The Cleveland Indians have put three players on the 15-day disabled list and 2 players on the 60-day disabled list to start the 2011 season. Starting center fielder Grady Sizemore was placed on the 15-day D.L. as he continues to recover from microfracture surgery to his knee. The Indians hope to get Sizemore back near the end of April. Michael Brantley will replace Sizemore in CF until he’s ready to return and I think he will do a good job for the Tribe. Infielder Jason Donald was also put on the 15-day D.L. with a fractured left middle finger. He was in line to be the Tribe’s starting 3B before his injury. Jack Hannahan will be starting at 3B at least until Donald is ready to return to action. The Indians hope that Donald heals quickly because Hannahan just isn’t that good. Righty reliever Joe Smith was put on the 15-day D.L. with a strained abdominal muscle. The Indians hope that the side arming Smith returns soon because his style is so much different than the rest of the Tribe’s relievers. Rookie 3B Jared Goedert has been played on the 60-day D.L. due to a oblique injury. This is bad luck for Goedert who has been knocking on the door to the major leagues the last couple of years. Outfielder Trevor Crowe has also been placed on the 60-day D.L. with right rotator cuff soreness. This could be a big loss for the Indians as Crowe was a very valuable backup outfielder the past couple of years.

The Indians have dealt 28-year old righty swinging 2B/3B Jayson Nix from the Blue Jays for future considerations. Nix played in 78 games for the Indians last year and he was 66 of 282 (.234 avg, .705 OPS) with 29 runs scored, 13 homers, 29 RBIs and 1 stolen base. But, he was an all or nothing hitter for the Tribe as he whiffed 75 times last year. Nix’ iron glove at 3B doomed him with the Indians who decided to go with Jack Hannahan over him at the hot corner.

The Cleveland Indians have released veteran right reliever Doug Mathis. Mathis pitched in 8 games (0 starts) for the Indians this spring and he was 2-1 with a 2.89 ERA and a 2.04 WHIP. Those numbers don’t look too bad on the surface but he walked 10 batters in only 9 1/3 innings and that’s what led to his release.

The Seattle Mariners have returned Rule 5 Draft Pick Jose Flores to the Indians. The 21-year old righty pitched in 28 games (0 starts) in A-ball last year and he was 1-1 with 6 saves, a 2.14 ERA and a 1.00 WHIP. He only gave up 35 hits and walked 7 batters while whiffing 51 batters in only 42 innings, which is pretty darn impressive. Flores has pitched in 79 games (13 starts) in his first four years in the minors and he is 3-11 with 8 saves, a 3.92 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP. The Indians are glad to get Flores back as he is a prospect on the rise.

43-year old Manny Acta is back as the Indians’ manager in 2011, so don’t expect the players to be coached up too much. The Indians were 69-93 (42.6%) in Acta’s first year in charge in the dugout. He now has a 158-252 (38.5%) in his first four years as a manager in the majors. In Acta’s defense, the Indians’ roster isn’t exactly brimming with talent.