The Cleveland Indians actually showed a little activity last week, signing free agent veteran catcher Mike Redmond, and trading prospect Jose Brito to Pittsburgh for light hitting utility man Brian Bixler, a Sandusky native.
Going into the off-season, GM Mark Shapiro said he wanted a right-handed hitter, a backup catcher, and a utility man, and he filled all three spots. Now you can debate how well those spots were filled by guys like Austin Kearns, Shelley Duncan, Mark Grudzielanek, Redmond, and Bixler, but they were filled.
Didn’t anyone look at the pitching staff, particularly the starting rotation?
Actually, getting Redmond is a good signing. He’s been a solid hitter in his career, albeit without a lot of power. He’s 39 years old, but hasn’t been a regular in his time in the big leagues; in fact, he’s never played 100 games in a season. He’s a lifetime .289 hitter, but has just 13 homers in 2201 career at bats. He also puts the ball in play on a regular basis.
As for Bixler, he seems to be a John McDonald-type of player: good glove, no bat. He hit .227 in 44 at bats with the Bucs last season, but hit just .157 in 108 at bats in 2008. He can play all over the infield, but is a shortstop by trade. He will be in the mix to replace Jamey Carroll as the backup infielder.
However, the starting pitching is a huge question mark, and that puts the Tribe on the outside looking in when it comes to contending for a division title. Here are the candidates to start for the 2010 Cleveland Indians:
Jake Westbrook: The expectation is he will be the Opening Day starter. However, he’s pitched exactly 34 innings in the major leagues since starting Game 7 of the 2007 ALCS against the Red Sox. Please note he only started 25 games that year, so he’s three years removed from the last of three consecutive 200 inning seasons from 2004-06. Even when healthy, Westbrook has a lifetime ERA of 4.31. If he can hold up, he’s a good third starter, but…
Fausto Carmona: Carmona has pitched in the major leagues in four seasons, and has had three years with an ERA of over 5.00. That would make his 19-8 season in ’07 the aberration, correct? He has electric stuff, but has had problems controlling it. Without his magical 2007 campaign, he’s 14-29 in the majors with a 5.79 ERA. Right now, he should be a fifth starter with his track record. Someone you aren’t really counting on, which is a direct opposite of how the Tribe views him.
David Huff: The 25-year-old southpaw led the Indians in victories last season with 11, but had an ERA of over 5.61 and allowed 159 hits in 128 innings. Huff should be getting better, and did improve as the season went along last season, but he has no proven track record. At this point in his development, he should be a back of the rotation guy.
Justin Masterson: Acquired in the Victor Martinez deal, the 25-year-old right-hander is another young guy with plus stuff. However, he went 1-7 with a 4.55 ERA after joining the Tribe, and has thrown all of 217 innings in the show. Control has been an issue with 100 walks in those frames to go along with 187 strikeouts. He may be better suited coming out of the bullpen, and in fact has made only 25 starts in 78 major league appearances.
Aaron Laffey: The 25-year-old southpaw may have the best track record of any of the young pitchers, with a 16-18 career record accompanying a 4.39 ERA. Unfortunately, he has only pitched 264 big league innings, with a high of 121 last season. He has problems finding the strike zone at times, as evidenced by a whiff to walk ratio of 127:100. He needs to show better control to succeed long term as a starter. Yet another guy suited for the back of a rotation.
Jeremy Sowers: This former first round pick may need a big spring training to save his employment with the Indians. After a promising rookie season (7-4, 3.57 ERA) in 2006, Sowers has gone 11-26 with a 5.63 ERA over the past three seasons. Sowers’ history has been that he’s good the first time through an order, but struggles thereafter. Right now, he should rank behind both Huff and Laffey.
Carlos Carrasco: One of the guys who came to town in the Cliff Lee deal, the 23-year-old righty was a top prospect in Philly, who’s star fell a little bit. He struggled mightily in his September call up with the Tribe, going 0-4 with an 8.87 ERA. His minor league numbers were 11-10 with a 4.64 ERA last season. He has always been a guy who looks better than his numbers. If he does well in Goodyear, he should get a shot at opening the season in the bigs, as opposed to some of the other alternatives.
Hector Rondon: The 22-year-old is the dark horse in this race because of the Tribe’s cautiousness in dealing with prospects. Rondon started last season in Akron where he went 7-5 with a 2.75 ERA before being promoted to Columbus, where he was 4-5 with a 4.00 ERA at the tender age of 21. However, with the shortcomings of the other candidates, Rondon should get a shot if he pitches well in the desert.
As you can see, the starting rotation is a gaping hole for the Cleveland Indians. If Fausto Carmona returns to his 2007 form, if Carrasco or Rondon prove ready to win at the big league level, if Westbrook holds up all season long.
For a team with the offense and bullpen to compete in the AL Central, that’s too many question marks.
KM
Cleveland Sports Perspective 