Friday night’s debacle against the Devil Rays really was hard to take. C.C. Sabathia pitched another fine game, but left after the 8th inning with a lead. Sabathia was over 100 pitches, so Manager Eric Wedge went to his struggling bullpen. Jason Davis is inconsistent, but had the team’s only save, so he was the leading candidate to be brought in. However, Wedge decided to go with Brian Sikorski, who has allowed four HR’s in nine innings thrown in a Tribe uniform. Why?
I understand that the rest of this season is to see what the club has for next year. But, the skipper still has an obligation to Sabathia, who has been a loyal soldier to the organization. The big lefty has been pitching lights out over the last month, and is not getting any wins to show for it. Out of all the options at hand to pitch the ninth, Sikorski would have been the fourth option to me.
First, I would have used Davis. Yes, he runs hot and cold, but he did earn the save at Fenway Park earlier this month, and he didn’t hold the lead in his most recent chance against the Royals because of Hector Luna’s error. My second choice would have been Tom Mastny (this was before his save on Saturday) since he has done nothing but get guys out since being called up from Buffalo. I would have used Fausto Carmona ahead of Sikorski, just based on pure stuff.
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So, Sikorski comes on and Travis Lee hits one off the fence immediately. The manager waited until the game was tied to get Davis into the game, and the big righty gave up a walk and the game winning hit to Carl Crawford. Keep in mind that Davis is horrible when entering the game with runners in scoring position. What gives? What turned into a series win against the D-Rays should have been a series sweep. The next night, Mastny did come on and pitched two impressive frames, striking out three. Before yesterday’s game, the STO announcing crew told me that the rookie righthander may not get the next save situation. Why the hell not?
Eric Wedge has been the Tribe’s manager for four seasons. The bullpen has been in shambles for 2-1/2 of those years. Only when Bob Wickman was here and everybody knew he was the closer, has the relief corp been settled. It appears that Wedge or Carl Willis do not know how to identify a guy who can wrap up a game. I agreed with their assessment of Carmona, but when that plan failed for the moment, there’s no alternative. Mastny got the last save, so he should get the next opportunity. If he fails, he’s the lastest who did. If he succeeds, maybe the Indians found a guy who can close.
This is not to say that Tom Mastny is the next Mariano Rivera, but he has demonstrated the ability to get guys out. He deserves the chance, and he deserves it more than a guy who’s allowed four dingers in the equivalent of one game.
JK
Cleveland Sports Perspective 