2012 Series #8 @ White Sox -|- May 1st, 2nd, and 3rd.

[SRStark20]

CLEVELAND -- Johnny Damon brings a presence to the top of Cleveland's lineup and professionalism to its clubhouse.

Big bonuses for the ballclub.

However, what the Indians are craving is some power.

In fact, any power.

Damon, who has spent the past few weeks at the club's facility in Goodyear, Ariz., warming up a swing that has produced nearly 3,000 hits and readying his legs for the grind of his 18th season in the majors, will join the AL Central-leading Indians on Tuesday in Chicago when they open a three-game series against the White Sox.

Cleveland signed the 38-year-old outfielder on April 17, a minimal-risk move made to upgrade the club's outfield and potentially ignite a sputtering offense.

Although they're in first place, the Indians have been wildly inconsistent at the plate and have gone 11 consecutive games without a home run. According to STATS LLC, Cleveland's homerless drought is the majors' third-longest since 2000. Only the Los Angeles Angels in 2007 (14 games) and San Francisco Giants in 2008 (12) had longer gaps between home runs.

"We'll hit another one," deadpanned Indians manager Manny Acta following Sunday's 4-0 win over the Angels.

Maybe Damon's arrival will be the spark to end the power outage.

The Indians signed him to a minor league deal that will become a one-year, $1.25 million major league contract when he's added to the 40-man roster. Damon can make another $1.4 million in performance bonuses based on plate appearances. The Indians will have to clear a roster spot to make room for Damon, who was initially expected to spend some time in the minor leagues.

But he'll open May with the Indians.

The club was 1-4 when it agreed to terms with Damon. Since then, the Indians have gone 10-5, but their offense has remained as unpredictable as the spring weather. Cleveland has scored just 17 runs in the past seven games, going 3-4 in that span. On Sunday, the Indians got two of their runs when Los Angeles right fielder Torii Hunter lost a ball in the sun.

Damon was initially expected to share playing time in left field with Shelley Duncan, who won the starting job in training camp and got off to a great start but is slumping badly.

In Cleveland's first nine games, Duncan batted .333 with two homers, six RBIs and 10 walks, an early surprise for Acta. But in Duncan's last 10 games, the free swinger is hitting only .147 with no homers and 16 strikeouts. He's fanned 12 times in his past seven games, becoming almost an automatic out.

Damon will likely start immediately in left field for Acta against the White Sox, and he could be joined in Cleveland's outfield by Shin-Soo Choo, who is expected to return after missing five games with a strained left hamstring.

Damon is just 277 hits shy of 3,000 for his career, and although he won't get to the milestone this season, his addition could have a major impact on the Indians, who are hoping to stay in the playoff race until the end after fading down the stretch last season. Damon was initially viewed as a stop-gap measure until Grady Sizemore (back surgery) comes off the disabled list, but there's no guarantee the three-time All-Star will produce the way he once did for Cleveland.

Sizemore has resumed baseball activities but isn't eligible to come off the 60-day disabled list until June 3.

Damon, who batted .261 with 16 homers and 73 RBIs mostly as a designated hitter last season for Tampa Bay, brings stability and invaluable postseason experience to the Indians, who will need a player of that pedigree to guide some of the club's younger players later this season.

Damon will wear No. 33 for the Indians.

Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press

[Huber.]

So why is Tomlin pitching game 2? Hopefully this is his last chance before he gets sent down to AAA or goes on the DL if he doesn't have options left.

[cdt]

Chris Sale destroyed us and Ubaldo is what he is a guy who flashed for half a season and was acquired in a deal that was meant to land an ace and did not.

[JiggleIt]

Think attendance is down now? Wait'll til the Tribe gets back to the Prog after they get broom-sticked out of Chi-town.

[polska2211]

Think attendance is down now? Wait'll til the Tribe gets back to the Prog after they get broom-sticked out of Chi-town.

[Huber.]

Think attendance is down now? Wait'll til the Tribe gets back to the Prog after they get broom-sticked out of Chi-town.

This weekend is supposed to be warm. I expect a huge crowd of 18,00-22,00 this weekend. Ballin'

[Maximus]

1W-2L
Total runs scored by the Tribe: 4

[warddj86]

What I expect: Chicago wins two of three scoring 15 total runs and limiting the Indians to 6 total runs

What I'm PRAYING happens: Tribe wins two of three scoring 10 total runs and limiting the Sox to...anything less than that

[polska2211]

we get Choo back for this series, plus, as long as Damon can put the bat on the ball he will be automatically doing better than Shelley has the past few weeks.

Brantley
ACab
Choo
Hafner
Santana
Kipnis
Hannahan
Damon
Krotchman

Jesus if LaPorta could come up and actually hit the ball, our lineup would be absolutely filthy.

[Nom]

Prediction - Tribe loses all three, but by so much that is actually counts for four losses. Team batting average for the series is .000 and the only thing that stops them from getting 3 perfect games thrown against them is Choo gets beaned once. Over/under for runs given up by the starters is infinity. Pujols will finally hit a homerun - and it will be against Tribe pitching even though the Angels aren't playing the Tribe. Half-way through game 2, Chris Antonetti will draft John Hughes in the 3rd round instead of a WR, while Mark Shapiro will simultaneously give an interview to a Seattle radio station.

Also, Dolan kicks your dog.

[SRStark20]

Prediction - Tribe loses all three, but by so much that is actually counts for four losses. Team batting average for the series is .000 and the only thing that stops them from getting 3 perfect games thrown against them is Choo gets beaned once. Over/under for runs given up by the starters is infinity. Pujols will finally hit a homerun - and it will be against Tribe pitching even though the Angels aren't playing the Tribe. Half-way through game 2, Chris Antonetti will draft John Hughes in the 3rd round instead of a WR, while Mark Shapiro will simultaneously give an interview to a Seattle radio station.

Also, Dolan kicks your dog.

You should be an inspirational speaker.

[macbdog]

US Cellular + the Tribe usually results in some slugfests. I think the offense gets off the snide this weekend. Whether they win any games depends on the starters. Ubaldo seems to have better success against less-patient lineups that chase, and the Sox have one of those. Tomlin in that park is terrifying, but who knows. I think despite the two lefties, the Tribe has a very good chance in this series, as the Sox are just not that good of a team and I think our pitching can have the upper hand here.

[MJA1080]

We win 2 out of 3. Our offense wakes up in the first 2 games and we get very excited only to get shut out in game 3 giving up 4 home runs.

[Pyro]

So Damon is up, but not playing tonight.

Keep on being a DUMBFUCK PIECE OF FUCK, ACTA!

[Backstage]

So Damon is up, but not playing tonight.

Keep on being a DUMBFUCK PIECE OF FUCK, ACTA!

Hmm.