FanHouse Indians

Like a lovestruck kid at the highschool dance, Manny Ramirez spent the better part of the Red Sox' recent Cleveland visit exchanging notes and gifts with Indians first baseman Ryan Garko.

The two met in May when the Indians visited Boston. Reportedly, it was a match made in heaven; Ramirez is Garko's favorite player, and Manny... well, the guy would pretty much befriend a tree if the spirit moved him. Earlier this week, the two were re-acquainted at the Jake, and the Plain-Dealer's Indians Chatter blog takes it from here:

Clubhouse attendant Frank Mancini was busy the past few days facilitating gift exchanges between Indians first baseman Ryan Garko and Red Sox left fielder Manny Ramirez.

When Garko asked for a pair of Manny's custom-made batting gloves, Ramirez instructed Mancini to "give him whatever you want."

Mancini took two pair - one used, one unused - back to Garko.

When Mancini gave Ramirez two of Garko's bats, Manny was disappointed to see neither featured a signature. Garko was stunned that Ramirez, an 11-time All-Star, would want them signed by a still-unproven player. Garko, of course, signed.

Cliff Lee, a stalwart of the Cleveland rotation in the last three seasons, will start the season on the disabled list.

The left-hander will be out four to six weeks rehabilitating a strained abdominal muscle. Lee was scheduled to have a throwing session Sunday morning when he felt uncomfortable doing training room exercises.

Trainers said Lee won't throw for about 10 days and then will gradually get back at it.

Lee spent two months on the disabled list with a more severe abdominal strain in 2003. Since then, he's made every start for the last three seasons and compiled a 46-24 record.

Veteran Paul Byrd or Jeremy Sowers could move up into Lee's No. 3 spot in the rotation, with Fausto Carmona sliding in to fill the last opening.

That certainly puts a damper on Cleveland's start to the season; Lee is a pretty valuable guy in that third spot for them. Here's hoping the injury won't keep him out that long, and the Indians can challenge for the Central at full strength.