A lot of people were expecting big things from B.J. and Justin Upton on the Braves this year.

In the early going, they’re not letting people down.

The brothers hit historic back-to-back home runs against the Colorado Rockies Tuesday night.

The Associated Press reported that it was the 27th time in MLB history that brothers homered in the same game, but only the second time in consecutive at-bats. Lloyd and Paul Waner of the Pittsburgh Pirates accomplished the same thing Sept. 15, 1938.

Here’s the clip of the Uptons:

– Rick Green

Bourn again?

The Cleveland Indians made a shocking move by signing speedy center fielder Michael Bourn to a four-year, $48 million deal Monday. With an aggressive offseason that includes the additions of Nick Swisher, Mark Reynolds, Drew Stubbs and Trevor Bauer, among others, owners Larry and Paul Dolan are showing a commitment to spend and bring back a contender to resemble the mid-’90s Tribe. (The Indians’ payroll has jumped about $20 million from last season, going from $65 million to the mid-$80 million range.)

The left-handed hitting Bourn is a pure speed guy who is a Gold Glove center fielder. He  hit .274 with 96 runs, 26 doubles, 10 triples, nine home runs, 57 RBIs and 42 steals for the Atlanta Braves last year.

Bourn’s addition also gives the Indians the nice problem of having three center fielders — Bourn, Stubbs and Michael Brantley. Likely, Swisher will move from right field to first base and Reynolds will take over at designated hitter, helping to fill a void that had not been adequately addressed, until now. There’s also the possibility the Indians would consider trading Stubbs to help bolster a starting rotation that was sub-par, to say the least, last season.

Whatever the Indians do this season, fans can’t say the front office isn’t trying to put a winner on the field.

–Tony Battaglia

By MIKE COPPER

mike.copper@timesnews.com

Chris Cron regards himself as a teacher of baseball as much as a manager. Maybe more teacher than manager.
It’s why he loves to be hands-on during the Erie SeaWolves’ pregame workouts.
Cron can still be found hitting grounders and fungo-bat fly balls. However, standing behind the mesh netting while tossing batting practice is out for now.
That duty has been delegated to pitching coach Ray Burris while Cron recovers from long-delayed shoulder surgery.
“For me, I did it because I wanted to be able to do normal activities,” Cron said. “I want to be like the people who are reading this article; just get up and reach for a gallon of milk and be able to pour it.”
Doing such a prosaic task without pain is why Cron, like so many in baseball, marveled at what 49-year old Jamie Moyer achieved April 17.
That was the date Moyer — one year, four months and 12 days older than Cron — became oldest pitcher ever to win a major league game. The left-hander went the first seven innings of the Colorado Rockies’ 5-3 victory over the San Diego Padres at Coors Field.
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There was no three home-run, eight-RBI performance from Tony Plagman, or any of the other Erie SeaWolves, when they played Altoona on Sunday.

What did happen was an extension of the team’s longest victory streak this season (five) and its first winning record.

Erie doubled up the Curve 4-2 in the Mother’s Day matinee at Jerry Uht Park. Jamie Johnson’s leadoff home run and sacrifice fly highlighted the SeaWolves’ win, which left them 18-17 in the Eastern League’s Western Division.

The Curve slumped to 13-22, last in the division, after their sixth consecutive loss.

– Mike Copper

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The Erie SeaWolves better hope they don’t trail Trenton 7-0 on Wednesday night, when they’re scheduled to face Andy Pettitte.

The Thunder, who are supposed to start the former New York Yankees pitcher in the second game of the teams’ series, won Tuesday’s opener 11-4 at Waterfront Park. The SeaWolves dropped to 6-10 in their first game since last Saturday, while Trenton is now 4-0 against them and 9-8 overall.

Erie didn’t get on the scoreboard until the fifth inning, when Rawley Bishop led off with his first home run this season. Rob Brantly and Niuman Romero drove in the SeaWolves’ other three runs, and each joined Bishop with two hits.

– Mike Copper

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If the five home runs that Erie and Bowie combined to hit turned Sunday’s game a boxing brawl, then the latter’s counterpunching ability helped it salvage a split of the teams’ four-game series.

Erie pulled within a run of tying the Baysox in three separate innings, only to watch the visitors immediately respond with one of their own each time. That trait allowed the Maryland club to depart Jerry Uht Park on a 7-5 victory note.

The SeaWolves (4-5) lost despite two home runs from Jordan Lennerton. The first baseman continued to live up to the potential he showed at Single-A Lakeland (Fla.) last season by hitting solo shots off Bowie starter Tim Bascom.

Lennerton leads Erie in homers (four) and RBIs (nine).

– Mike Copper

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The Cleveland Indians likely will have seven left-handed hitters and two switch hitters in their lineup to start the 2012 season.

There’s a glaring need for a right-handed power hitter, but the free-agent market is light in that department and the Indians’ budget is limited.

Scratch Josh Willingham from the Tribe’s list of potential candidates. The Minnesota Twins signed Willingham to a three-year deal worth $21 million Thursday. Willingham had a career-high 29 home runs to go with 98 RBIs for the Oakland A’s last season.

The Indians, whose budget will grow next season because of raises through arbitration and the Derek Lowe signing, never offered more than two years for Willingham.

It appears, unless the Tribe goes after someone such as Xavier Nady, that Shelley Duncan or Matt LaPorta will have to provide that righty pop.

Here’s some more MLB news tracking this week:

–Jason Grilli will come out of the Pittsburgh Pirates bullpen again next season after signing a one-year, $1.1 million deal this week. Grilli is the son of former Gannon pitcher and major leaguer Steve Grilli.

–The Pirates Caravan stopped at the Millcreek Mall Wednesday, bringing a message of hope for next season. Outfielder Jose Tabata, pitcher Jeff Karstens, first base coach Luis Silverio and broadcaster Greg Brown were part of the Erie stop.

–The Pirates gave up one of their top relievers in Jose Veras but got back another third-base option with the trade for Casey McGehee this week. McGehee slumped with Milwaukee this past season after having a nice 2010 season (.285 BA, 23 HRs, 104 RBIs) at the plate. Even if McGehee doesn’t supplant Pedro Alvarez at the hot corner, the Bucs are hoping he can put up numbers close to his 2010 season.

–National League MVP Ryan Braun tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs and is facing a 50-game suspension. Braun, who disputes the finding, reportedly had elevated levels of testosterone in his system. Many fans would like to see him lose his MVP award, but that’s not going to happen.

–No surprise here: Former controversial reliever John Rocker admitted to steroid use when he pitched for the Atlanta Braves. Rocker also pitched briefly for the Indians. My favorite Rocker quote from the story: “I wish 37-year old John Rocker could go back and punch 23-year old John Rocker in his face.”

–Check out this video blog from MLB.com reporter Jordan Bastian who discusses the Indians’ pitching staff. Bastian brings up the fact the Indians bring back three sinker-ball starters and has a real asset with the bullpen.

– Tony Battaglia