Spring Training 2012: Shelley Duncan's Dream May Be Cleveland Indians' Nightmare

One man's dream could end up being a nightmare for the fanbase of one of Major League Baseball's most-downtrodden franchises.

Dispatches from the Arizona desert indicate that journeyman Shelley Duncan appears to be set to win the job as the Indians' starting left fielder. Duncan, the son of St. Louis Cardinal pitching coach and ex-major leaguer Dave Duncan, has led the Indians' paltry offense this spring by slugging five home runs and driving in 15 runs—not bad power numbers

However, Duncan is only hitting .178. Despite the microscopic batting average, manager Manny Acta may have no other option for the position.

Indians general manager Chris Antonetti appears sold on Duncan, but hasn't fully committed to naming him the team's starting left fielder.

He told ESPN.com earlier this week that despite Duncan's Mendoza-like batting average, he's done enough to likely be in the Indians line-up when they open the 2012 campaign at Progressive Field April 5 against Toronto.

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"I think Shelley has really stepped forward. Offensively, he's done a very good job. He continues to work very hard defensively to improve as a defender, and his at-bats have been relatively consistent. Even though at times he's had something to show for it, and other times he's hit into some hard outs, of the group, Shelley has probably taken the largest step forward to take advantage of that opportunity."

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Duncan was competing against a group that isn't one that exactly sends chills up and down the spines of major league pitchers: Felix Pie,Ryan Spilborghs, Russ Canzler, Aaron Cunningham and Fred Lewis. No one from that group played well enough to take the job. 

So that leaves Cleveland turning to Duncan, who is 32 and has hit 30 career home runs in 598 big-league at-bats.

He did provide a glimmer of hope in September of last year, when he was able to get hot and had a career month hitting. .265 with seven homers, seven doubles and 23 RBIs in 26 games for Cleveland. 

Cleveland planned on starting an outfield that consisted of Michael Brantley in left, Grady Sizemore in center and Shin-Soo Choo in right.

The oft-injured Sizemore suffered a back injury early in Spring Training and isn't expected back for months, thus plunging the Indians outfield into state of flux and opening up a job for Duncan.