Indians notebook: Nixon in Game 3 starting lineup

Trot Nixon, one of several players who contributed significantly to Cleveland's Game 2 victory in the American League Championship Series, was a surprise entry in the starting lineup for Game 3.

<p class="MsoNormal">Nixon's pinch-hit RBI single sparked the Indians' seven-run 11th inning during Saturday's 13-6 victory at Fenway Park. He batted eighth Monday against Boston starter Daisuke Matsuzaka.

<p class="MsoNormal">"The last couple times out, he's really swung the bat well," Indians Manager Eric Wedge said. "It's also good to get another left-hander in there."

<p class="MsoNormal">Nixon had also started Game 3 of the Division Series against New York's Roger Clemens. He homered, doubled and drove in two runs in that game, but also committed a two-run error in right field.

<p class="MsoNormal">Franklin Gutierrez, the starting right fielder during most of August and September while Nixon sat on the bench, did not face Matsuzaka. Nixon was 1-for-5 against the Japanese right-hander.

<p class="MsoNormal">Nixon is a career .289 hitter against righties. Gutierrez batted .232 against right-handers in 2007. Right-handed batters were slightly more successful against Matsuzaka during the regular season (.253 to .238).

<p class="MsoNormal">The move may have been more about how Gutierrez has hit recently. He did slug a three-run home run Saturday, but is 3-for-20 (.150) in the postseason. Wedge also suggested he might not be a good matchup against Matsuzaka, who is rumored to use as many as five different off-speed pitches.

<p class="MsoNormal">"They have been feeding (Gutierrez) a steady diet of breaking balls, and this guy (Matsuzaka) has the ability to do that better than anybody," Wedge said. "We also need to remember he (Gutierrez) is still a young player."

<p class="MsoNormal">Nixon had surgery last December to fix a herniated disk in his back. That surgery hampered his mobility through most of the first half of the season. He has been able to hit and run with a more normal motion during the second half.

<p class="MsoNormal">"He had to go so hard just to get out of spring training," Wedge said. "It took a lot out of him. He's been going hard for a long time. He'll need to give his body some time to recover. Give him an offseason, and he'll be closer physically to where he was before."

<p class="MsoNormal">Boston Manager Terry Francona said he was not exactly stunned by Nixon's name being written on the lineup card.

<p class="MsoNormal">"I think we thought there was a chance that might happen," Francona said. "I don't think we were surprised when they sent that (lineup) over today."

<p class="MsoNormal">Nixon's value to the Indians, of course, can't be expressed in simple statistics.

<p class="MsoNormal">"I try to be a great teammate, a friend, a brother, whatever I can do for these guys on the field or off the field," Nixon said. "I do want to be one of the guys who makes the atmosphere of the clubhouse or dugout one where they can't wait to get there every day."

<p class="MsoNormal">Trophy case

<p class="MsoNormal">Indians Manager Eric Wedge netted his first postseason award Monday when he was named American League Manager of the Year by The Sporting News.

<p class="MsoNormal">The official awards from the Baseball Writers Association of America are presented during the World Series. TSN polled other big-league managers for its award.

<p class="MsoNormal">"It's not an individual award, it's a collective award for everyone in that clubhouse, particularly the coaching staff," Wedge said.

<p class="MsoNormal">My guys

<p class="MsoNormal">Indians RHP Paul Byrd said he appreciates the loyalty Wedge demonstrated in starting Byrd and catcher Kelly Shoppach for Game 4 of the Division Series as well as tonight.

<p class="MsoNormal">"I think he's a tremendously loyal manager, and that's one of the ways you get a lot out of your players," Byrd said. "You really start to get the most out of your players when you have that kind of atmosphere."

<p class="MsoNormal">Red-hot Rockies

<p class="MsoNormal">Colorado had won 20 of its last 21 games entering Monday's Game 4 of the NLCS against Arizona.

<p class="MsoNormal">"I'm sure they're playing with about as much confidence as a team can play with right now," Wedge said.

<p class="MsoNormal">Moving on up

<p class="MsoNormal">Indians Assistant General Manager Chris Antonetti is rumored to be among the leading candidates to become GM in St. Louis. Another Mark Shapiro lieutenant, Neal Huntington, recently became GM in Pittsburgh. Another, Steve Lubratich, was a finalist for the Houston job.

<p class="MsoNormal">"It's never a bad thing when they have opportunities to improve and better themselves," Shapiro said. "I welcome that chance for them. Certainly we have a guy in Chris that, whenever he makes the call, he's ready to do it."

<p class="MsoNormal">Reach Repository sports writer Andy Call at (330) 580-8346 or e-mail andy.call@cantonrep.com.