Welcome to another season of Tribe Tidbits. Every few weeks throughout the season I’ll compile some of my favorite random notes on the Tribe for you all to enjoy.
Jose Ramirez became the Indians fourth Opening Day shortstop since 1994, joining Omar Vizquel, Jhonny Peralta and Asdrubal Cabrera. That’s tied with the Phillies for the fewer Opening Day shortstops in that time span.
Carlos Santana also made some history on Opening Day, starting at his third different position (1st, 3rd and catcher). He’s the ninth player in franchise history to start at three different spots on Opening Day, and the first since Casey Blake. Only Joe Carter (RF, CF, LF, DH) has started at four different positions.
On April 8, Santana tied the franchise record with his third career birthday home run (he also hit two on April 8, 2012). He joins Rocky Colavito and Jim Thome, who hit their three birthday blasts in three different years. Andre Thornton and Glenn Myatt are the only other players in franchise history with home runs on their birthday in multiple years.
The Indians combined no-hit bid on April 9 was the franchise’s longest (25 outs) since Len Barker‘s perfect game in 1981. Since Barker, only one other time has the Tribe taken a no-hitter into the 9th inning. In 1989, John Farrell entered the 9th inning with a no-hitter before having it broken up by a leadoff single by Kevin Seitzer.
In his Tribe debut, the legendary Jerry Sands became the first player with three hits and four RBI in his first game with the Indians since Roy Weatherly in 1936.
The Indians are 0-6 in Corey Kluber‘s starts this season. That’s the worst team start to a season with the defending Cy Young winner on the mound since the Twins started 0-7 behind Frank Viola in 1989. The Twins would eventually throw in the towel and trade Viola to Mets later that season.
T.J. House went 0-4 in April, becoming just the third Tribe pitcher to go winless with at least four losses in April since 1980. He joins Jake Westbrook (0-5 in 2005) and Jose Roman (0-4 in 1985).
House also posted the Indians worst April ERA (min. four starts) of the last 100 seasons. The previous worst was 9.82, set by Mike Paxton in 1979.