Tribe Wins First Series, But…

 

The good news is the Cleveland Indians won two out of three in Chicago against the White Sox.  The bad news is they could have swept the Pale Hose, losing 4-3 in the bottom of the ninth due to an error by Roberto Hernandez and a hit batsman with the bases loaded to end the game.  It didn’t help that the loss was by one run, a weakness for this team the past two seasons. 

 

Eric Wedge takes a lot of criticism for his team’s record in one run games, and GM Mark Shapiro said the organization poured through these types of games to see if there was something they could put their collective fingers on as a reason for the poor record.  They said there was nothing concrete.  However, others have pointed to Wedge’s handling of his bullpen as the reason.  These people may have found something.

 

The Tribe is carrying seven relief pitchers.  It is obvious after three games that once again the skipper will only use certain guys as long as he has a lead.  If the Indians are winning, Fernando Cabrera and Jason Davis might as well return to the clubhouse, because they will not be used unless there is an emergency.  Wedge has already used both Hernandez and Rafael Betancourt in all three games the team has played.  I know there was an off day in between, but is the bullpen going to be taxed already?

 

The book on Betancourt is he has problems when pitching consecutive days.  Sure enough, in his second straight day of use yesterday, he gave up the go ahead run in a 2-2 game.  He didn’t pitch horribly, but he didn’t pitch as well as he normally does.

 

However, that’s not the point.  I have said this before, but if the manager doesn’t have enough confidence in Davis and Cabrera to use them in a series that they have already won, then it is incumbent on Shapiro to get rid of them.  Both hurlers are out of options, so they can’t be sent to the minors.  Roster spots are too precious to be wasted on guys who cannot contribute to the success of the team.  Both pitchers could have thrown an inning or two on Monday with a 12-3 lead, but instead Wedge went with Betancourt, Hernandez, and Joe Borowski.

 

Also, it is unlikely that Betancourt and Hernandez can pitch in the home opener against Seattle since they have been used two days in a row. 

 

Building a bullpen is like developing a bench in basketball.  If you use people early in the season, they will be able to help you at the end of the season.  Finding out whether Cabrera and Davis could have done the job yesterday could decide whether or not they can contribute to this team.  A manager doesn’t want to burn out his relief corps by the middle of June.

 

KM