GOODYEAR Michael Wacha Jersey , Ariz. (AP) — by driving a ball nearly over the fence, Indians three-time All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor moved closer to returning from a right calf strain.Yet his status for opening day on March 28 at Minnesota remains uncertain.Batting every inning in a modified intrasquad minor league game, Lindor made eight plate appearances, going 0-for-6 with two walks.Eager to hit, Lindor swung on a 3-0 count during his sixth plate appearance, extending it to nine pitches and drawing a walk. Out of caution and because of his morning base running, he was replaced by a pinch runner.On a 3-0 count on his next plate appearance, he ripped a ball to the right field fence where prospect Oscar Gonzalez made a leaping catch, preventing a home run.Lindor was asked if he needs to appear in a Cactus League game to be ready for the season opener.“I don’t think so. I can play in the minor leagues or B games to be ready,” he said.“Baseball’s such a crazy sport that I can have five at-bats and feel great or have 60 at-bats and on opening day be completely lost. I am taking at-bats and they can see that I am all right. I can play; I don’t need that many at-bats.”Lindor and the Indians could have to deal with cold weather next week in Minneapolis.“It’s going to be cold, but I am sure with calf sleeves, heaters (my calf will be warm),” he said.“It is the beauty of spring training; it is always hot and then all of a sudden, you show up to 25-degree weather. That’s how it is.”Lindor ran bases at full effort Wednesday morning.“I go as fast as my leg allows me and see how it feels a couple hours later, and so far, it feels great,” he said shortly after receiving treatment, following his play in the minor league game.His daily treatment lasts 60 to 90 minutes.“That is going to be the new normal,” Lindor said.Ultimately, his return to the major league level will take time.“Of course, I want to play this game, that’s why I am here, I want to help my team win,” he said. “But that’s why they (trainers) are good at what they do. They can slow people down to make sure they don’t rush it.”Lindor had a pinch runner take his place for each of his walks.“I want to go as hard as I can and have them chase me and tag me like Little League.”Lindor, who calls the minor leaguers Ozzie Smith Jersey , “the lions” because of their hunger to reach the big leagues, gained an appreciation for their determination when a base runner ran on Lindor when he was receiving a relay throw.“They are going all-out and I’m trying to pace myself,” he said. “It reminded me not to take anything for granted, because at the end of the day, they want to be here (major leagues) and they are working as hard as they can to be up here.”INJURIESShortstop Eric Stamets, who has played 21 Cactus League games filling in for Lindor, was removed from Wednesday’s game against the Angels in the third inning as a precaution after experiencing left hip tightness.“I think he’s OK. It is more precautionary. It is like a hip flexor,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “He’s already been examined. We were going to play him tomorrow. I don’t think we’re going to do that now, but I don’t think it is anything more than that (no other days off needed).”In Scottsdale, where an Indians split squad was playing the Giants, second baseman Jason Kipnis was removed for precautionary reasons because of right calf tightness. Kipnis left after one at-bat and did not play defense.“We’ll get a read; they’re looking at him now,” Francona said after the game.Kipnis missed time last week for the same issue and was hampered by hip flexor tightness at the beginning of March.OPENING DAY STARTERFrancona said he’s still not ready to announce the opening day starter.“I think we’ll wait and get through (Corey) Kluber’s start; I think that makes the most sense,” Francona said of the two-time Cy Young winner who pitches against the Cubs on Friday.Kluber, who has made four consecutive opening day starts, would have five days’ rest between his Friday start and opening day.Since the Indians have a day off on March 27, Trevor Bauer would have the traditional four days’ rest if he is given the nod to start on opening day.ROSTER MOVESRHP Alex Wilson, INF Ryan Flaherty and RHP Justin Grimm were each informed that they will not make the 25-man roster.“These guys have outs,” Francona said, noting that they will talk to their agents and discuss possibilities with other teams, knowing that the Indians would love to have them back at the minor-league level.Later on Wednesday, Flaherty and Wilson opted out of minor league deals and became free agents.RHP A.J. Cole was sent to the minor league side.Francona indicated that the relievers are likely to be called up during the season.“You don’t keep seven or eight guys the whole year; it is just not possible,” he said. “Just try to remind, especially the veteran guys, if it is a kick in the stomach (being sent down), we know that. But don’t let that derail you from what you’re doing because that doesn’t help anybody.” Jim McKean Albert Pujols Jersey , who umpired 10 no-hitters and three World Series during a big league career from 1973-01, has died. He was 73.Jamie McKean, one of his sons, said McKean died in his sleep early Thursday at Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg, Florida, near his home.Jim McKean had kidney issues and while at St. Anthony’s Hospital in St. Petersburg around Thanksgiving developed a MRSA infection. He had appeared to have recovered from the infection but remained weakened.“I think his heart just gave out,” his son said.A Montreal native, Jim McKean played baseball, football and basketball at Monklands High School, then played professionally in the Canadian Football League. He was a punter and backup quarterback for the Montreal Alouettes in 1964-65, then was traded to Saskatchewan and was a punter for the Roughriders as they won the Grey Cup in 1966.Following a back injury, he returned to college at Concordia. He hoped to become an NHL referee but did not skate well.McKean’s career path changed after he attended an Expos game at Montreal’s Jarry Park with a friend, most likely in the team’s first season in 1969.“His friend was a little drunk and yelled down at one of the umpires on the field, Billy Williams, ‘Hey, my friend wants to be an umpire,'” Jamie McKean recalled. “And so, he said, ‘OK, well, if he’s serious, come down the locker room after the game.’ And so my dad went home and changed like it was an interview and came back and he said he gave me information for the umpire school in Gulfport, Florida, down here in St. Pete, and the rest is history.”McKean umpired in the minor leagues from 1970-73 http://www.stlouiscardinalsteamshop.com/authentic-marcell-ozuna-jersey , joined the American League staff in 1973 and made his big league debut that September. His 10 no-hitters tied the record shared by Silk O’Loughlin and Paul Pryor, a mark broken when Bruce Froemming worked his 11th with the St. Louis Cardinals’ Bud Smith on the mound in September 2001.All of McKean’s no-hitter were as a base umpire. He was behind the plate when Toronto’s Roy Halladay was hitless through 8 2/3 innings against Detroit on Sept. 27, 1998, then allowed Bobby Higginson’s home run. That was the second big league appearance for Halladay, who was elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame this week.McKean umpired All-Star Games in 1980, 1982 and 1993, and the World Series in 1979, 1985 and 1995.“To be honest with you, umpires have to get up for big games, too,” McKean said in 2008. “My premise is, if the umpiring is not good, the games are not good. You can have the two best teams in the world, and if that umpire behind the plate or that umpire on the bases is not good, then it’s not going to be a good game. So that’s where the pressure lies.”McKean worked his last game in 2001. He was on staff for the first half of 2002 and began an umpire supervisor at the All-Star break. He was let go after the 2010 season and became an umpire analyst for ESPN in 2011.“Jim was a highly respected figure in the sport, and we are particularly grateful that he represented our game so well in his native Canada,” Major League Baseball said in a statement.McKean was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2004.In addition to Jamie, he is survived by another son, Brett. McKean’s wife, the former Ann Carey, died in 2007.A funeral will be held at Holy Family Catholic Church in St. Petersburg. The date had not been scheduled.