News
Tribe could have hot-hitting Choo back
Cleveland (59-76) vs. Minnesota (68-67), 1:05 p.m. ET
By Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com
09/05/09 10:46 PM ET
CLEVELAND -- Maybe the first song heard by Shin-Soo Choo's newborn son will be "Nobody" by the Wonder Girls. That's the song Tribe fans on Gateway Plaza will hear on Sunday afternoon, as the South Korean girl group will be on-hand to perform their hit single in advance of the Indians' series finale against the Twins. It's a song that's become a staple of the Progressive Field musical selection, because the lyrics ("I want nobody, nobody but you!") sound suspiciously like an homage to another South Korean talent ("I want nobody, nobody but Choo!"). "I like it," Choo said of the song earlier this year. "It gives me an energy boost." Choo should be back in Cleveland just in time to hear it Sunday. He was at his home near Phoenix on Friday and Saturday to be with his wife, Woon Mi, for the birth of the couple's second son. The baby did not yet have a name, but he weighed in at 8 pounds, 3 ounces, and mom and son are said to be doing well. So with a new child in his life and his favorite tune being belted out by Korea's answer to the Spice Girls, Choo should be ready to return to the Tribe lineup. And he's in one of his strongest stretches of the season, having hit safely in 15 of his past 18 games, batting .364 (28-for-77) with a homer and 11 RBIs. He's batting .390 (16-for-41) with two doubles, a triple and six RBIs over his last 10 games. On the whole, it's been a strong first full season in the big leagues for Choo, who leads the team with 74 RBIs, ranks eighth in the American League in on-base percentage (.396) and is 15th in the league in walks (66). He's been an asset in the outfield with 11 assists, and on the basepaths, where he's swiped 18 bags in 20 tries. All in all, it's a season worth singing about. And the Wonder Girls, who will also throw out a ceremonial first pitch and sign autographs for the fans, will be here to do so. Pitching matchupCLE: LHP David Huff (8-7, 6.57 ERA)
Huff is creeping up on an innings cap that the Indians will use to preserve his arm, and that's why the club skipped him the last time through the rotation, with Carlos Carrasco taking his place Tuesday against the Tigers. Huff suffered an elbow injury in the Minors in 2007, and the Indians want to be careful with him, so they'll likely cut him off around 160 innings pitched between the Majors and Minors this season. He's currently at 140 2/3. Huff was solid against the Royals on Aug. 26, posting six innings of work, in which he allowed a pair of runs on seven hits with a walk and two strikeouts. MIN: RHP Nick Blackburn (9-9, 4.16 ERA)
Blackburn earned a much-needed win with a seven-inning, one-run performance on Monday against the White Sox. It was Blackburn's first victory since July 10, a stretch in which he went 0-5 with an 8.22 ERA. On Monday, though, Blackburn was able to scatter six Chicago hits while striking out seven to push his record back to .500. He has posted a 1-2 record this year against Cleveland -- including a 1-1 mark at Progressive Field -- with a 5.17 ERA in three starts. Tidbits
Throughout the second half, some people insisted the Indians should shut down Grady Sizemore. The team finally made that move Friday, and some think it should have come much sooner in this lost season. "I don't understand that," manager Eric Wedge said. "What do we want him ready for? Are we getting him ready for Thanksgiving? Are we getting him ready for Christmas? ... The guy wanted to play, and he wasn't putting himself in any danger for next year, so that's how we played it." ... Michael Brantley has the green light on the basepaths, and that's certainly a rare luxury for a rookie, especially one in his first week in the big leagues. "His feel is something I trust early on," Wedge said. And Wedge, of course, reserves the right to take away that green light anytime he sees fit. ... Though cleared to be activated off the DL, the switch-hitting Trevor Crowe is still limited a bit from swinging from the left side. ... Kelly Shoppach is in a 4-for-34 slide. He's struck out 16 times in 43 plate appearances in that span. ... Friday's win was the Tribe's 700th all-time at Progressive Field. Tickets
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• Monday: Indians (Carlos Carrasco, 0-1, 18.00) vs. Rangers (Brandon McCarthy, 6-2, 4.61), 6:05 p.m. ET
• Tuesday: Indians (Aaron Laffey, 7-4, 3.36) vs. Rangers (Tommy Hunter, 7-3, 3.14), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Wednesday: Indians (Fausto Carmona, 3-9, 6.08) vs. Rangers (TBD), 12:05 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.
