NewsTribe's Lewis has plenty to prove
Toronto (3-1) at Cleveland (0-3), Friday, 4:05 p.m. ET
Scott Lewis didn't fare well in his final two spring starts but performed fine in a September audition last season. (AP)
By Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com
04/09/09 7:00 PM ET
ARLINGTON -- The rotation spot Scott Lewis won in Spring Training camp came with a bonus prize. Actually, you might call it a catch. Lewis was slotted into the rotation's fourth spot and will therefore get the starting nod Thursday, when the Indians play their home opener at Progressive Field against the Blue Jays. For Lewis, who grew up and has his immediate family in Washington Court House, Ohio, and went to Ohio State, this start is a big one. "I'm ready to get it out of the way," he said with a laugh. "It's almost more nerve-wracking than my debut. It's a sold-out crowd and everybody's buzzing about Opening Day." Lewis' start is a big one for the Indians, too. Their starting staff let them down in the season-opening sweep at the hands of the Rangers. The rotation's two supposed stalwarts -- Cliff Lee and Fausto Carmona -- each had an erratic outing, and No. 3 starter Carl Pavano was abused for nine runs in an inning-plus. It is up to Lewis to put an end to this early-season slide. And he has a skid of his own to attend to, as well. Lewis' last two outings of the Cactus League season -- the ones that came immediately following the announcement that he's in the rotation -- were a mess. He allowed 15 runs on 21 hits in 6 2/3 innings over those two starts and blamed the dry air and its effect on his ability to get a proper grip on the ball. Lewis said he had less problems with his grip in a Minor League intrasquad start Sunday. "I wasn't thinking about it as much," he said. "I was just trying to align my mechanics and my delivery and finish my pitches, instead of worrying about how the ball was coming out of my hand. Everything was a lot better. I was locating down and away like I'm used to." It was Lewis' superb location that made him so effective for the Indians in four September starts last year. He doesn't have excellent stuff, but he gets by with an upper-80s fastball because of his ability to hit his spots and separate the velocities of his fastball and changeup, which tops out in the upper 70s. "That's a big pitch for me," Lewis said of the changeup. "It should be a big pitch for me, as long as I can maintain the [proper] arm action." Last year, Lewis came seemingly from nowhere to fill in for an injured Anthony Reyes and go 4-0 with a 2.63 ERA. His debut saw him toss eight shutout innings against the Orioles, to whom he surrendered just three hits. And yet, for all his success at the tail end of the season, Lewis entered spring as a long shot to beat out a crowded field for the open rotation spot. The Indians clearly favored Aaron Laffey to win the job, as Laffey received the start in each of his Cactus League outings. Lewis' first start didn't come until nearly three weeks into the exhibition calendar. Did Lewis feel overlooked? "I wouldn't be here right now if I was overlooked," he said. "[Not getting many starts] didn't bother me. There were some guys ahead of me, I'm sure. But I wasn't worried too much about it. Out of the bullpen or not, it all counts. I just tried to treat everything like a start." Now, he's lined up to make the biggest start of his professional career. And this time, he knows he won't catch anybody by surprise. "I want to show that I deserve to be up here," he said. "There are some expectations I've got to deal with now." Opening Day FanfareIn addition to all the usual pageantry associated with the home opener (the giant American flag, balloons galore, video presentations and the national anthem performed by the Ohio State University spring athletic band), the Indians will pay a special tribute to Tribe legend Herb Score, who passed away on Nov. 11 of last year. Score's wife, Nancy, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch, and 27 fans will receive a special golden microphone trophy. All season, the Indians are wearing a uniform patch that includes Score's No. 27, his name and a microphone. Pitching matchup
CLE: LHP Scott Lewis (2009 debut)
Lewis went 1-3 with an 8.22 ERA in eight appearances, including three starts, this spring. He has never faced the Blue Jays. TOR: RHP Scott Richmond (2009 debut)
Richmond -- a rookie at 29 years old -- opens the season in Toronto's rotation after making just five starts for the club in 2008. Richmond is a native of North Vancouver, British Columbia, and was signed as a non-drafted free agent two winters ago following three years in the Independent League with the Edmonton Cracker Cats. Richmond opened his first pro tour at Double-A and was quickly moved to Triple-A and then to the big leagues. Richmond had an inconsistent spring after missing time for the World Baseball Classic, but the Jays decided to give him the fifth spot over prospect Brad Mills. Tidbits
The Tribe is 58-50 all-time in its home openers. ... This is only the second time the Indians have opened at home against the Blue Jays. The other time was April 19, 1980. ... This is the first time the Indians have started a season 0-3 since 1996. They went on to win 99 games that year. ... The Tribe was swept by the Rangers in a three-game set for the first time since Aug. 16-18, 2004, also in Arlington. ... Grady Sizemore had a two-homer day Thursday, but that's nothing new for the Indians' leadoff man. He had five two-homer days last season -- the most in the American League. ... With the home opener taking place on Good Friday in Lent, Progressive Field will feature a fish fry special. Fans will be able to purchase breaded cod and fresh-cut waffle fries in select locations in the ballpark. Tickets
Buy tickets now to catch the game in person.
On the Internet
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio• Gameday
• Official game notes On television
• WKYC 3, STO-HD On radio
• WTAM 1100 Up next
• Saturday: Blue Jays (Roy Halladay, 1-0, 6.43) at Indians (Cliff Lee, 0-1, 12.60), 1:05 p.m. ET
• Sunday: Blue Jays (David Purcey, 0-0, 2.57) at Indians (Anthony Reyes, 2009 debut), 1:05 p.m. ET
• Monday: Royals (TBD) at Indians (Fausto Carmona, 0-1, 10.80), 8:10 p.m. ET
Anthony Castrovince is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
