The Cleveland Indians need a break from both Mike Clevinger and Zach Plesac. The team announced Friday that they are singing both Clevinger and Plesac on their alternate site.
The move comes less than a week after Clevinger, 29, and Plesac, 25, violated the team’s coronavirus protocols. Both players apparently went out with friends during the team’s road trip to Chicago. When the team found that, it made both players quarantine three days away from the team.
Those quarantines ended, and Clevinger and Plesac met with teammates to discuss the situation Friday. After that meeting, team brass decided to put both players on the alternative side first.
Mike Clevinger and Zach Plesac met the team in Detroit yesterday. They held an open forum with the team. Then the brass of the Indians had a discussion and they finally decided the option to the alternative site (the minor).
– Zack Meisel (@ZackMeisel) August 14, 2020
Cleveland players were frustrated when it came to Mike Clevinger and Zach Plesac
Although we do not know what was said during that meeting, a few Cleveland players expressed dissatisfaction with Clevinger and Plesac when the two were away. Kitcher Adam Plutko said Clevinger and Plesac “hurt us. They left for us. ”
Shortstop Francisco Lindor issued a lengthy statement expressing the importance of wearing a mask to protect those around you. In his statement, Lindor mentioned teammate Carlos Carrasco, who is at high risk for coronavirus after being diagnosed with leukemia last year.
Zach Plesac published video saying ‘media coverage’ was evil ‘
Plesac may not have helped his case by releasing a video on Thursday confirming that he broke the rules. In that video, Plesac complained that the media treated him badly and dragged his name through the mud as he went to Saturday’s game with some friends. Plesac deleted that video Friday.
While team president Chris Antonetti said Plesac did not articulate his true thoughts well in that video, manager Terry Francona was less forgiving, saying he “disappointed. ”
Mike Clevinger and Zach Plesac performed well
Through three starts, Plesac has established itself as one of the best players in the major. In 21 innings, he placed a 1.29 ERA. He hit 24 batters during that stretch, with only 2 walks.
Clevinger placed a 3.24 ERA over 16 2/3 innings. Great things were expected of Clevinger after he appeared in 2019 as an ace-caliber pitcher.
It is unclear how long Clevinger and Plesac will remain on the alternative site.
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