‘Wild Thing’ won’t throw out 1st pitch
Wild Thing will have to stay in the bullpen during the World Series.
Although actor Charlie Sheen, who played pitcher Ricky “Wild Thing” Vaughn in the movie “Major League,” offered to throw out the ceremonial first pitch before one of this year’s World Series games, Major League Baseball said the choices had already been made.
The Indians chose former franchise players to throw out the first pitch for the games in Cleveland, though there had been a movement by fans on social media for Sheen to be involved.
Sheen responded on Twitter, posting a photo of himself as Vaughn in his Indians uniform and wrote, “Major League continues to be the gift that keeps on giving! if called upon, I’d be honored.”
Kershaw again: Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, who’ll pitch Game 6 of the NLCS, beat the Cubs in Game 2 but said he has no secret weapon to save his team.
Kershaw said the Cubs “know every pitch that I throw in every count and every situation. So it’s a matter of not really focusing on (the familiarity) and just trying to compete every single pitch and execute every single pitch.
“You maybe have a little less margin for error facing them a second time, but ... just be better.”
Salazar return? Cleveland pitcher Danny Salazar, who hasn’t appeared in a game since Sept. 9 because of forearm tightness, has thrown well in recent bullpen sessions and might be able to pitch for the first time in the postseason.
Manager Terry Francona said Salazar has “let it go” during recent workouts. Salazar will throw a three-inning simulated game Saturday, and the Indians will decide whether to put him on their World Series roster.
Bauer’s finger: The Indians are hoping Trevor Bauer will be available after his Game 4 start in the ALCS lasted less than an inning when his stitched pinkie opened and he had to be replaced.
Bauer said that his finger is healing and that he’s confident the added rest before the series will allow him to pitch. Coaching updates: The Detroit Tigers hired Lloyd McClendon as hitting coach and Leon Durham as assistant hitting coach.
McClendon will return to the Tigers after serving as coach from 2006-2013 before managing the Seattle Mariners for two seasons. Durham has been a minor-league coach for the Tigers for 16 years.