MVN - Most Valuable Network

Jake Westbrook could be the key to Cleveland’s rotation

Jake Westbrook has made a career out of being consistent. He’s so dependable in fact, that at times he can be an afterthought to the other Tribe starters. In 2004, Westbrook won 14 games in 215 innings, with 116 K’s and 61 walks. In 2005, Westbrook won 15 games in 211 innings, with 119 K’s and 56 walks. In 2006, Westbrook won 15 games in 211 innings, with 109 K’s and 55 walks. The consistency for Westbrook ended last May when he injured his abdominal. After returning, he never really returned to form. He ended the year at 6-9, but most important, never really found the rhythm normally associated with a Jake Westbrook season.

This spring, Westbrook has looked to return to the pitcher that the Indians signed to a 3-year, 33 million dollar deal last season. It appears as though he has found that steadiness once again, except for the fact that consistent really understates Westbrook’s spring training brilliance.

Today, Westbrook went six perfect innings, striking out 8, and only needing 65 pitches. For the spring, he’s 3-0 in 14 scoreless innings, having given up only 5 hits, 4 walks and 16 K’s. I know it’s only spring, but that’s something to get excited out.

The Indians starting pitchers have been much discussed in February and March. C.C. Sabathia is in the last year of his contract, and at the top of everyone’s list of things to talk about. Fausto Carmona is coming off a 19-win season that came out of nowhere, and many are wondering if he can follow that up to firmly establish himself as an ace in this league. Paul Byrd is coming off an offseason that saw his HGH use come to light during the ALCS, then again in the now infamous Mitchell Report. Newly annointed fifth starter, Cliff Lee, has been in a three-way battle for that slot with Jeremy Sowers and Aaron Laffey.

Westbrook’s excellence has been under-the-radar this spring, until today’s performance. It still may be a sign that the Indians’ brass need to see heading into this season. C.C. Sabathia is coming off of a Cy Young award season that saw him lead the lead in innings. Carmona has wicked stuff, but needs another season like last year before he can be placed in the ace category for good (with visions of Liriano dancing in our heads). Byrd is coming off a good year, but still has the HGH questions hanging over his head. Lee is just returning to the starting rotation after a year that saw him sent down to Buffalo.

It’s safe to say that Sabathia should return similar numbers to last year. There are questions about the other starters though. Enough questions to make Jake Westbrook’s start extremely important. If at a minimum, Westbrook returns to that even-keeled pitcher from 2004-2006, it would soften the blow of a worst-case scenario of a Carmona, Lee and/or Byrd slump.

In a best-case scenario, Westbrook’s return could make the Tribe staff one of the best, if not the best in the league.

I don’t know about you…but I’d be okay with that.

Cliff Lee is officially in as Tribe’s fifth starter: As mentioned earlier, Cliff Lee was officially named as the Indians’ fifth starter. Aaron Laffey and Jeremy Sowers were both sent down to AAA Buffalo. The only question remaining with the starters now appears to be who comes up first, Sowers or Laffey, should someone not perform, or get injured.

Bye-Bye Aaron Fultz: The LOOGY is gone. Tomorrow at 9:00 A.M., in celebration of his release, feel free to shoot a loogy out your car window, office cubicle, or trash can.

So, who takes over for Fultz? This is where it gets interesting. With Fultz being released, there are now TWO slots available in the Tribe bullpen. Currently, the five relievers assured of a job are Joe Borowski, Rafael Perez, Rafael Betancourt, Jensen Lewis and Masa Kobayashi. The four players fighting for the final two slots are led by the three righties already fighting for the 7th bullpen slot, Jorge Julio, Scott Elarton and Tom Mastny. The final slot is most interesting, as newly acquired Craig Breslow has been added to the mix.

Breslow was signed off of waivers from the Red Sox yesterday.

Eric Wedge would prefer to have two lefties, which would put Breslow at the top of the list as being one of the two pitchers selected. Still, I’m hoping Cleveland chooses the two best pitchers instead. Breslow seems to have some credentials. Still, he’s never been able to hang on to a job in the bigs.

I hope Wedge doesn’t make the same mistake with Breslow, as he did with Fultz.

Jorge Julio, Masa Kobayashi and Rafael Betancour all pitched well today. Julio went an inning, giving up a double, but striking out 2. Kobayashi gave up only one hit, while Betancourt pitched a perfect ninth, with a strikeout. Folks, I think Jorge Julio has the 7th spot in the rotation locked up.

Is there a trade in the winds? I still think there’s a strong possibility that the Indians are working on some form of a deal to clear out some space in the outfield, or perhaps, their bullpen. I doubt the latter, however, as Mark Shapiro has clearly made it known that he wants depth there.

Here come the Yankees…

This entry was posted on Monday, March 24th, 2008 at 11:14 pm and is filed under Aaron Laffey, Cliff Lee, Fausto Carmona, Eric Wedge, Tom Mastny, Scott Elarton, Tribe, Mark Shapiro, Jake Westbrook, Paul Byrd, Buffalo Bisons, AAA, Cleveland Indians, Jorge Julio, C.C. Sabathia, Jeremy Sowers, James Pete, Tribe Report. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.