These aren’t surprising moves. Ambriz wasn’t going to be a factor this year after undergoing Tommy John surgery this offseason. Reyes would have been arbitration-eligible had he remained on the roster (and you know the Indians couldn’t let that happen). And Gimenez just kind of sucks.

But the Indians have to get the 40-man roster set by Nov. 20th for the Rule 5 draft. And they still need to add Grady Sizemore and Carlos Santana, both on the 60-day DL. The 40-man roster currently sits at 39 (not including Sizemore or Santana).

Tony at Indians Prospect Insider has an excellent breakdown of some of the “at risk” guys on the 40-man roster. And there are some interesting names that might need to be protected, such as Nick Hagadone, Matt McBride, Jared Goedert and Rob Bryson. The Indians are going to have to make some decisions in the upcoming days, and it will be intriguing to see what direction the team goes in.

I’m kind of glad this game wasn’t on TV in the Cleveland area. Games like this usually make me want to vomit. For instance, in the second inning, Chris Gimenez had runners on first and second, and if Indians radio broadcaster Tom Hamilton’s description is accurate (and it usually is), then Gimenez bunted directly back to the pitcher, who easily threw out the slow-footed Matt LaPorta. Michael Brantley was the next batter, he singled to load the bases, but if Gimenez had lain down a good bunt (or better yet, not bunted), then the game’s complexion would have changed. As it was, the inning ended when Drew Sutton (who seems to be auditioning for a utility role next year) grounded into a double play. Pathetic.

Speaking of pathetic, how about Aaron Laffey new facial hair? I don’t know if he has it today, but he had it Sunday, and it makes the Baby-Faced Bulldog look … hilarious, really. (And by “new facial hair” I mean new since his last stint in Cleveland.) As soon as I can find a picture I’ll post or link to it.

While we’re talking about pathetic, why is Jayson Nix still getting at bats? 2 for his last 33 ABs, with only 1 walk in that span. With some seriously ugly defense at third base. And you’re still trying to tell me that he’s better than Jared Goedert would have been? I so hope he’s playing his way out of the 2011 picture. I need one more Marte Par-Tay before he goes.

Finally, since I’m linking all my points together and I was speaking of the 2011 picture, hasn’t Carlos Carrasco vaulted himself not only into the rotation, but into the top three? He was rock solid for 5.2 innings, and then gave up 5 consecutive hits. But this September stint has been as impressive as last September’s was awful. Fausto Carmona and Justin Masterson are probably your #1 and #2 as of right now, I’d say Carrasco has vaulted himself up to 3 because, well, no one else seems to want it. Mitch Talbot is also a lock to make the rotation, hopefully he won’t fade as hard down the stretch, although when you look at his inning totals, it makes a little more sense.

Tribe takes on the Royals at home on Thursday. 7:05 first pitch.

But man, I really miss watching Carlos Santana play.

Santana utterly spoiled me during his short stint in the big leagues, before his freakish leg injury (F-U Ryan Kalish), with his .401 OBP and six homers in just 150 at bats (which unfortunately makes him no longer a rookie. No ROY for “Supernatural” Santana). I loved the way he played the game, and he was only going to get better.

With Santana injured, we’ve been treated to a whole lotta Lou. And the other night’s grand slam aside, I don’t like it one bit.

While I don’t think Lou Marson is really this bad of a hitter (and he’s been bad, with a .547 OPS) and could turn out to actually be a decent hitting catcher, he always looks like he’s scared crapless out there. Seriously, he looks like a deer in headlights.

Santana’s become almost an afterthought amongst all this losing. But not to me. I want to wear my Santana jersey shirt again without getting wistful. Lately, every time I see Lou Marson, I just think to myself: Santana will be back next season. It may be a pipe dream, but it’s something to try to hold on to.

Get well soon, Carlos.