Cleveland Indians Spring Training 2011: What We Have Learned So Far

Can you believe the Tribe is already a week into spring training 2011? It seems like it was just yesterday when we saw manager Manny Acta sliding down the toboggan chutes at Progressive Field's Snow Days.

Although we are still about a month away from Opening Day on April 1st, there are already some headlines coming out of Goodyear, AZ.

Will Grady Sizemore be ready for Opening Day?

Are we still worried about Shin-Soo Choo's military obligations?

What's going on with Austin Kearns?

Fire at Goodyear Ballpark?

What's Manny Acta's favorite movie?

Okay, Acta's favorite movie isn't a headline, but you're still a bit curious, aren't you?

Early stories coming out of Tribe camp in Goodyear, AZ....

Austin Kearns Arrested for a DUI in Kentucky

The Indians learned late Monday night that outfielder Austin Kearns was arrested near Lexington, KY on charges of driving under the influence back on Feb. 12.

According to the police report, Kearns told the arresting officer he had drank "a couple bourbon and cokes."

Kearns arrived in camp around Feb. 16 or so and did not alert the team of the situation. Kearns discussed the matter on Tuesday and indicated that he was advised not to inform the team. According to a source,  Kearns originally wanted to tell the club what happened at the time of his arrest, but he acted on the advice of his attorney.

Kearns met with GM Chris Antonetti and Acta on Tuesday morning to talk things over.

I'm not going to condone drinking and driving, but I can't see this as being a big deal, especially when the Tribe outfield is already in trouble this early in spring training. I think Kearns can handle paying for a ride to work for a while.

Shin-Shoo Choo's Elbow

With Grady Sizemore's Opening Day status up in the air and Austin Kearns' legal trouble, the Indians need Shin-Soo Choo to be healthy in April. Hopefully the Indians are just playing it safe with Choo's elbow early on in spring training.

The club's star right fielder was kept out of Cleveland's starting lineup for the spring training opener against Cincinnati on Sunday to rest his left elbow, which flared up in recent days. Choo had Tommy John ligament-replacement surgery on the same elbow in 2007 but said the current soreness is unrelated to that procedure.

Choo didn't take much time off after the season ended. He played in the Asian Games in November, helping South Korea win the gold medal.

The good news is we don't have to worry about Choo's military obligations to his native country any longer. Choo now has a free pass after capturing the gold over the offseason.

Fire at Goodyear Ballpark

A small fire, started by a industrial clothes dryer, has caused some damage early Friday morning at the Indians' spring training home in Goodyear, AZ.

According to team spokesman Bart Swain, the ballpark’s sprinkler system mostly contained the fire. Emergency officials arrived and put out the blaze, which is believed to have started at 5 a.m. No one has been injured, and Swain says the damage is being assessed.

Grady Sizemore

According to Tribe manager Manny Acta, Sizemore is ahead of schedule in his rehab in that the Indians are thrilled with the way he is swinging the bat. "If you could have a designated runner for him right now," Acta said, "he'd be in the lineup."

Sizemore is still expected to be held out of action until at least mid-April at the earliest. Even though Grady is showing he can still use a bat, bringing him along slowly is the Tribe's main focus.

"Right now, we're in a dangerous spot, because he's swinging the bat so well," Acta said. "We don't want him to get overly excited and do something that's not going to be in his best interests."

My prediction: Sizemore is back in early May.

New Spring Training Threads

I don't know about you, but I love the new Tribe spring training jerseys!

Just ordered myself one today actually. You can too by clicking here.

2011 Indians Media Guide

Lastly, let's have a look at some interesting facts coming out of Indians Media Day...

* Fausto Carmona's favorite movie is Major League II. Apparently Fausto prefers Omar Epps' portrayal of Willie Mays Hayes.

* New GM Chris Antonetti spent a year and a half as a student manager for the Georgetown men's basketball team under head coach John Thompson.

* Hitting coach Jon Nunnally's nickname when he was a player with the Royals was "The Flying Nuns."

* Trevor Crowe, David Huff and Lou Marson all list The Shawshank Redemption as their favorite film.

* Matt LaPorta and Vinnie Pestano both list Dumb and Dumber as their favorite film.

* David Huff got a new tattoo over the offseason. The tattoo is a samurai slaying a three-headed dragon, with the Japanese letters that translate to "The Silent Assassin."

* Finally, the one you all have been waiting for...manager Manny Acta's favorite movie is one of my personal favorites as well, Bob De Niro's A Bronx Tale. I like his style...

Special thanks to Indians.com beat reporter Anthony Castrovince for all of this worthless information.