WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — The Indians whittled their spring training roster down to 44 players, sending nine out on Saturday.
Cleveland optioned relief pitcher Edward Mujica and catcher Wyatt Toregas to Triple-A Buffalo, while re-assigning pitchers Rick Bauer, J.D. Martin and Jeff Stevens, infielders Jordan Brown, Beau Mills, and Chris Gimenez, and outfielder Trevor Crowe to minor league camp.
Bauer, who was a long shot candidate in the battle with Tom Masnty, Scott Elarton and Jorge Julio for the final spot in the bullpen, was the only one with a legitimate chance to make the team.
The 31-year-old right-hander, who spent all of 2006 in the Rangers’ relief corps, appeared in five exhibition games, allowing two runs over six innings on five hits and five walks.
“It was just a matter of him being more aggressive on the plate,” said Indians manager Eric Wedge. “He has good stuff and he’s got some experience.”
Brown, the Double-A Eastern League’s player of the year last season, never got on track this spring, batting just .118 (2-for-17) without a home run or RBI in nine games. He hit .333 with 11 homers and 76 RBIs in 127 games for Akron in 2007.
Mills, Cleveland’s first-round draft pick last year, displayed his touted power in his first big league camp with a pair of homers in 14 exhibition games. He hit .200 (4-for-20) with three RBIs.
“He made a strong impression,” Wedge said. “He swings the bat well. He came into camp and handled himself like a pro. He was not the least bit taken aback by his environment.”  

Miller’s time

Prized pitching prospect Adam Miller, who has missed all of the exhibition season with a blister on his right middle finger, threw live batting practice to minor leaguers Saturday and is scheduled to do the same today.
If all goes well, Miller, who was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo last week, will make his first appearance Thursday in a minor league game.

First opponent

Chicago White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen announced that ace Mark Buehrle will start against C.C. Sabathia in the season opener March 31, at Progressive Field.
It will be the sixth time in seven years that Buehrle has begun the season for the Sox after Guillen went with Jose Contreras in the 2007 opener against the Indians at U.S. Cellular Field – a 12-5 Cleveland victory.
Buehrle, 8-11 with a 4.61 ERA in his career against the Indians, is 0-2 with a 6.08 ERA in his last four head-to-head matchups with Sabathia.   

Roundin’ third

The Indians are on the road today traveling to Tampa’s Legends Field to take on the Yankees at 1:05. C.C. Sabathia (1-0, 3.60) makes his third exhibition start against right-hander Chien-Ming Wang (2-1, 8.53). The game will be broadcast live on WTAM 1100-AM, but there will be no television coverage.

Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com.

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