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| Wednesday, March 28 | |||||
| Branyan to play third base for Indians | |||||
WINTER HAVEN, Fla. – Travis Fryman was given permission to
resume throwing Wednesday, but the Cleveland Indians five-time
All-Star third baseman will begin the season on the 15-day DL with
a torn elbow ligament.
Fryman, coming off his best season, will be replaced at third on
Opening Day by Russell Branyan, who has only played 10 games at
third in the majors.
"Unless something dramatic happens, that's our decision for
now," Indians general manager John Hart said. "This will allow
Travis to take a little more time with it. It's in the best
interest of everybody."
When the Indians break camp on Thursday, Fryman will stay behind
at the Indians' training facility – along with pitchers Charles
Nagy and Jaret Wright – to continue his throwing program.
Fryman threw for the first time in more than two weeks on
Wednesday and said his elbow held up well. He threw about 50 times
from about 30 yards at 75 percent velocity.
"I thought it went well," Fryman said. "The big thing now is
to see how it responds the next day. Is it sore? Is it stiff? How
did it hold up? I'm encouraged. I'm glad to get to throw and my
shoulder, which was causing me more pain before, felt strong."
The Indians intend to place Fryman on the DL retroactive to
March 23, meaning he would be eligible to come off on April 7 and
would miss only the season's first three games.
"We're trying to get his arm healthy," Indians manager Charlie
Manuel said. "Our first plan is to get him well."
Fryman first began experiencing pain in his elbow late last
season and became concerned when it worsened early in camp and he
began bouncing throws to first base in the dirt.
Indians team doctors discovered a partial tear in Fryman's elbow
ligament and had him stop throwing on March 14. He was fitted with
a brace so he could continue to hit, but he discarded the device
earlier this week because it was too constricting.
Fryman wasn't aware of the Indians' plans for him after his
morning throwing session. Hart, who was in Haines City, Fla., for
the Indians exhibition with Kansas City, even said Fryman could
"potentially be our opening day guy" at third.
But after Hart spoke with Cleveland's training staff, the club
decided to place Fryman on the DL.
Fryman was one of the few Indians' regulars who managed to stay
off the DL last season. He rebounded from an injury-filled '99 by
setting career-highs in RBI (106), average (.321) and hits (184).
He was named Cleveland's team MVP.
Branyan has a had a huge spring at the plate, leading the AL
with eight homers and 20 RBI entering Wednesday's game. He can't
match Fryman, who won his first Gold Glove last season, in the
field but has shown some nice flashes.
Branyan came up as a third baseman but played just one game
there last season before being switched to the outfield. He made 44
errors in 1996 at third in the minors.
"He's an average to an above-average fielder," said Manuel.
"He's getting used to playing ground balls again."
Manuel remembers reports that Branyan was a liability in the
field.
"I saw him play and I said, 'This guy is not that bad',"
Manuel said. "He's done a good job of backhanding balls and he's
been very accurate on his long throws."
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