Indians send Ludwick to Buffalo

Tuesday, July 6, 2004 | 9:29 a.m.

SUN WIRE REPORTS

The Cleveland Indians activated outfielder Ryan Ludwick of Las Vegas and catcher Josh Bard from the disabled list Monday and optioned them to Triple-A Buffalo.

To make room on the 40-man roster, the club designated left-hander Scott Stewart for assignment and transferred pitcher Joe Dawley from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list. The Indians have 10 days to trade Stewart, put him on waivers or send him outright to the minors.

Ludwick and Bard had been on rehabilitation assignments at Double-A Akron. Ludwick, a former UNLV standout, is coming back from offseason knee surgery and could rejoin the Indians by the end of July. Bard has spent the season trying to recover from a serious groin injury.

Stewart went 0-2 with a 7.24 ERA in 23 games before the Indians optioned him to Buffalo on May 26.

Nomo, on the disabled list with right rotator-cuff inflammation, is expected to begin his rehabilitation process -- which includes strengthening and throwing -- on Friday. However, it will be slow going. Nomo will start with light toss, and Tracy emphasized the word light.

"I don't see him pitching in the month of July," Tracy said. "That's not the plan we have. That's rushing him and we won't do that."

Nomo never found his groove this season or his velocity. He was 3-10 with an 8.06 ERA and has showed no signs that an improvement was imminent. Tracy suggested the velocity doesn't have to be in the 90-mph range to get batters out.

With Nomo's uncertainty, Odalis Perez (inflamed left rotator cuff) on the disabled list and Edwin Jackson's early second-inning exit Saturday with an elbow injury, Tracy acknowledged he could use reliever Duaner Sanchez in a spot start. Sanchez began his professional career as a starter, although he hasn't started a game since a spot start with Pittsburgh's Triple-A affiliate in Nasvhille, Tenn., last year.