No NL Relievers Please

 

Everyone agrees that it was the bullpen and the infield defense that killed the 2006 Cleveland Indians.  Last night, I watched Mets’ Manager Willie Randolph bring Guillermo Mota (yes, that Guillermo Mota) into the eighth inning of first game of the NATIONAL LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES! with the game still on the line.  Surely, it would be no time before Cardinal hitters started knocking down the walls at Shea Stadium with line drives.

 

Image my surprise when Tim McCarver said no NL reliever had the fastball-change up combination of Mota, who struggled mightily in his tenure with the Indians.  Is the NL that bad that Mota can be a reliable set up man over there?  Then, I remembered the long line of relievers from the Senior Circuit who have failed in Cleveland in the last ten years.

 

The first one who comes to mind in Steve Reed.  A right handed sidearmer, Reed pitched five years in pre-humidor Colorado without having an ERA of over 4.50.  After coming over in a trade with the Giants, Reed had a 6.66 ERA with the Tribe.  His next two years were respectable, but neither season ended with an ERA of under 4.00.  Lefty Tom Martin came over in a deal after having a 2.03 ERA with the Astros.  His numbers with the Tribe?  12.89, 8.68, and 4.05. 

 

More known for coming to Cleveland in the Brian Giles deal, Ricardo Rincon is another National League guy who faired better before coming to Cleveland.  He saved 18 games in two seasons with Pittsburgh, in three and a half years with the Indians he saved two.  He never put up the numbers he achieved with the Bucs, although that may have something to do with Mike Hargrove using him more as a lefty matchup guy. 

 

John Rocker, Jarrod Riggan, Jose Jimenez.  All guys who had good seasons in the NL, but were miserable to watch in a Tribe uniform.  Yes, some guys did have some success:  Mike Jackson, Paul Assenmacher, and Bob Wickman.  Those guys are the exceptions and Jackson and Wickman had American League experience before going to the other league. 

 

Here’s hoping the relief pitchers the Tribe looks at for the 2007 season have proven themselves in the AL.  Otherwise, we might be singing the same bullpen blues we are warbling now.  Be careful if you get excited about getting a National League bullpen guy, your enthusiasm and an Indians’ lead may blow up in your face.

 

KM