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Manager Eric Wedge wouldn't go so far as to say that Rouse had won a spot on the opening day roster, but it would be a surprise if Rouse isn't in the visitor's dugout on April 2 in Chicago.
The other two candidates for the utility infielder spot are Joe Inglett and Luis Rivas. Inglett has missed virtually all of the spring training season with a strained hamstring. Rivas is hitting just .176, and he is not as good defensively at shortstop as Rouse.
All that probably means that Rouse has essentially won a roster spot, although Wedge is holding off on that announcement. Still left to be decided is whether, in addition to Rouse, the Indians' choice to round out their bench will be first baseman Ryan Garko, or one of two outfielders, Ben Francisco or Franklin Gutierrez.
''We're working towards it, but we're not there yet,'' Wedge said. ''Hopefully we can make all of our decisions by mid-week.''
In 17 spring games, Luna hit .241, with no homers and one RBI. He led the team in walks with seven. However, the eight errors and the fact that Luna came to camp out of shape were two big strikes against him.
''He's a good ballplayer, but we need him to move around better defensively,'' Wedge said. ''Offensively we saw some signs, but he wasn't as consistent as he needs to be.''
Wedge also wasn't pleased that Luna came to camp out of shape.
''A big part of this has to do with him getting in shape and staying in shape,'' Wedge said. ''And Hector knows that.''
In addition to hitting .333, Rouse has two home runs and seven RBIs. He has made two errors.
''He's had a very strong camp,'' Wedge said. ''He's done everything we've asked him to do. He's right in the middle of it.''
Wedge did say yesterday that the notion Indians officials briefly entertained about possibly keeping two middle infielders on the opening day roster has been dropped. That, obviously, means that the final spot on the roster will come down to a choice between Garko, Francisco and Gutierrez.
Catch this
Backup catcher Kelly Shoppach put on a throwing clinic during the Indians' 4-3 win over the Atlanta Braves yesterday. Shoppach was 3-for-3 in throwing out attempted base stealers, gunning down runners trying to steal second in the sixth, seventh, and eighth innings.
''Kelly was outstanding. He was a difference maker, the way he threw today,'' Wedge said.
Shoppach has a new look this spring.
''He's re-defined his body. He's in the best shape of his career,'' Wedge said. ''He's working hard to be a presence behind the plate and to be more consistent offensively. He's going to do nothing but get better.''
Shoppach said the decision to tone up his body -- ''if there was ever a guy built to do something, I'm built to be a catcher'' -- was out of necessity.
''It's no secret that you've got to take care of your body, or it will fall apart on you,'' he said.
Stat attack
The discrepancy in the success rate in throwing out base stealers between Shoppach and starting catcher Victor Martinez is dramatic.
Shoppach has thrown out 5-of-9 runners attempting to steal (56 percent). Martinez has thrown out 1-of-10 base stealers (10 percent).
In the regular season last year Shoppach threw out 35 percent of attempted base stealers, Martinez 14 percent.
Game time
Garko did nothing to hurt his roster chances yesterday as he belted a two-run home run off Tyler Yates in the fifth inning to turn a 3-2 Indians deficit into a 4-3 Indians lead.
It's Garko's second homer of the spring. He is hitting .296, with a team-high 10 RBIs.
The Indians also got two hits from Andy Marte, who is hitting .295.
Reliever Tom Mastny started for the Indians, because the pitching schedules for the starters in the rotation are being juggled in order to line them up for the start of the season. Mastny allowed the first four batters he faced in the first inning to reach base. He gave up two runs on three hits in the first inning, but retired the side in order, two on strikeouts, in the second. Those were the first runs allowed by Mastny this spring. His has a 1.50 ERA.
Fernando Cabrera gave up a solo home run to Chipper Jones in the third inning, but Tribe pitchers held the Braves scoreless on three hits the rest of the way.
Following Cabrera, reliever Juan Lara pitched three scoreless innings, lowering his ERA in eight appearances to 0.79.
''He definitely has our attention,'' Wedge said. ''He's come into tough situations, gotten outs and shown no fear.''
Matt Miller is thought to be the leading candidate for the one remaining opening in the bullpen, but Mastny and Lara are making it a difficult decision for Wedge and his staff.
''We're pretty much there, although we haven't locked it down yet and talked to the guys,'' Wedge said about the bullpen decision. ''But we are remaining open minded on both Mastny and Lara.''
Chop shop
In addition to Luna, the Indians also re-assigned to the minor league camp pitcher Brian Sikorski, catcher Aarmando Camacaro and infielder Keith Ginter. That leaves 34 players in the major league camp: 15 pitchers, eight infielders, eight outfielders, and three catchers.
Lee Update
Although he will start the season on the disabled list, Cliff Lee was in an upbeat mood yesterday.
''I'm pretty sure it's gone,'' Lee said.
What's gone is what's been bothering Lee: a strained abdominal muscle. Lee says he feels the strain has healed.
''There were some exercises I did before, and when I did them I could still feel it,'' he said. ''I do those same exercises now and I don't feel anything.''
Lee has been on an every-other-day throwing program, off flat ground. He said he'll start throwing off a mound on Tuesday.
''Now that the injury is gone it's just a matter of getting back in pitching shape,'' he said. ''It's almost like I'm starting spring training all over again, but I've got to be patient. Everything is still as planned. I'm hoping to be back (pitching for the Indians) by mid-to late April.''
JIngraham@news-herald.com
