CLEVELAND: Indians outfielder Michael Brantley hopes this time that things are different. Right now, it feels different, which is the most positive news he’s had in quite some time.
Brantley is attempting, for a third time, to return to the Indians’ lineup and stay in it after offseason shoulder surgery and twice being shut down because of soreness. To date, he’s logged only 11 regular-season games and two Cactus League-games this season.
Brantley, now on the 60-day disabled list, took batting practice at Progressive Field before Tuesday’s game against the Detroit Tigers. The feedback was all positive, a hopeful sign that the third attempt is the last following two anti-inflammatory shots, two opinions on his shoulder, biceps tendonitis and a lost first half to the regular season.
“I just know I’m stronger,” Brantley said. “I did a lot of rehab, a lot of strengthening exercises and I know how I’m bouncing back every day. I know how my body feels. I’m in a great position. I feel great. I’m very excited to come back and help this team in a positive way.”
Brantley’s progress with his shoulder has been the underlying question in a season in which the Indians have jumped out to their biggest lead in the American League Central (6½ games entering Tuesday) this late in the season since 1999.
“That’s a nice step for him to get on the field and hit,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “Once they diagnosed what was going on, he had been working so hard with that shoulder that he’s pretty strong. I think that was probably the best news we could have ever received when he got the diagnosis [biceps tendonitis], got the shot, cleared it up and now he can go about his business and return to action.
“We’ll see how long that takes. We need to still use good judgment, because he’s been down a long time.”
Honoring Larry Doby
Indians great Larry Doby, who broke the color barrier in the American League only weeks after Jackie Robinson did so in Major League Baseball, has been nominated to receive the Congressional Gold Medal in a bill cosponsored by U.S. Reps. Jim Renacci, R-Wadsworth, and Bill Pascrell Jr., D-New Jersey.
The bill, titled the Larry Doby Congressional Gold Medal Act, seeks to posthumously award him the medal that represents Congress’ highest expression of national appreciation. Robinson was awarded it in 2003.
“Baseball before Larry Doby and Jackie Robinson was informally segregated,” Rep. Renacci said in a prepared statement. “While Jackie Robinson was the first African American player in the National League, the Cleveland Indians made Larry Doby the first in the American League, forever changing the face of baseball. Not only did Doby wear an Indians’ uniform proudly in the franchise’s last World Series win in 1948, but he wore our nation’s uniform while he served in the Navy during WWII. I am pleased to join my friend and colleague Rep. Pascrell in introducing this legislation to honor Larry Doby for the great strides he made for the game of baseball and the civil rights movement in the United States. Go Tribe!”
Ryan Lewis can be reached at rlewis@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Indians blog at www.ohio.com/indians. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/RyanLewisABJ and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/RyanLewisABJ
