The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Fast Lindor recovery paramount for Tribe
Of all the losses the Indians have endured this offseason — Michael Brantley, Edwin Encarnacion, Andrew Miller, Cody Allen and more — this one might be the biggest of them all.
The Indians revealed Feb. 8 Francisco Lindor is out seven to nine weeks with a calf injury. When he’s back playing shortstop is anyone’s guess.
If the injury extends to the full nine weeks, he should be back some time during the second week of April. That of course does not factor in Lindor missing all of spring training — which he’s expected to do. Or the fact Cleveland will be in the midst of three-city trip at Detroit, Kansas City and Seattle — where fan attire in those ballparks likely won’t be flipflops and tank tops. Those kind of conditions aren’t ideal for a player returning from a soft-tissue injury.
So, it’s not unreasonable to theorize the Indians likely won’t be confident allowing Lindor to play until trips to warmer climates at Atlanta (April 25-27) and Houston (April 30-May 1).
Maybe Lindor is a fast healer, but expect the Indians to be extra cautious. Fans have seen how tricky calf injuries can be in trying to predict a recovery. Outfielder Lonnie Chisenhall, now with the Pirates, battled a calf injury the last two seasons, and was in and out of the Indians’ lineup.
How Lindor’s injury plays out is a mystery, and behind the scenes the front office and Manager Terry Francona have to be concerned.
If Lindor is out for an extended period (i.e. past
the announced nine-week mark) it changes everything. Lindor is without question the face of the franchise. When he was called up from the minors in June of 2015, the Indians were 30-33. In his first game, the Indians lost to the Cubs, 17-0.
With Lindor in the lineup everyday the rest of 2015, the Indians finished with a winning mark (5147) as he batted .312 with 12 home runs and 51 RBI in 99 games. He finished second in the American League Rookie of the Year voting.
The next three seasons, Cleveland went a combined 287-198 with three division titles and a 2016 World Series appearance. Lindor has been a key factor in all of that success. He’s been an All-Star the last three seasons, and was top 10 in AL MVP voting in each of those seasons.
He’s now in the discussion
as one of baseball’s best all-around players. Lindor can bat at any spot in the order. He can jumpstart an inning by getting on base. He can hit for power (71 homers the last two seasons), he scores runs (an average of 109 the last three seasons), can steal bases and covers extensive ground as a defensive player.
Here’s more from the 2018 season:
• His wins above replacement (7.9) ranked No. 4 among all major-league position players.
• He was first among shortstops in home runs (38) and runs created (125).
• He was also third in on-base percentage (.352) as was his plus-14 in defensive runs saved.
On Feb. 8, when the news broke of Lindor’s injury, MLB Network projected the Indians’ opening-day lineup without Lindor. It was interesting,
to say the least: Leonys Martin CF Jason Kipnis 2B Jose Ramirez 3B Carlos Santana DH Jake Bauers 1B Tyler Naquin RF Roberto Perez C Greg Allen LF
Yu Chang SS Chang is a top prospect for the Indians, and he’s played more than 400 games at shortstop on multiple minor-league levels but he’s not Lindor, who MLB Network ranked as the best shortstop in the big leagues and right now, in no other words, is irreplaceable.
Indians fans still hurting from the free-agent losses might want to move on fast from those developments. Hoping for a fast Lindor recovery is paramount for Cleveland baseball.