2013 Spring Training Game #20: Indians 5, White Sox 2

Ubaldo Jimenez pitched five strong innings, giving up seven hits and two earned runs, while striking out three without giving up a walk, as the Cleveland Indians defeated the Chicago White Sox 5-2 on Wednesday afternoon.

You have to love an Ubaldo Jimenez start. The enigmatic righty is a lightning rod of attention whenever he pitches at this point. Today was no exception, but Jimenez showed improvement in Wednesday’s game, getting through it without giving up any walks, and getting his second win of the spring.

The bullpen locked things up with four innings of one-hit baseball, showcasing just how good and how deep the Indians’ bullpen really is.

• Asdrubal Cabrera made his return to the line-up after missing time while playing for Venezuela during the World Baseball Classic. By all indications, the Indians’ starting shortstop didn’t miss a beat. He doubled in the third, driving in both Michael Bourn and Lonnie Chisenhall. Cabrera’s knock has been his shape in camp. There’s been no discussion of that from Cabrera from the start. Perhaps this is the year he really breaks out.


• Lonnie Chisenhall was the only Indians’ offensive player with two hits, as he continued his hot spring. The Indians’ third baseman is hitting nearly .400 during the spring, and helped out the numbers on Wednesday with a leadoff double in the third inning, and a single in the sixth. Terry Francona is all in with Chisenhall, and the plan right now appears to be to let the kid play every day. I’m sure Mike Aviles will get his chance, but the job is Chisenhall’s.


• Nick Hagadone has been downright dominant this spring, and what’s scary is that he has the stuff to do it. Hagadone has an explosive arm, and if he can dial it in, he surely could be one of the better relievers in all of baseball. No, that’s not hyperbole. Of course, there is more to it than pure talent. Hagadone hasn’t been able to put it all together in the regular season, but he could really force the Indians’ hand if he continues to dominate.


• I’m still onboard the Ubaldo Jimenez express this spring. It’s easy to bash the guy after the season-and-a-half that he’s spent here. It’s been one implosion after another for the lanky righty. He’s struggled this spring at times, but the one area in which he’s been focusing on is the rhythm of his delivery, and it does appear to be getting better based on the reports that have been going out. I don’t, by any stretch, think that Ubaldo is going to find his inner-rhythm and all-the-sudden become one of the best pitchers in baseball again. Thtat truly would be a miracle. If he could find a way to be the efficient starter that he was today, the complaints would go away fairly quickly. How efficient was Jimenez today? He went five innings and still needed a bullpen session to get in his complete work. His line could be the make-or-break of the team’s playoff chances.

Tomorrow’s game

The Indians take on the Kansas City Royals tomorrow, Thursday, March 14 at 4:05PM ET/1:05PM PT with ZACH McALLISTER matching up against JEREMY GUTHRIE. The Indians will play a “B” game vs. Seattle at 10AM in Goodyear.

Jim is currently the co-site editor, the ATF/Carolina Mudcats/Indians/General Site Columnist, and the co-host of IPI's weekly online radio show, Smoke Signals. You can follow Jim on Twitter @Jim_IPI, or contact him via e-mail at jpete@indiansprospectinsider.com.