Ben

Broussard

According to manager Eric Wedge, Broussard will be the man next season for the Indians. How the rest of the Cleveland infield and outfield will play out is up in the air, but it seems that Broussard, Travis Hafner and Victor Martinez will comprise 1/3 of Cleveland’s everyday lineup next season.

Matt Lawton will lead off, followed by Omar Vizquel, Jody Gerut, Broussard, Casey Blake, Victor Martinez, Travis Hafner, Ronnie Belliard, and Coco Crisp. Broussard is helped by the move, but 7th is too low to hit Hafner in this lineup. The two could end up switching spots before long.

Broussard has already missed six days with a strained oblique.

Broussard wants to play in the home opener, but Wedge is hoping that Broussard can be ready to return to the lineup by the middle of next week. “If we could get him back by Wednesday,” Wedge said, “it would be a week earlier than if he’d gone on the DL.”

“It’s up to (manager) Eric Wedge, but the training staff has cleared me, so I’m good to go,” Broussard said. Feel free to use him this week.

Travis Hafner, who has been the superior hitter, will likely play first base for the Indians despite the fact he is not as good defensively as Broussard.

Broussard started just two of the Indians’ six games on their recently completed road trip. Jeff Liefer started at first base three times and Jose Hernandez started there once. ''It’s not a good feeling,’' Broussard said. ''I’ve been in that situation and I’ve come through before.

It was his first at-bat after entering the game at first base. Jeff Liefer hasn’t showed much of anything, so Broussard still should be the Indians’ first baseman against right-handers. This will help his case.

Broussard was not taken for X-rays. “His leg stiffened up on him,” manager Mike Hargrove said. “We’ll see how he is (today).”

Broussard, who is used as a platoon player, had been 2-for-22 with no RBI against southpaws this season. He has 10 career homers in 293 at-bats versus left-handers, but he’s hitting only .229 against them.