Written by Nino Colla

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You guys know what tomorrow is, right? I didn't think I'd have to remind you. One more Spring Training Rundown for the road. Enjoy it.

[TO ZEBULON AND BACK]

Zebulon sounds like a far-away planet inhabited by unreal life that is most likely neon green. At least in my mind. But I don't think the people in Carolina are green. I've been there, I'm pretty sure they aren't.

The most fun about the Indians playing the "Mudcats" in a North Carolina exhibition game to welcome the new franchise to the Indians organization?

The 11-0 score the real Indians put up offensively against their own minor league pitching. It's what Michael Scott calls a win-win-win.

"It's a great opportunity for us to start our affiliation here in Zebulon and start a new chapter for our A-ball guys," Acta said. "It's also good for our guys because they know where they're going and that they never forget where they came from. It's good to be humble once in awhile."

Main damage was done by Jason Donald as he hit a three-run homer and knocked in five total to conclude a very successful spring. Shelley Duncan hit a solo shot as did Asdrubal Cabrera.

Travis Hafner was 1-2 with a RBI double and there was also some walks galore. Rhett Rholinger (ya you know it) and Beau Mills had two each and fourth outfielder Aaron Cunningham had three (with two runs). Jack Hannahan and Jose Lopez also doubled.

A very productive day for the Indians offense against Scott Barnes and Giovanni Soto.

Derek Lowe was masterful, throwing three shutout frames with just a hit and three strikeouts. He threw 16 pitches, all for strikes. Seriously? That's what the numbers say. Fantastic.

I'm ready to play for real, let's go.

[PRIMER RECAP]

Usually I take a giant post to recap the primer, but I'm going to do it now on the eve of Opening Day because this year, it wasn't that... well Spring Training was kind of dull until towards the end.

Three to Keep An Eye On: Michael Brantley, Aaron Cunningham, Russ Canzler

Brantley certainly was interesting to watch as he came up with an injury, took a little break, then came back and started cracking some home runs. I said it was a put-up or shut-up year for him and he looks to be ready to go.

Aaron Cunningham won the fourth outfield spot, but it was pretty much by default. Hopefully it's one of those cases where someone has a whatever spring and then comes into the regular season and surprises you.

Russ Canzler did his best, but his defense likely kept him off the roster. He did hit and he hit enough to where you have to imagine he's one of the first guys up if there's a need at a spot he plays.

Injury Watch: Grady Sizemore, Carlos Carrasco, Hector Rondon, Nick Weglarz

No sign of Hector Rondon and Carrasco has made progress in terms of his rehab.

But of course, labeling Grady Sizemore with the injury of "Body" perhaps was a bad omen on my part. It wasn't his knee, or his oblique, or whatever injuries he's had previously, it was a back that acted up on him and has forced him out for the foreseeable future. Oh well.

Nick Weglarz reportedly looks healthy. From the multiple accounts of people who were at Arizona who saw him, he may be ready to re-start his career with a clean bill of health and a confident attitude.

40 Man Endangered Species: Corey Kluber, Danny Salazar, Thomas Neal, Nick Weglarz

All remain on the roster (for now), as the space needed was cleared up in other ways... Jose Lopez has still not officially been added though, so, it's not out of the woods yet.

Position Battles

Final Bullpen Spots: Dan Wheeler and Nick Hagadone were my picks.... Who would have thought that Dan Wheeler would have been right after the spring he had. Hagadone had a decent spring, but addition Jairo Asencio claimed the final spot.

Final Rotation Spot: I actually picked Jon Garland, with the requirement that he actually signed. He didn't, so I didn't really give a backup, but I thought Slowey would get it after that. Gomez, winner.

Starting Third Baseman: I had Jack Hannahan, with the inkling that the Indians would just go with him no matter what. We'll never know for sure, but it seemed that way, especially when Chisenhall did not hit.

Final Bench Spots: We didn't have the Left Field job up there, because we didn't know Grady Sizemore was hurt, so Shelley Duncan got a bench spot, and Jason Donald got the utility job, with Aaron Cunningham getting the "fourth" outfield job. That is sort of right. Sort of. Jose Lopez really benefited from Sizemore going down when you look at it that way.

Burning Questions

Why Did the Indians Sign So Many Veterans: You now see? They signed a lot for the relief pitching battle and they still had to go out and make two waiver acquisitions to find someone to take one of those spots. Then Sizemore goes down, which as I just mentioned, helped Jose Lopez. It could have helped a guy like Ryan Spilborghs or Fred Lewis (provided he didn't get hurt).

Who Stands to Benefit the Most from an Injury: Mentioned Sizemore specifically and then the glut of outfielders. Of Course Shelley Duncan gained the most out of all of it, but again, Jose Lopez is not on this roster if Sizemore is healthy.

First Base Competition: Yup, over.

Carmona? Heredia?: Neither. It's Roberto Hernandez. We still don't know when or if he's coming, but we've seemed to make some headway and it's officially Roberto Hernandez, so get it right.

Only Two Starter Spots: Yeah it was a joke, because a third came open when Sizemore went down. We all should have known better.

[UBALDO SUSPENDED, PLANS TO APPEAL]

Manny Acta is less than pleased with Major League Baseball's quick ruling on the Ubaldo V. Tulowitzki case on Monday. Ubaldo Jimenez was suspended five games, the equivalent of one start for a starting pitcher. Acta said it is inconsistent base off other cases in the past, most notably Roberto Hernandez's plunking of Mark Teixeira last year.

"It's disappointing, but I'm not surprised," Acta said. "I'm just very disappointed at their inconsistency on how they make their decisions."

"I thought it was worse than this situation," Acta said of the incident involving Hernandez. "Both dugouts knew they were thrown at. I raised a stink about it, but I don't know. Maybe they don't get [SportsTime Ohio] over there or whatever. I'm very disappointed at the inconsistency of their decision making."

Acta believes that MLB went a lot on what people said in the media and it does seem like the media had a big influence in this, given how wild the discussion went.

"I'm somewhat familiar with the negotiations between the Indians and Roberto," Stephen Payne, a visa expert and lobbyist hired by Hernandez's agents, told the Cleveland Plain Dealer on Monday. "I feel there was a general understanding between all parties that the punishment would be a $7.5 million reduction in pay [as opposed to a suspension].The State Department could come back and ask for a suspension in addition to the reduction in salary that the Indians and Roberto have agreed to."

"I'm ready to go," Perez said. "I feel good, I feel strong and my body is responding well. It's not the most ideal of circumstances, missing four months of Spring Training, but it is what it is. It might be a battle, but I'm going to roll with it."

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