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With six spots likely set, Mastny top candidate to fill the final slot
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sportswriter
Published on Monday, Feb 18, 2008
WINTER HAVEN, FLA.: It's six and counting.
Even at this early date in spring training, the Indians' bullpen is almost a done deal. Among the seven members of the relief corps, six pitchers are virtually assured of spots: closer Joe Borowski, setup man Rafael Betancourt, righties Masa Kobayashi and Jensen Lewis and lefties Aaron Fultz and Rafael Perez.
''There is one spot open for sure, but I always throw out that it's one or two, because you don't know for sure how it will play out, and I want to keep my options open,'' manager Eric Wedge said Sunday.
Ostensibly, seven pitchers are competing for the final spot in the bullpen, but at last one is more equal than the others.
''Tom Mastny probably has a leg up on the job because of what he's done the last couple of years,'' Wedge said.
Since his big-league debut on July 30, 2006, Mastny has compiled a 7-3 record and 4.86 ERA in 66 games.
Other contenders include Edward Mujica and nonroster invitees Rick Bauer, Matt Ginter, Jeff Harris and Jorge Julio. In addition, Scott Elarton, a career starter, has told Wedge he prefers to be a reliever.
''He's one of the guys, too,'' Wedge said.
The final bullpen spot does not have to go to a long relief specialist.
''As long as we have a couple of guys who can go two or three innings, that's fine,'' Wedge said. Wedge also is prepared for surprises.
''If one of our young kids goes out of his mind (in exhibition games),'' he said, ''that's the long shot.''
Miller time?
The Indians' No. 1 prospect, right-hander Adam Miller, lost much of the 2007 season because of a ligament sprain in his finger. Consequently, he has been told to take things slower in spring training.
''He's a little behind, maybe a week, but not really,'' Wedge said. ''We'll be careful with him, keep a close eye on him.''
Miller is expected to start the season on time as a member of the rotation at Triple-A Buffalo.
Slapshot anyone?
Last spring training's tool of choice was a hockey puck. Guess what? The puck is back.
When Paul Byrd decided to refine his curveball last February, he looked around the clubhouse and decided that Mastny's breaking pitch was a weapon he wanted to emulate. When he asked Mastny about it, Byrd was told that tossing around a hockey puck helped maintain good rotation on a curveball.
That was then, and this is now.
''We'll probably break out the hockey puck at some point this spring,'' Mastny said.
Social note
Wedge left after Sunday's workout for Cleveland, where his wife, Kate, is scheduled to give birth today by Caesarean section to a boy at Fairview Hospital. Wedge is planning to return to Winter Haven Tuesday night.
Social note II
Jason Michaels announced his engagement to 1999 Florida Southern graduate Pamela Moore. The Nov. 8 wedding will take place in Tampa, though the bride-to-be grew up in Winter Haven.
Michaels and Moore met in Philadelphia, long before the outfielder signed with the Tribe
''When she told me she was from Winter Haven, I said, 'Nobody is from Winter Haven,' ''Michaels said.
Next milestone
Many position players already are in camp; those that aren't are scheduled to report Tuesday, with the first full-squad workout Thursday.
Sheldon Ocker can be reached at socker@thebeaconjournal.com.
WINTER HAVEN, FLA.: It's six and counting.
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