Sizemore Takes Return In Stride

08/31/2004 7:23 PM ET
Outfielder to be key contributor in Buffalo playoff run
By Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- In the middle of the Buffalo Bisons' clubhouse at Dunn Tire Park sat a blue bag emblazoned with the Chief Wahoo logo.

The bag was a reminder of where its owner, Grady Sizemore, had spent the last 40 days of his baseball life: in the Major Leagues with the Indians.

But on this Tuesday afternoon, Sizemore was back where his season began.

"Buffalo's been buzzing, Grady," Bisons infielder Brent Abernathy said as Sizemore unpacked the bag. "Everybody's pumped for the return of Grady Sizemore."

One can pardon Sizemore if he's not quite as pumped. After all, every ballplayer dreams of being a fixture in the big leagues, so it's doubtful he had a return to Triple-A on his wish list.

But the 22-year-old Sizemore is handling the move the way he does most things -- with class and a workmanlike demeanor.

"I've just got to come down here, help the team win and do what I can," he said. "I just want to help my teammates as much as I can."

Indians general manager Mark Shapiro and director of player development John Farrell told Sizemore he would be heading back east on Interstate 90 to join the Bisons after the Tribe's victory Sunday over the White Sox.

"They just told me what was going on, what they expected and what happened," Sizemore said. "I understood. I didn't really expect it, but it happens."

The reason for the move was simple: With Coco Crisp sizzling at the plate and establishing himself as the everyday center fielder, the slumping Sizemore would be best served by returning to Buffalo, where he can get consistent at-bats and be part of the Bisons' International League playoff run.

Before Tuesday's game against Syracuse, Buffalo manager Marty Brown scribbled in Sizemore's name as the starting center fielder and No. 2 hitter. He might as well have etched that name in stone.

"He's going to be a part of our playoffs," Brown said. "He's going to play every day. He's stuck in the two hole, and he's not coming out until he gets a ring on his finger."

Sizemore, who hit .292 with seven home runs and 49 RBIs with Buffalo earlier this season, already has one ring -- the one he earned as a member of the Double-A Akron Aeros last year, when that team won the Eastern League championship.

He'll be drawing on that experience as he tries to repeat the feat with the Bisons.

"Anytime you can play for a championship is exciting," he said. "I played here the majority of the year with these guys, and I'm excited to get back and help them win a championship. I think it's one of those things where you learn you have to step up a little more.

"It's more of a pressure situation. You've been trying to help the team all year, and you have to come through."

But what really excites Sizemore is the opportunity to be a regular in a starting lineup again. His playing time with the Tribe became increasingly rare in recent weeks, as a 1-for-27 slump at the plate dropped his average from .290 to .213.

But it's doubtful that slump will continue now that Sizemore, a quick and natural study at the plate, returns to face Triple-A pitching.

"Everybody wants to play," he said. "Now I have the chance to do it everyday."

And if Sizemore is smart, he won't keep that blue bag with Chief Wahoo on it out of reach. Because as soon as the Bisons end their playoff run, he'll probably need the bag to carry his dreams back to the big leagues.