Clevelinks: Bourn Scratched with Neck Injury; Recycling; Cleveland Indians Obliterated

Michael Bourn was out of the lineup with a neck injury; the Cleveland Indians are using a new recycling system; and Tribe pummeled by Blue Jays

Yesterday was not the best day for the Cleveland Indians. Michael Bourn, who left Friday’s game in the fourth innings, sat out yesterday’s game with a neck strain. According to Jordan Bastian of MLB.com, Bourn injured his neck while sliding into home plate. Posting a wRC+ of 50 and a career-worst .264 on-base percentage, this year has been a bit of a disaster for the former speedster.

The first player to wear number 24 since Grady Sizemore, Bourn has struggled with injuries during his tenure with the Tribe. Having battled leg injuries, his speed on the basepaths has pretty much vanished. Next season, he will make $16 million before becoming a free agent – unless he logs 550 plate appearances in 2016, in which case he will make $12 million in 2017.

In other news, the Cleveland Indians implemented some cool new technology this season, and no, I’m not talking about STATCAST (which is pretty amazing). I’m talking about Grind2Energy, a system that turns waste food into energy. Diane Cardwell of the New York Times looked into this new technology and its implications for the future, and although it isn’t baseball related, it’s nice to see the Cleveland Indians leading the league in something.

Finally, the Toronto Blue Jays obliterated Corey Kluber and the Tribe. With a final score of 11-4, the Indians hung in there for a little bit, but things quickly fell apart in the sixth inning. As Katrina Putnam pointed out, the good news is that Jason Kipnis could work out well as the Tribe’s leadoff hitter.

More from around the AL Central:

Cleveland Indians Crushed by Toronto Blue Jays – Wahoo’s on First

Cleveland Indians Have Home-Field Advantage on Recycling – New York Times

The Cleveland Indians, Now Playing Catch Up – FanGraphs

Bourn Scratched from Saturday’s Lineup with Neck Strain – Indians.com

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