What I’m hearing about the Indians’ plans: Who’s on first base? – Terry Pluto

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Scribbles in my Tribe notebook as the team tries to keep its batting average over .200.

1. The Tribe entered this season with the youngest roster in baseball and the lowest payroll. We are starting to see what that means, given some glaring fundamental mistakes and wildly inconsistent performances. Keep the age factor in mind as you read this.

2. I’ve seen enough of Jake Bauers, and it’s likely you have, too. He entered Friday night batting .129 (4-for-31) with one extra-base hit. He didn’t hit in spring training and is a career .211 hitter in 845 big league plate appearances. A change at first base is likely to come soon.

3. I checked on Bobby Bradley, who is in Class AAA Columbus. It’s called the “alternate site.” The Clippers have been able to play a few exhibition games with other minor league teams. I heard Bradley has not been hitting well, struggling to make contact. This was the concern. He fanned 20 times in 49 MLB plate appearances in 2019 (batting .178). In Class AAA that year, he struck out 153 times in 453 plate appearances.

4. Bradley was much better this spring (7 Ks in 35 plate appearances), but it’s clear he still needs to make some adjustments with his swing. That’s why I don’t think Bradley will get the next shot at first base. There could more time for Yu Chang. But I wish he was swinging the bat better, hitting .214 (6-for-28) with two RBI heading into the weekend.

5. Josh Naylor also is a possibility at first. I know, everyone remembers the awful error he made earlier in the week, the ball rolling through his legs. In the minors, he played 243 games at first, 140 in the outfield. First base is his natural position.

6. Naylor also ran through a stop sign at third base, being thrown out by 30 feet at home plate in a recent game. He’s hitting .255 (.639 OPS), which isn’t great. But on a team with a .210 batting average, the 23-year-old Naylor looks better at the plate than several of the alternatives.

7. It’s possible the Tribe could platoon Naylor and Chang at first, giving more time for Jordan Luplow and Amed Rosario in the outfield with Eddie Rosario. I heard Daniel Johnson has been pretty good in Columbus. As for Bradley Zimmer and Oscar Mercado, I heard they have been just so-so.

8. The Tribe believes it can have a better idea on the prospects once real games begin in May. My favorite, Owen Miller, has been hitting. Nolan Jones also has played some first, along with the outfield as well as his natural third base position. Miller has been mostly at second and third base.

9. The Tribe is pleased with Amed Rosario’s progress in center field, given they switched him from shortstop in the middle of spring training. He wants to learn the position. He’s hitting .182 (.553 OPS) and is only 8-for-44. The Tribe needs the 2019 Amed Rosario, who batted .287 (.755 OPS) with 15 HR and 72 RBI.

10. Andres Gimenez is off to a decent start at shortstop. Yes, he bobbled a possible double-play ball Thursday. But overall, he’s been promising. Gimenez is batting .243 (.786 OPS). He’s shown some power with a pair of homers and three doubles. He’s 3-for-3 in stolen bases. He’s 22, so there will be ups-and-downs.

11. The Tribe received Amed Rosario and Gimenez (along with two low minor leaguers) for Francisco Lindor. The former Cleveland shortstop went into the weekend batting .204 (.630 OPS) with a homer. New York and high expectations will be an adjustment for him.

12. Aaron Civale was unusually wild (four walks in 5 1/3 innings), but held the Yankees to three runs (two earned) in 5 1/3 innings. The Tribe has reason to be excited about the right-hander, who is 3-1 with 2.42 ERA. His ERA is slightly lower than Shane Bieber’s (2.43). It’s not to compare him to the Cy Young Award winner, but Civale has surprised me after he had a 4.74 ERA and led the American League in hits allowed in 2020.

13. At Columbus, the Tribe likes how lefty Kyle Nelson and righty Nick Sandlin are throwing. Both could be bullpen possibilities in the near future.

14. The average American League team is batting .230. The Indians are at .210, 14th out of 15 teams. They rank 13th in runs scored. It’s a strange early season with few teams hitting. Only three are above .250: Boston (.281), the L.A. Angels (.264) and Minnesota (.253).

15. Heading into the weekend, the Kansas City Royals (10-7) were leading the Central Division. Old friend Carlos Santana is having a bounce-back season, batting .250 (.878 OPS) with 4 HR, 14 RBI. A year ago, he batted .199 (.699 OPS) for the Tribe.