Observations From the Indians 5-3 Exhibition Win Saturday Night in Pittsburgh

The Indians finally got a chance to take the field against someone other than themselves on Saturday, as the team traveled to PNC Park in Pittsburgh to take on the Pirates in the first of three exhibition games against the NL Central foe.

The second game between the two teams will take place on Monday at Progressive Field at 7pm broadcast live on STO.

The finale of the series will shift back to Pittsburgh on Wednesday at 7pm, and then 48 hours later the Indians will open for real as they will host the Kansas City Royals as Shane Bieber will take the hill for the Tribe against Danny Duffy for the Royals.

Here’s a couple observations from the Saturday night Tribe 5-3 win in Pittsburgh.

A Show of Solidarity

The Indians got national attention on Saturday night for what they did prior to the game during the national anthem, something that is sure to draw attention team-by-team during the 2020 season.

The team stood with their hands over their hearts, and placed one arm on each of their teammates shoulder, basically violating Major League Baseball’s “no touching” rule that is in place for the season.

It was a powerful and well thought out gesture, showing togetherness for this team as they try to show that they are well aware of the social issues that we face as a country. Shortstop Francisco Lindor stated that it was to show not only respect for the country but also that things have to change as a society.

"I think as a team we stand by the change but we also respect the flag and the national anthem as a team," Lindor said after the Indians win. "We understand that it is time for a change and change is due."

It will be interesting to see if other teams follow suite as the season gets going, and also if this will be the one and only time the Indians do something like this prior to a game and if the league will say anything about it.

Plesac Looks Sharp

It appears that Indians second-year Zach Plesac is in mid-season form (then again it is about mid-season in a normal year), as the pitching vying for a spot in the rotation went five innings, allowing six hits and two runs.

He didn’t walk a batter and struck out six as the Indians offense eventually rallied for a 5-3 victory.

You can argue that Plesac shouldn’t have allowed any runs as after holding Pittsburgh in check for four innings their only runs came after a ball hit off the glove of Domingo Santana in right field in the 5 that eventually allowed two runs to score after a Guillermo Heredia two-run single.

If the Tribe goes with a six-man rotation out of the gate there’s no doubt that Plesac should be in that rotation, and at this point it’s tough to argue that he shouldn’t be in the team’s plans in a five-man rotation.

“We gave him a lot last year and he kind of answered the bell,” Tribe manager Terry Francona said after the game.

“Now he’s had time to go home, get stronger and work on his pitches, work on his delivery. And there’s a lot to like.”

“Last year, I was searching at times,” Plesac said.

“I think this year, I have a much better understanding of what I want to do with my body and how I move and what it takes to execute a good pitch.”

If the team goes with five pitchers to start the year and the final spot is between Plesac and Adam Plutko, it’s hard to imagine the team not going with Plesac for how well he’s throwing in this “summer camp” of 2020.

Rally Time

The offense was all zero’s in the first seven innings, but finally got things going in the 8, scoring four runs as they rallied for a 5-3 win over Pittsburgh.

The big hit in the 8 came from backup infielder Christian Arroyo, who tied the affair with a bases-clearing double to make it a 3-3 game.

Another backup infielder won the game with a double in the same inning, that being Yu Chang who is hitting .276 during “summer camp.”

Greg Allen added an insurance run in the 9 with a run-scoring single. Allen is part of the team’s crowded outfield and it’s tough to see him making the roster as of now.

Daniel Johnson (.313 during camp) hit a double to get things going in the 9, eventually scoring on Allen’s hit.

Pen Steps Up

After Plesac left the game a couple arms in the pen looking to make the team threw scoreless innings to hold the Pirates in check.

Dom Leone (who got the win) threw a scorless inning, as did Cam Hill and Phil Maton, who closed out the game with a scoreless ninth.

These are all interesting arms for the Tribe and guys that are going to be tough decisions for Terry Francona and the coaching staff when they make up the roster this week.

Hill and Maton have been impressive when given the chance, as Hill sports a 1.30 ERA in games thus far while Maton is even better ERA-wise at 1.13.

The pen is always changing around, but these three guys are for sure in the mix as the season closes in.

Pittsburgh Pitiful

Indians fans who love to complain about things that the front office and ownership do regarding the Tribe really need to take a look at what’s happened in Pittsburgh with the Pirates.

Once a team that seemed to be in the playoff mix year after year, the Pirates, much like the Detroit Tigers in the AL Central, have fallen on hard times, last season going 69-93 and finishing last in the five-team NL Central.

The team, even with some young talent like slugger Josh Bell, don’t look to fare much better in 2020, and while it’s just spring training/summer camp, the team is a rather awful 3-16 against other teams thus far.

Joe Musgrove, who threw three innings to start the game against the Indians Saturday night, is the team’s ace, and this looks like a long rebuilding process with one-time Indians hitting coach Derek Shelton heading up as the team’s manager.

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