Cleveland Indians - Jacobs Field Magic
DETROIT -- As the story goes, Albert Belle didn"t like the first version of Mike Hargrove"s lineup.
It was Sept. 9, 1995, the day after the Indians clinched the American League Central and their first trip to the postseason in 41 years. Hargrove planned to rest several regulars, but Belle had other ideas.
The surly slugger, perhaps with his sights set on gaudier numbers, demanded that Hargrove insert him into the batting order. Hargrove relented, and Belle went 0-for-3 in a 2-1 victory against Baltimore. He would, however, club 17 home runs in September to finish with 50 for the season, to go along with 52 doubles.
Typically, the lineup the day after a clinching game includes plenty of youngsters and backups. Ruben Amaro and Herbert Perry both started that day in September 1995. The Indians" day-after-clinching lineup in 1996 included Casey Candaele, Geronimo Pena, Nigel Wilson and Ryan Thompson.
Terry Francona"s Tuesday lineup is one for the ages. Jason Kipnis, Francisco Lindor, Mike Napoli, Jose Ramirez, Lonnie Chisenhall, Roberto Perez and Coco Crisp all received the evening off.
"It"s much deserved," said Chris Gimenez. "A lot of the guys who have carried us to this point, they deserve to have a day off."
Francona penciled in Chris Gimenez at third base, Adam Moore at catcher, Erik Gonzalez at shortstop and Jesus Aguilar at first base.
Gimenez has logged five innings at the hot corner during his career.
"Not thrilled about that," Francona said. "We were running out of players. This is one of those nights where it might not be as pretty as we"d like it to be, but I think the guys like Kipnis and Lindor and, especially, Ramirez, they need to have a day to gather themselves. It"ll be good for them."
During the Indians" clubhouse celebration after Monday"s division-clinching victory, bench coach Brad Mills informed Gimenez he would be starting at third base. Gimenez responded by spraying Mills with champagne.
Indians turn clubhouse into party central
Let"s take a look at the "hangover lineups" of the past 25 years.
2016: Sept. 26 (Game 156)
1. DH Carlos Santana
2. 2B Jason Kipnis
3. SS Francisco Lindor
4. 1B Mike Napoli
5. 3B Jose Ramirez
6. RF Lonnie Chisenhall
7. LF Coco Crisp
8. CF Tyler Naquin
9. C Roberto Perez
Next game:
1. CF Tyler Naquin
2. 2B Michael Martinez
3. RF Abraham Almonte
4. DH Carlos Santana
5. LF Brandon Guyer
6. 1B Jesus Aguilar
7. 3B Chris Gimenez
8. C Adam Moore
9. SS Erik Gonzalez
2007: Sept. 23 (Game 155)
1. CF Grady Sizemore
2. 2B Asdrubal Cabrera
3. DH Travis Hafner
4. C Victor Martinez
5. 1B Ryan Garko
6. SS Jhonny Peralta
7. LF Jason Michaels
8. RF Franklin Gutierrez
9. 3B Casey Blake
P Jake Westbrook
Next game:
1. CF Kenny Lofton
2. 3B Chris Gomez
3. DH Travis Hafner
4. C Victor Martinez
5. 1B Ryan Garko
6. SS Jhonny Peralta
7. RF Trot Nixon
8. LF Ben Francisco
9. 2B Josh Barfield
P Aaron Laffey
2001: Sept. 30 (Game 155)
1. CF Kenny Lofton
2. SS Omar Vizquel
3. 2B Roberto Alomar
4. 1B Jim Thome
5. DH Ellis Burks
6. LF Russell Branyan
7. 3B Travis Fryman
8. C Einar Diaz
9. RF Jolbert Cabrera
P Bartolo Colon
Next game:
1. CF Milton Bradley
2. SS John McDonald
3. 2B Roberto Alomar
4. RF Juan Gonzalez
5. DH Jim Thome
6. LF Marty Cordova
7. 3B Russell Branyan
8. 1B Wil Cordero
9. C Ed Taubensee
P Ryan Drese
1999: Sept. 8 (Game 139)
1. CF Dave Roberts
2. SS Omar Vizquel
3. 2B Roberto Alomar
4. 1B Jim Thome
5. DH Harold Baines
6. RF Richie Sexson
7. LF David Justice
8. 3B Travis Fryman
9. C Einar Diaz
P Chris Haney
Next game:
1. CF Dave Roberts
2. SS Omar Vizquel
3. 2B Roberto Alomar
4. RF Manny Ramirez
5. DH Harold Baines
6. 1B Jim Thome
7. LF David Justice
8. 3B Travis Fryman
9. C Sandy Alomar
P Bartolo Colon
1998: Sept. 16 (Game 150)
1. CF Kenny Lofton
2. 2B Joey Cora
3. LF David Justice
4. RF Manny Ramirez
5. DH Jim Thome
6. 3B Travis Fryman
7. 1B Richie Sexson
8. C Sandy Alomar
9. SS Omar Vizquel
P Charles Nagy
Next game:
1. 2B Joey Cora
2. SS Enrique Wilson
3. 3B Travis Fryman
4. RF Manny Ramirez
5. DH Jim Thome
6. 1B Richie Sexson
7. CF Mark Whiten
8. LF Brian Giles
9. C Einar Diaz
P Dave Burba
1997: Sept. 23 (Game 155)
1. LF Bip Roberts
2. SS Omar Vizquel
3. RF Manny Ramirez
4. 3B Matt Williams
5. DH David Justice
6. C Sandy Alomar
7. 1B Kevin Seitzer
8. 2B Tony Fernandez
9. CF Marquis Grissom
P Charles Nagy
Next game:
1. 2B Bip Roberts
2. 3B Jeff Branson
3. RF Manny Ramirez
4. 1B Jim Thome
5. DH David Justice
6. C Sandy Alomar
7. CF Brian Giles
8. LF Bruce Aven
9. SS Enrique Wilson
P Brian Anderson
1996: Sept. 17 (Game 150)
1. CF Kenny Lofton
2. 1B Kevin Seitzer
3. 3B Jim Thome
4. LF Albert Belle
5. DH Julio Franco
6. RF Manny Ramirez
7. 2B Jeff Kent
8. C Sandy Alomar
9. SS Omar Vizquel
P Brian Anderson
Next game:
1. 2B Casey Candaele
2. 3B Geronimo Pena
3. RF Brian Giles
4. DH Manny Ramirez
5. LF Nigel Wilson
6. 1B Jeff Kent
7. CF Ryan Thompson
8. C Tony Pena
9. SS Damian Jackson
P Albie Lopez
1995: Sept. 7 (Game 123)
1. CF Kenny Lofton
2. SS Omar Vizquel
3. 2B Carlos Baerga
4. LF Albert Belle
5. DH Eddie Murray
6. 3B Jim Thome
7. RF Manny Ramirez
8. 1B Paul Sorrento
9. C Sandy Alomar
P Orel Hershiser
Next game:
1. CF Ruben Amaro
2. SS Omar Vizquel
3. RF Manny Ramirez
4. LF Albert Belle
5. DH Dave Winfield
6. 3B Jim Thome
7. 1B Herbert Perry
8. 2B Alvaro Espinoza
9. C Tony Pena
P Chad Ogea
Source: http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2016/09/cleveland_indians_al_central_d.html
