Smoke signals

• Indians No. 3 starter Brett Myers, who was signed to a one-year contract worth $8 million over the winter, has gone 1-3 with an 11.25 ERA in five Cactus League outings this spring. Tribe manager Terry Francona has said numerous times that he is not worried about Myers' showing.

"When a guy is a veteran," Francona said, "has a baseball card, you put more into, 'As long as his velocity is still there,' and, 'he's healthy,' and things like that. I mean, I'd love to see everybody, every time they go out, get hits and pitch well. When next Tuesday comes, nobody will remember Spring Training ERAs or batting averages."

• Francona noted Tuesday that All-Star shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera, who has missed the past three games with a back injury, would likely resume hitting on Wednesday. Cabrera is unlikely to return to a game until Thursday at the earliest.

• The Indians have altered their probable starter for Wednesday's spring game against the White Sox. Right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka will get the nod in a road game against Chicago and right-hander Carlos Carrasco will pitch in a Minor League game.

Quote to note:
"When I think of Cleveland, I think of the mid-'90s. Those are the thoughts that I have. Hopefully, we can get back there. I know there's a buzz in the air back in Cleveland, and I know all the fans that have come out over the break to get away from the weather are excited. I'm excited that they're excited. They should be. It's going to be fun this year."
--Indians designated hitter Jason Giambi