WINTER HAVEN, Fla. — The Indians packed up and left Chain of Lakes Park on Thursday, feeling as if they had accomplished what they needed to in their final spring training in Florida.
“It’s been a good spring,” said Cleveland general manager Mark Shapiro, whose team wrapped up its Grapefruit League schedule with a 9-7 loss to Tampa Bay in 10 innings. “It’s been a purposeful spring, not a very eventful one. We came in here with work to get done and we needed to prepare for what we hope to be a championship season.
“We didn’t have many decisions to make, but I think we made the few decisions we had to make. We’re prepared to get started on that long journey towards what we hope is another championship season.”
The Indians entered training camp with the bulk of their roster set, needing to fill just three spots — the fifth starter, the final member of the bullpen and the last position player on the team.
Cliff Lee reclaimed his job in the rotation, where he spent three seasons as a staple (2004-06) before a down year in 2007. The final relief role went to former closer Jorge Julio, who beat out Tom Mastny and Scott Elarton. And as was expected, third baseman Andy Marte — who is out of minor league options — will begin the year with Cleveland, while last season’s opening-day second baseman, Josh Barfield, will not.
Cleveland took care of its final piece of business Thursday, optioning outfielder Ben Francisco to Triple-A Buffalo, when David Dellucci was deemed healthy enough to start the regular season. Outfielder Shin-Soo Choo is still on the roster, but will open the year on the disabled list, which will bring Cleveland’s total to the mandatory 25 players.
With the transactions out of the way for now, and with two exhibition games in Atlanta (today and Saturday) still remaining, the Indians are anxious to start playing for real. They’ll get that opportunity Monday in the season opener at Progressive Field against the White Sox.
“It’ll be nice to break camp and start playing the regular season,” designated hitter Travis Hafner said. “We’re looking forward to getting it going.”
“Any time you’re towards the end of spring training it’s just human nature that you’re anxious to break out of the same routine,” Shapiro said. “There is a monotony to the spring training schedule. In the beginning, it’s exciting and new. In the end, you’re ready.
“While we might not be quite ready from a team standpoint, we’re all ready mentally to get out of here and get started.”
The crowd of 6,728 fans propelled the Indians to a new spring training home attendance record (87,301 in 15 dates), surpassing the old mark of 87,292 set in 1999 in 16 dates.
Some fans recognized the Indians’ last day in Winter Haven with signs saying “Good-bye,” and a handful of players acknowledged them — including Grady Sizemore and Jason Michaels. Sizemore tossed his game jersey into the crowd, while Michaels handed a bat to a fan as he made his way from the field to the clubhouse.
Winter Haven has been Cleveland’s spring training site since 1993, but the Indians are relocating to Goodyear, Ariz., and a state-of-the-art facility in 2009.
“It’s always bittersweet,” said Eric Wedge, who has made the spring training trek to Winter Haven frequently — as a minor league player, minor league manager and since 2003 as the Indians manager. “We’re looking forward to Arizona, but I think a number of people will miss coming to this city. But change is inevitable — it’s time to move forward.”

Roundin’ third

Outfielder Jason Tyner, a non-roster invitee, was re-assigned to minor league camp Thursday.
• Fausto Carmona (2-1, 4.30) makes his fifth exhibition start tonight at Atlanta’s Turner Field (7:05), opposing right-hander Jair Jurrjens (2-2, 4.86). WTAM 1100-AM will broadcast the game live. Jake Westbrook (3-0, 0.00) will start for Cleveland on Saturday (1:05) against left-hander Mike Hampton (1-0, 1.98).
Contact Chris Assenheimer at 329-7136 or cassenheimer@chroniclet.com. 

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