The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Signs point to exiled duo returning soon to Tribe
Indians president Chris Antonetti is facing a conundrum. Does he recall penitent pitchers Zach Plesac and Mike Clevinger from the alternate site the first day possible, or does he let them stew in Eastlake a little longer?
Plesac and Clevinger were banished Aug. 14 for violating COVID-19 protocols and breaking team rules Aug. 8, including missing curfew, when they went to dinner with friends in Chicago and back to the friend’s home after Plesac beat the White Sox earlier in the day. Aug. 24 is the earliest they would be allowed to return to the Indians because a player sent down in 2020 must stay at the alternate site a minimum of 10 days.
Antonetti sent mixed signals during a Zoom conference Aug. 21 before the Indians hosted the Tigers, but the feeling is the Indians are willing to give both pitchers a second chance.
It helps their cause that both are talented and that Clevinger, especially, would be part of the rotation if the Indians advance to the postseason.
One reason Plesac and Clevinger were sent away in the first place after a team meeting in Chicago on Aug. 9 is their teammates felt betrayed.
“They hurt us bad; they lied to us,” Adam Plutko, who started in place of Clevinger against the Tigers on Aug. 21, said Aug. 11 on a Zoom conference.
Antonetti in the Aug. 21 Zoom conference was asked whether another team meeting is necessary to accept Clevinger and Plesac back to the team.
“I don’t expect that we would have any sort of team meetings or anything like that,” Antonetti said. “But I do think understanding the team’s readiness to accept them back into the environment is something that we’ll consider. And that would be a consideration as we make the decision.
“But again I don’t want to lose sight — everyone’s focus, and the decisions we make, will be around how do we build the best team and how do we have the best group of guys up at the major-league level that give us the best chance to win and win a World Series?
And that’s the lens through which we’ll continue to make decisions.”
Sandy Alomar is acting manager while Terry Francona recovers from surgery to correct a gastrointestinal problem. Alomar was asked about the vibe in the clubhouse concerning the two right-handed starters.
“There’s a healing process the team is going through right now,” Alomar said. “The organization is dealing with that internally. Hopefully, eventually we get to see those guys. Because part of the healing process is accepting people. It’s a learning process. We’ll see what happens. Chris and (General Manager) Mike Chernoff and Tito Francona are working with that.”
Clevinger was 13-5 last year. He is 1-1 in 2020. He has missed three starts since his Chicago escapades and was replaced by Plutko in each of them.
Plutko was tagged with the 7-1 loss to the Cubs on Aug. 11, though he gave up only one run in four innings. He gave up three runs in 2 2/3 innings Aug. 16 in a game the Indians won, 8-5. He gave up seven runs to the Tigers in 3 2/3 innings Aug. 21 after the Indians handed him a 5-0 lead after three innings.
Plutko will likely be relegated to the bullpen if Clevinger returns.
Plesac was 8-6 last year and is 1-1 in 2020. He would normally get the start Aug. 22 against the Tigers, but prospect Triston McKenzie will get the start since Plesac is unavailable.
One other clue the Indians are preparing for the pair to return is Clevinger threw 80 pitches in five innings Aug. 19. Plesac threw 77 pitches in five innings a night later.
A return for both Aug. 24 would coincide with the start of a three-game series with the Twins. Clevinger would be in line for the Aug. 24 start with four days rest.
There is more to this puzzle. The betrayal seemed to bond the rest of the team. The Indians won six straight heading into their Aug. 21 game, but those six victories were at the expense of the Tigers, a team the Indians had beaten 20 consecutive times, and the Pirates — owners of the worst record (4-17) in the major leagues.
“As I said, what we want to make sure we’re doing is building the best team possible to go out and win games,” Antonetti said. “What we’ve seen over the course of these six games at least, the guys that have been up here have done an extraordinary job of doing that.
“It’s the best 28 guys. It’s the best team. That’s ultimately what we’re seeking to build. Obviously talent is a consideration in that, but it’s not all about talent.”
Stay tuned. The trade deadline is Aug. 31.
Schudel can be reached at JSchudel@News-Herald. com; @jsproinsider on Twitter.