Written by Nino Colla

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He knew he did wrong as soon as he reached down to field a grounder.

"I knew it was a mistake," Indians outfielder Grady Sizemore said. "I knew I shouldn't have taken that bet with Felix Pie that I could stay healthier longer than him. It was just asking for trouble. I jinxed myself and I feel horrible about it."

The Indians have now decided to shut Sizemore down from baseball activities, which will likely keep him out until Opening Day and make his 2012 debut later than everyone elses. The Tribe's newest old edition will have to wait to play.

Because he did not make it to March 1st without an injury, Sizemore's contract dictates that he will forefit $1 million in salary.

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You just wish that last sentence was true right?

Of course if you've read news (and if you haven't, you missed the voice of Cleveland giving you a Charlie Brown UGH), you know that Grady Sizemore is indeed injured and he will likely miss Opening Day. What that actually means? He'll miss more than just one game, but how much is really an unknown at this point. Because the Indians will be shutting him down from baseball activities, it's tough to gauge just how long it will take to get him back going and ready to play a full game consistently. He could very well hit the disabled list, but we haven't reached that point yet.

Whatever the case may be, the Indians are paying him $5 million dollars in base salary this year and did so on a free agent contract because they believed he could return to form. So far, no good. Here is a healthy reminder for you though. The season is long and this can all turn around in an instant. Remember when Grady came back last season to make his debut and did so in grand style? Of course the end results did not cause as much jubilation, but the point is there.

It is just another bump in that Sizemore road for the Indians. But don't go jumping off the cliff quite yet. The Indians signed a plethora of veterans in the outfield for just this reason. Fred Lewis, Felix Pie, Ryan Spilborghs, get your running shoes on, you just got a boost in your battle for a roster spot.

So much for that normal spring training, right? I guess I'm really the one to be blamed here. 

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