Leo: A Festive Time of the Year

Spring is right around the corner and baseball games are being played, sort of. The Indians first intrasquad game of spring camp was held Wednesday in Goodyear. Indians third base coach Steve Smith and Clippers manager Mike Sarbaugh picked teams to manage, which has become annual tradition in the desert. This year Smitty’s squad defeated the fightin’ Sarbys 1-0 in a four inning game.

(photo courtesy of the Indians Twitter account)

The only run came in the first inning; a Jose Lopez single scored Carlos Santana. Chris Seddon took the loss. Seddon, Frank Herrmann, Jeremy Accardo, Tyler Sturdevant, Josh Tomlin, Robinson Tejeda, Nick Hagadone, and CC Lee each pitched one inning.

The Tribe will open the Cactus League schedule on Saturday at 3:05pm (eastern) against the Reds.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year. The baseball season is off the ground, the NBA and NHL seasons are past the mid-way point and entering the “stretch run”, college hoops is ready for the Madness, and (for you motor heads) the NASCAR season is underway.

When I’m not standing behind a batting cage I’m a basketball junkie, so I’ll be touring the NCAA Tournament landscape over the next few weeks. My broadcasting stops include Lexington, KY for the opening rounds of the Division III Tournament, the “First Four” games in Dayton, the NCAA first and second rounds at Nationwide Arena in Columbus, and even a stop at the Division II Championship at Northern Kentucky University. Don’t be jealous.

Immediately after I finish my hoops duties, Ryan and I will be leaving on a jet plane for Arizona to get a firsthand look at this year’s Clippers squad. There are some neat things in store at Huntington Park this year, so stay tuned for all the details.

Clippings…

RHP Austin Adams, a candidate for the Clippers rotation, has been shut down from all baseball activities. He’s suffering from a sore right-shoulder and is expected to be re-evaluated next week. Adams, 25, was 11-10 with a 3.77 ERA in 26 Double-A starts last season.

The bd’s Mongolian Stir-Fry Sluggers are back! Kids ages 5 to 12 can register to run onto the field with the Clippers before a select Sunday game at Huntington Park. Prizes include an autographed baseball, t-shirt, coupons to bd’s Mongolian Grill, and more! Click here to see the form.

If you’re REALLY craving some Clippers baseball, check out the MILB.TV page and watch the archived broadcasts from last season’s championship run. The 2012 broadcast plans will be released soon, but rest assured that every game will be broadcast on MILB.TV!

LHP David Huff has been named the Indians “Opening Day” starter for the first Cactus League game on Saturday. Huff is competing with Jeanmar Gomez, Zach McAllister, and Kevin Slowely for the fifth spot in the Tribe’s rotation. The three that don’t win the job will probably start in Columbus.

The Indians are planning to release an update on Grady Sizemore’s injured back on Thursday.

That’s all for now!