CLEVELAND, Ohio – Acting manager DeMarlo Hale realizes the Cleveland Indians lost two out of three on their last trip to Chicago, but in his view there was a lot more good than bad to take away from the trip.
Given what the team had been through on Friday – from the insanity of the trading deadline to receiving news that Terry Francona was missing out on the rest of the season as a manager – Hale said he was “happy and proud” of the way how the young club played.
Hale told reporters on Zoom Monday that the Indians in all three games matched the intensity of a late-season atmosphere created by large crowds in the Chicago guaranteed course field.
“It felt like it was September,” said Hale. “As with every inning, every run should be a factor in whether you can make it.”
Chicago took a walk-off win (2-1) on Brian Goodwin’s home run in the ninth on Sunday after bogging down a one-run shootout win on Saturday. Friday’s two-run defeat included an incident after James Karinchak pitched Jose Abreu in the helmet.
Hale wouldn’t say why he thinks the Indians have played so closely against the leading White Sox this year. In 14 direct duels, the clubs are 7-7, and 10 of the 14 games were decided in two or fewer runs.
Hale didn’t want to separate the White Sox from the rest of the league but said he would use the rivalry for motivation in the future.
“Let’s keep playing hard and see where we land,” said Hale. “The only thing we can control is play the game today and do whatever we can to put us in position to win.”
1. Tito update
The Indians confirmed that manager Terry Francona had hip replacement surgery at 7 a.m. Monday morning at the Cleveland Clinic, a team official said cleveland.com that the operation went well.
2. A kind of homecoming
Hale served as a bank coach for John Gibbons in Toronto from 2013 to 2018 and still has fond memories of his work there. He said Toronto is a progressive city that compares favorably to major cities like Chicago, New York, and Philadelphia.
“It kind of has that big-city vibe,” said Hale. “It’s multicultural and quite diverse here. They support their sports teams. I think it’s still hockey town, but it wasn’t bad. I met some good people up here. “
3. Discharge
After Myles Straw joined the team after a trade on Friday from Houston, Hale said he is still “thinking through” who will lead between Straw and Bradley Zimmer.
Cleveland will face left-handers in their next two games against Toronto, which could make the decision a little easier.
“I think you’ll see Straw more often on this show,” said Hale. “As soon as we get started here and Straw is comfortable and I can see him a bit, I’ll see where I think he fits best.”
Straw is a career .231 leadoff hitter with a .268 on-base percentage in 21 games outside of the top spot. Zimmer has a career average of 0.225 and an on-base mark of 0.304 in 24 games.
“I don’t think I’ll be jumping around that much,” said Hale. “But this series (straw) will be at the top of the list.”
4. Bradley back
Bobby Bradley returned to the club Monday after spending the weekend at home in Mississippi for a funeral. He wasn’t in Hale’s starting XI against Toronto left-hander Robbie Ray, but scored for Ernie Clement in the ninth round when he beat Blue Jays’ hard-throwing right-handed Jordan Romano.
Hale said he wanted to give Bradley some time to re-acclimatize before playing the last three games in the series.
“He’s going to have to face a few left-handers, too,” Hale said. “I just thought today was good from his travels and what he had been through.”
5. Civale update
Right-handed Aaron Civale was scheduled to host a bullpen session at the Rogers Center on Monday. Hale said the 26-year-old improved his will with his sprained middle finger. Hale expected the intensity of Civale’s bullpen to increase.
“That’s a good sign,” said Hale.
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