Tribe Fans Get Their Wishes: Brantley to Start and Sowers Placed on Waivers

It helps when I check Twitter BEFORE I post. Tribe fans got two of their biggest wishes today, as according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, Jeremy Sowers has been placed on outright waivers (and sent to Columbus) and Michael Brantley has made the team and will start everyday in left.

It was time to cut ties with Sowers, who was quite simply a huge disappointment of a 1st round pick. Space was needed on the 40-man, Sowers was hurt and out of options, it just all added up to bad news for Sowers. If he can’t make it with the Indians, I’m curious to see who WOULD take a chance on Sowers. He’ll spend some time in AAA Columbus first, so this may not be the last we see of Jeremy Sowers.

Brantley turned out to be a baseball decision over a payroll decision. And although I disagree with it 100%, kudos to the Indians for having some balls and deciding to go with the best possible team. And congratulations on wasting $2 million on Russell Branyan, because with Brantley in left and LaPorta at 1st, there’s going to be no room for Branyan to play.

Finally, Jensen Lewis and Jamey Wright have made the bullpen. Saul Rivera is out and will go to Columbus till May, when he can opt-out. Honestly haven’t been paying a lick of attention to this battle, but I like Jensen Lewis as he’s a bit of a local boy and hope he can get his head back on straight.

The final rotation spot hinges on David Huff’s outing today. If he pitches anything close to well, expect Huff the Magic Lefty to fill out the rotation.

The Indians have optioned Wyatt Toregas and Trevor Crowe to AAA Columbus.

The final roster decisions will be made tomorrow.