be assessed closely for the near future.

* Other roster cuts included LHPs Kelvin de la Cruz and Nick Hagadone optioned to Akron and LHP Drew Pomeranz, RHP Bryce Stowell, and CA Chun Chen re-assigned to minor league camp.

* There are now 54 players in major league camp with 29 cuts remaining. More moves are expected this week.

* Former Clipper Nick Johnson was inked by Cleveland this week. He is currently out with a wrist injury, but he’ll provide some insurance behind Matt LaPorta at first base and possibly behind Travis Hafner as DH. Johnson played in Columbus as a Yankees farmhand in 2001 to 2003.

* The Indians announced they’ll hold a Bob Feller Memorial Service on Thursday March 31st at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Cleveland Heights. The Clippers will have special pre-game presentations before the March 30 exhibition game with Cleveland to honor and remember Feller and Harold Cooper.

*I was sad to learn of the passing of former player/coach Mitchell Page. The soft spoken Page died at age 59 of unknown causes. He was on the Washington Nationals staff in 2007 when the Clippers became their Triple-A affiliate. Page was responsible for hiring “Boots” Day as the Columbus hitting coach and while Columbus didn’t have a great club that year, “Boots” delivered some of the best bus ride stories I’ve ever heard. It’s true what they say; baseball can be like one enormously large family.

* On a lighter note, congrats to Clippers Marketing Director Mark Galuska on his recent engagement. I couldn’t find a photo of Mark, but he looks just like this man: