Category: Cleveland Indians (Page 21 of 96)

The Cleveland Indians need to start from scratch when building their bullpen for next year. I’m not sure I see a current player that has potential to help this team improve. We have traded, promoted and changed positions to find pitchers with the ability to set up or close and came up empty. The Indians have blown too many late inning close games.

General Manager Mark Shapiro has to think about a blockbuster trade or spending some serious money in the winter to create a bullpen. It’s very apparent that losing set up man Bob Howry was more painful than ever expected. I truly believe the starting pitchers are talented enough to keep us competitive, and we have shown we can produce the offense. I wouldn’t be surprised if one of the Tribe core players has to be traded to improve our ability to compete.

A three-run fourth inning helped the Tribe beat the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 5-3 Saturday night at Tropicana Field. For one day at least, Eric Wedge and the Indians found a solution for the closer’s spot. Tom Mastny struck out three in two innings to earn his first save of the season for the Tribe. Jeremy Sowers continued his solid pitching, allowing two runs in six innings and getting his fifth win of the season. The Indians’ runs were highlighted by a two-run triple by Jhonny Peralta and an RBI double by Andy Marte. Travis Hafner added his 37th home run in the seventh inning.

“He’ll get another opportunity,” Indians manager Eric Wedge said. “Mastny did a great job. The way he pitched tonight said a lot about his mental toughness. It was great to see for him and for us.”

The Indians suffered yet another late-inning loss Friday night as they fell to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays 6-5. C.C. Sabathia went eight strong innings allowing three earned runs on eight hits, striking out six. He left a two run lead to the flimsy bullpen which once again showed us which area of the team needs an overhaul this offseason. Brian Sikorski came in to work the ninth inning and allowed a run on three hits to make it a 5-4 game. Jason Davis came in to attempt to save the game with runners on first and second and one out. However, Davis walked the first batter he faced on four pitches to load the bases. After getting ahead of Carl Crawford 0-2, Davis grooved a splitter and Crawford deposited it into right field for the win. Manager Eric Wedge continues to have trouble finding someone, anyone, to finish a game with the lead.

“We’re going to keep trying with guys,” Wedge said. “That’s just where we’re at.”

The bullpen fiasco ruined a breakout game from young third baseman Andy Marte, as he went 3-4 with two doubles and his very first major league home run. It’s a shame that blast had to come in a tough loss. As they say, better luck next year.

Well, as long as the bullpen never shows up it looks like the Tribe will be alright. Paul Byrd pitched a complete game Thursday afternoon as the Tribe beat the Twins 3-2 in the series finale. The Indians grabbed a 2-o lead with the help of Hector Luna’s RBI triple in the second inning. While Byrd didn’t have his greatest stuff on the mound, he was able to bear down and make good pitches when he had to. With the game at 3-2 in the bottom of the ninth, Byrd and the Indians got a scare when Justin Morneau drove a ball deep to center field but Grady Sizemore was able to haul it in at the wall. The 10 complete games by Indian pitchers this season leads the majors.

“I didn’t have great stuff,” he said. “I was grunting and groaning out there to throw hard, and [the pitch speed would read] 83 mph. After the first inning, I was asking some of our other pitchers if I looked like I was doing something different, but they said no. It just happens sometimes, that you don’t have your best stuff, so you adjust accordingly.”

Thank God Wedge left Byrd in. Who knows what could have happened had he brought in Carmona, Davis or anyone else in the pen.

The Indians rode a six-game win streak and things were looking somewhat positive. Unfortunately, they have regressed and are back to their old inconsistent ways again. The monster that is the Indians bullpen reared its ugly head again in their 7-2 loss to the Twins Wednesday night. Starter Cliff Lee battled through his five innings and left with the game tied 2-2. After the relief work of Fernando Cabrera, it was still tied going into the eighth when all hell broke loose for the Tribe bullpen. Fausto Carmona and Rafael Betancourt combined for five runs in the inning, leaving any chance of a Tribe victory. Michael Cuddyer hit a three-run shot off Betancourt in the eighth to blow the game wide open.

What is it with the Metrodome? The dome of horrors continues to haunt the Tribe this season, where they are 2-6.