CLEVELAND -- In order to host a team meeting in an area large enough for players to social distance, the Indians will be taking over the Home Plate Club at Progressive Field over the next few days to have a few conversations, including a discussion about race and diversity issues. Within that, the Tribe is ready to have an open dialogue about its team nickname.

“If it goes the way we hope, it wouldn’t just be a one-time meeting, that’s for sure,” manager Terry Francona said. “It would be the start of listening to everybody on our team and trying to attack this challenge like we always do, as a team, and I think the best way to start that is by listening.”

The Cleveland organization made a statement over two weeks ago, saying it was committed to determining the best path forward in regards to its team name, “Indians.” Over the past week, Tribe players have been vocal in supporting whatever decision brings the most happiness and peace in the community.

“Nobody is more proud to represent the city of Cleveland,” Francona said, “or to work with the people I work with. I love ‘em, and I think anybody who has spent five minutes with me knows that. I also don’t think it’s right to just say, ‘Well, we’re going to keep the status quo because that’s what we’ve always done.’ I‘m of an age where I know just what we’ve always done isn’t appropriate all the time, and being old enough to listen and try to learn even at an advanced age, we need to do and we need to be sincere.”

The Tribe has watched the Washington football team go through a similar process with its nickname. When Washington announced on Monday that it would officially be dropping the name that’s been in place since 1933, eyes shifted back to Cleveland. When asked about the situation, Francona remained confident that Cleveland will make the correct decision.

“I’m glad to see that [Washington is] acting on it,” Francona said. “Also, I think that it was probably financially driven. How many times do we put a guy on the [injured] list and we say we’d like to do it whether it works for us or not. You can’t always do things when the timing is right, when it’s convenient. That’s kind of how I feel about this. I hope that our organization will lead as opposed to follow.”

Reyes to miss Tuesday with back soreness
In Monday night’s intrasquad scrimmage, Franmil Reyes laced a ball off the top of the left-field wall, but he had an awkward slide into second base that caused him to limp off the field. Serving as the team’s designated hitter, Reyes was able to finish out the game, but when he came in Tuesday afternoon with some soreness in his back, Francona decided to give him the night off.

“He had that car accident at second base,” Francona joked about Reyes’ slide attempt. “I really wouldn’t call that a slide and his back, coccyx, whatever you call it, is sore today, so we’re going to give him a day to kind of get his legs under him again.”

Bieber fans 10
In his second intrasquad start, Shane Bieber was dominant, allowing one run on five hits through six innings with 10 strikeouts. Indians pitching coach Carl Willis noted that Bieber’s changeup was the highlight of his outing and he thinks his Opening Day starter looks ready to make his first regular-season appearance.

“I mean, obviously, I think he did a tremendous job during the time we were away of maintaining what he had started in Arizona,” Willis said. “Obviously, the intensity’s gonna pick up when we start to face teams that aren’t wearing the same uniform, if you will. … He got a little bit upset tonight with maybe a few check swings that maybe weren’t called. We didn’t have an umpire at third base. He’s definitely competing and that’s important. But he was very fun to watch tonight.”

Karinchak strikes out the side
There’s much excitement for Indians fans when it comes to the future of James Karinchak. The Tribe’s No. 14 overall prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, brings much velocity and a nasty curveball to a bullpen that’s anything but set. But the right-hander can struggle with his fastball command and did so in his first intrasquad outing last week, walking four guys in one frame. But he returned on Tuesday, striking out all three batters he faced.

“I liked the fact tonight that he came out and attacked the strike zone,” Willis said. “There’s never a question of James’ stuff. It’s more a matter of it’s not even that he has to command it that well, but more so attack the strike zone and allow it to work. I thought he did a much better job of that tonight.” 

Exhibition plans
The Indians will travel to Pittsburgh on Saturday for the first of three exhibition games against the Pirates in preparation for the 2020 season. To be able to travel safely, the coaching staff will head down earlier in the day on their own bus, get situated at the ballpark and clear out of the clubhouse before the players report. Two buses will bring the players down later in the afternoon, and those who do not travel will stay at Progressive Field and face Adam Plutko in a simulated game.

“Some of the extras that you see in Pittsburgh won’t be our extras, they’ll be guys from the Lake County camp,” Francona said. “[Video replay coordinator Mike Barnett] and I have gone back and forth on the lineups for the next four days until both of us are cross-eyed.”