"Right before I came here on Feb. 1," Dellucci said dejectedly, "I was fishing on the side of my lake, and I heard a little boy screaming. I ran over and an alligator had him by the leg. I jumped on the gator, poked him in the eyes, freed the kid, but he (the gator) got me in my thumb. I got stitched and had surgery."

As the reporters dutifully took notes, Dellucci kept a straight face as long as he could. Finally, he came clean on his heroic fib.

"Just kidding," he said, smiling.

Dellucci got bit by a gator all right - a tailgater.

While packing for spring training, he slammed his thumb in a trailer tailgate at his home in Baton Rouge, La. Dellucci, who throws left-handed, will miss the start of the Cactus League season. But he is expected to get the stitches taken out on Monday and should be up to speed within a week. He threw on Friday and took batting practice without any trouble.

"Once the stitches come out," he said. "It's full go. This is nothing."

Unfortunately, it's always been something for Dellucci during his first two years with Cleveland.

Signed to a three-year, $11.5 million free-agent contract following the 2006 season, Dellucci has not lived up the expectations that accompanied his arrival from Philadelphia, where he batted .292 in '06.

A torn hamstring limited the 35-year-old to just 56 games in 2007. He batted just .238 with 11 homers and 47 RBIs last season, hardly the impact numbers the Indians projected from him.

Dellucci has been as disappointed as anyone with his lack of production.

"Big time," he said. "We're human. We have up-and-down games and up-and-down years. If I could hit the rewind button, I wouldn't have put so much pressure on myself."

This is a critical spring for Dellucci. His roster spot isn't guaranteed, and barring an injury, he'll back up Ben Francisco in left field and maybe make an occasional start at designated hitter. Plus, in Trevor Crowe, Michael Brantley and Matt LaPorta, the Indians have highly touted prospects pushing him.

"He knows where we're at as a ballclub," Indians manager Eric Wedge said. "It's an important spring for him. I want to make sure he's healthy and then see how the ball comes off his bat."

Except for the thumb, which had to be properly closed by a hand specialist, Dellucci feels healthy and rejuvenated.

"I feel like it's going to be a good year," he said. "I look around at our outfield and I know there are some young superstars in the making, but I'm prepared for whatever role I can to help this team. It's all a matter of making the postseason and winning the World Series.

"Maybe this year balls are going to fall in and things are going to go my way. It's surely about time for that to happen."

Now that would be a story, maybe even one to top his alligator tale, which hasn't been completely debunked just yet.

"There are about a dozen guys in this clubhouse who still believe it," Dellucci said.