The Cleveland Indians come back home tonight for their last home stand of the season. It has been a disappointing season to be sure, as the goal now is finishing above the .500 mark instead of going to the World Series. You can tell the campaign has been a challenge by seeing that Brian Bullington and Scott Lewis will start two of the first five of these games at Progressive Field. However, please remember the old baseball adage: Don’t take seriously things that happen in April or September.
With that in mind, how many of the players thrust into playing time because of the injuries and trades have played themselves on to the 2009 roster? Among the pitchers, Anthony Reyes should have a spot in the rotation assuming his elbow problems are minor. Eric Wedge has said he hopes to get the right-hander a few more starts before the end of the year, which should mean it’s not serious. Reyes has shown a plus fastball in his starts, and ESPN’s Jayson Stark reported at least one scout is kicking himself for not advising his team to take a chance on Reyes.
Zach Jackson looks like he has good stuff, but isn’t polished enough to have assured him a spot in ’09. He certainly has been able to keep the Indians in games, but he seems to struggle to minimize the damage when he gets into trouble. He usually allows one big inning per start, which is enough to cost him the game. Jeremy Sowers has been inconsistent at best. He has moments where he pitches very well, such as back-to-back games against the Twins where he fired five perfect frames, but when it goes bad, it goes really bad.
That would leave as starters Cliff Lee, Fausto Carmona, and Reyes, with the other two spots up for competition. I would expect Mark Shapiro to sign a veteran starter to stabilize the rotation. That would leave one spot open with the candidates being the aforementioned Jackson and Sowers, David Huff, and Scott Lewis, who threw himself in the mix with his outing on Wednesday night.
In the bullpen, the guaranteed spots would seem to go to Rafael Perez, Rafael Betancourt (based on his track record and his much better second half), Masa Kobayashi, and Jensen Lewis. Neither Juan Rincon nor Brendan Donnelly has shown much since being added to the bullpen in the second half of the season. That would leave three spots open for next season.
One of those spots could go to a closer, but I agree with former GM John Hart, closers fall out of trees. That is to say, I would not ante up big dollars to sign a closer who has washed out some place else. Francisco Rodriguez will be too expense, and his mechanics are a mess, meaning a team that signs him will be not getting value in at least two years of a possible five year deal. That doesn’t sound like the Indians. Rather, I would go to spring training with Jensen Lewis and rookie Adam Miller vying for the role. Miller has had arm problems as a starter, but throws in the mid 90s, which would give the Tribe a power closer for the first time since Jose Mesa’s heyday. Remember, Jonathan Papelbon didn’t have experience as a closer before he started saving games for the Red Sox. He was a set up man for a half year before taking over the spot in 2006.
At the very least, Miller could start the year in the set up role, and take over the spot later in the season if he is successful. Of course, as we learned from Steve Karsay and Betancourt, being a good set up man, doesn’t make you a good closer. However, I am tired of seeing guys who have to be perfect to succeed (see: Borowski, Joe and Wickman, Bob) in the closer role.
I would also like to see another southpaw in the bullpen, and Rich Rundles could be that guy. He has a funky, sidearm delivery that could make him effective against left-handed hitters. That delivery makes him a perfect situational lefty.
Next week, we will look at the everyday players to determine who has a spot on the 2009 Tribe, and who might be on the outside looking in.
KM
Cleveland Sports Perspective 