Hello Tribe Fans Everywhere!
These last two losses to the Red Sox have been frustrating, but the Indians are still a game and a half up on the Tigers in the A.L. Central. It shows you how important that 3-game sweep of the Tigers in Detroit last weekend was.
Now that Jake Westbrook plans to start a game or two in the minors, it looks as if his pulled muscle is almost back to normal, which means the Tribe will be forced to make some hard calls.
A week ago, the decision looked easy. Jeremy Sowers would be demoted to Buffalo to open a spot for Westbrook in the rotation. No way can they send Fausto Carmona back to the minors -- not the way the kid keeps lighting it up every time he takes the mound.
Sowers' last two starts have to make the Indians' brass swallow hard, however, before they send the kid lefty packing. He coughed up a couple of homers in last night's game against Boston, and he ended up losing for the sixth time in seven decisions, but the kid clearly can pitch. His confidence was shot until these last two starts, and now he closely resembles the whiz kid who went 7-4 during the second half of 2006.
Fernando Cabrera has a great arm, but can the Indians afford to use him in a game in which their lead is less than 10 runs? I think not. Nobody knows exactly what happened to Cabrera, but the guy is useless. He's out of options, which means the Tribe would almost certainly lose him if they tried to send him down. So, what do you do?
Well, you can't win a title by hanging on to a pitcher who can't get any hitter out. Perhaps they can sneak Cabrera onto the disabled list, but I can think of no other solution.
With Westbrook's return, the problem with the starting staff remains. Too many starters and not enough turns in the rotation. A month ago, I kept advocating for Paul Byrd to join the relief staff. But, along with C.C. Sabathia and Carmona, Byrd has ranked among Cleveland's most effective starters. No, you can't do that to the guy. Unless he volunteers, that is. But why would he do that?
Well, he might if the Indians picked up his option for 2008. It's what I'd do if I owned the ballclub. But I don't, which is why I suspect they'll send Jeremy Sowers down. The Indians better get some help in the pen, though, because this situation is getting serious.
Could a trade be in the offing? You never know. That Yankees starting staff looks dreadful. The Indians could use a potent bat in the outfield, as many of us have grown weary of waiting for David Delluci to come around.
Interesting things lie ahead as the Tribe mulls over the decisions it will be forced to make.
****************
The answer to yesterday's quickie quiz is: Wilfred "Sonny" Siebert started as an outfielder before finally convincing the Indians farm director to let him have a shot at pitching.
Today's quiz: Name the former Indians starting pitcher who is seriously contemplating running for the presidency of Nicaragua.
****************
-- Kevin Cuneo