First the bad news. Jason Kipnis, who has been lighting the baseball world on fire lately, is out of the starting lineup again today for the second straight game. This from Dennis Manoloff of the PD earlier this morning:
Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis will not start for a second straight game because of an injury to his right side. Kipnis is hitting .279 with six homers and 11 RBI since being recalled from Class AAA Columbus. At his locker this morning, Kipnis declined to say what is injured.
“I don’t know the extent yet, either,” he said. “I don’t think it’s serious. If it is anything serious, it will be out in public in due time.”
Then he reiterated: He does not think it is serious. Later in the morning, Kipnis got more specific. He told mlb.com’s Jordan Bastian that his right side is stiff and sore. Kipnis said he is available off the bench today when the Indians are scheduled to face the Twins at Progressive Field.”
Good news is that Joe Haden appears ready to get his Deion Sanders on if needed. I’m not sure Deion would’ve worn those socks though, or a helmet in the field, but maybe Haden’s looking to mix-in a little John Olerud out there at second base if Cleveland needs him today. That defensive stance looks pretty good from Joe in the picture above; assuming he wears a glove on that left hand instead of the Wahoo foam finger.
For full disclosure, I came across the above picture of Haden this morning when @ClevelandStrikesBack tweeted it out. I’m not sure who took it or when it was taken, but it is pretty awesome of Joe to be there in support of your Cleveland Indians that way. Tremendous person that Joe Haden.
Anyways, Jason Donald really will be getting the start at second base, his second in a row in place of Kipnis today, when the Tribe takes on the Twins today for the series finale at 1pm down at Progressive Field. Donald filled in pretty admirably for Kipnis last night, going 2 for 4 with a Triple and a Run scored, so hopefully he can keep that up.
In the meantime, hopefully the couple days rest are all Kipnis needs to get back in the line-up as well. Gotta have that guy back soon, he’s awesome.
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David Huff is scheduled to take the mound for the Tribe today at 1:05 pm in place of Carlos Carrasco who’s out with an elbow injury. Kevin Slowey will replace Scott Baker on the bump for the Twins. Roll Tribe.
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Update: Image via Cleveland.com Photo Gallery
