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Manager says he'll 'keep mixing, matching' relievers for now
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 12:54 p.m. EDT, Aug 07, 2008
TORONTO: Except for the stabilizing presence of Rafael Perez, the Indians' bullpen continues to be a game of darts for manager Eric Wedge.
In fact, maybe that's how Wedge should make his selections: Tack up a target on the dugout wall that includes the faces of all the relievers and take aim.
''We'll keep mixing and matching right now,'' Wedge said. ''There might be three or four people who close, the same with setting up.''
Since Wedge said that a few days ago, Perez has emerged as a clear No. 1. That does not mean he is likely to become the Tribe's closer next year.
Wedge has persisted in saying he probably won't find someone to save games on the current roster. But why not Perez? He's too good at what he does now.
''If we move him into the closer's role, we have to find another left-hander to do what he can do,'' Wedge said. ''And there's something to be said for someone who can pitch that seventh and eighth inning to get to the closer.
''I'm very confident in him. He's one of the best young left-handed relievers in the game.''
It probably would be just as difficult to find a proficient lefty to lock down the seventh and eighth (against both right-handed batters and left-handers) as it would be to find a closer.
''Perez is a good example of a second-year player who learns to make adjustments from his first year,'' Wedge said. ''Some guys don't do that and end up back in the minors for a while. One thing is certain: You are going to have to make some adjustments after that first season.''
In his past five appearances, Perez has thrown 91/3 shutout innings, allowing two hits and no walks and striking out 12.
Not long ago, Masa Kobayashi was designated by Wedge as the closer of the moment. But that didn't last long, because Kobayashi had problems in the ninth almost immediately.
All season, Kobayashi has been vulnerable to the late home run.
He has given up 23 earned runs, with the long ball accounting for 18. Except for one (in the seventh inning), each of the eight homers Kobayashi has allowed has come in the eighth inning or later (six in the ninth or 10th).
''Usually, that's because he's made a mistake,'' Wedge said. ''If he executes a pitch, I feel strongly that he can get major-league hitters out.''
Because he spent his entire career (and life) in Japan until this year, Kobayashi has had to cope with situations other pitchers don't face, like adapting to a strange culture and competing in a league with more talented players.
''I think that's real,'' Wedge said. ''He didn't know any of these guys (opposing hitters). They didn't know him, either, but he's the one who has to do the attacking. I feel like he has adapted as well as anybody.''
Little, bitty ball
In the past 14 games, opposing batters have laid down 11 bunts against the Tribe.
Two hitters were thrown out, one reached on an error, two batters executed sacrifices and six were credited with singles.
''Some of these teams — like Minnesota and Anaheim — bunting is part of their arsenal,'' Wedge said. ''They do it a lot.''
What's with Mujica
Just when Edward Mujica seemed to be settling in as a legitimate major-league reliever, he experienced two meltdowns.
On July 30 against the Detroit Tigers, Wedge summoned Mujica to protect an 11-7 lead in the eighth inning. After retiring the first two batters, he issued a walk, gave up a bunt single then two doubles and a single and the lead was gone.
On Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Rays, Mujica started the ninth with a 7-4 lead and in a span of three batters gave up two doubles and a home run, allowing the score to be tied.
''Mujica was a lockdown guy for two or three weeks,'' Wedge said. ''He had an opportunity [to finish the game Wednesday], and he wasn't able to get anybody out.''
Condolence call
Retired advisor to General Manager Mark Shapiro, Karl Kuehl, died on Wednesday, after a long career as scout, minor-league manager, instructor and author of several baseball books.
Kuehl might be best known for developing Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire, Miguel Tejada and Walt Weiss when they were coming up through the Oakland Athletics' farm system.
New rotation
Anthony Reyes, called up from Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday, will make his first start for the Tribe on Friday against the Blue Jays in Toronto.
That pushes Paul Byrd's start back to Saturday and Cliff Lee's to Sunday.
Sheldon Ocker can be reached at socker@thebeaconjournal.com.
TORONTO: Except for the stabilizing presence of Rafael Perez, the Indians' bullpen continues to be a game of darts for manager Eric Wedge.
In fact, maybe that's how Wedge should make his selections: Tack up a target on the dugout wall that includes the faces of all the relievers and take aim.
''We'll keep mixing and matching right now,'' Wedge said. ''There might be three or four people who close, the same with setting up.''
Since Wedge said that a few days ago, Perez has emerged as a clear No. 1. That does not mean he is likely to become the Tribe's closer next year.
Wedge has persisted in saying he probably won't find someone to save games on the current roster. But why not Perez? He's too good at what he does now.
''If we move him into the closer's role, we have to find another left-hander to do what he can do,'' Wedge said. ''And there's something to be said for someone who can pitch that seventh and eighth inning to get to the closer.
''I'm very confident in him. He's one of the best young left-handed relievers in the game.''
It probably would be just as difficult to find a proficient lefty to lock down the seventh and eighth (against both right-handed batters and left-handers) as it would be to find a closer.
''Perez is a good example of a second-year player who learns to make adjustments from his first year,'' Wedge said. ''Some guys don't do that and end up back in the minors for a while. One thing is certain: You are going to have to make some adjustments after that first season.''
In his past five appearances, Perez has thrown 91/3 shutout innings, allowing two hits and no walks and striking out 12.
Not long ago, Masa Kobayashi was designated by Wedge as the closer of the moment. But that didn't last long, because Kobayashi had problems in the ninth almost immediately.
All season, Kobayashi has been vulnerable to the late home run.
He has given up 23 earned runs, with the long ball accounting for 18. Except for one (in the seventh inning), each of the eight homers Kobayashi has allowed has come in the eighth inning or later (six in the ninth or 10th).
''Usually, that's because he's made a mistake,'' Wedge said. ''If he executes a pitch, I feel strongly that he can get major-league hitters out.''
Because he spent his entire career (and life) in Japan until this year, Kobayashi has had to cope with situations other pitchers don't face, like adapting to a strange culture and competing in a league with more talented players.
''I think that's real,'' Wedge said. ''He didn't know any of these guys (opposing hitters). They didn't know him, either, but he's the one who has to do the attacking. I feel like he has adapted as well as anybody.''
Little, bitty ball
In the past 14 games, opposing batters have laid down 11 bunts against the Tribe.
Two hitters were thrown out, one reached on an error, two batters executed sacrifices and six were credited with singles.
''Some of these teams — like Minnesota and Anaheim — bunting is part of their arsenal,'' Wedge said. ''They do it a lot.''
What's with Mujica
Just when Edward Mujica seemed to be settling in as a legitimate major-league reliever, he experienced two meltdowns.
On July 30 against the Detroit Tigers, Wedge summoned Mujica to protect an 11-7 lead in the eighth inning. After retiring the first two batters, he issued a walk, gave up a bunt single then two doubles and a single and the lead was gone.
On Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Rays, Mujica started the ninth with a 7-4 lead and in a span of three batters gave up two doubles and a home run, allowing the score to be tied.
''Mujica was a lockdown guy for two or three weeks,'' Wedge said. ''He had an opportunity [to finish the game Wednesday], and he wasn't able to get anybody out.''
Condolence call
Retired advisor to General Manager Mark Shapiro, Karl Kuehl, died on Wednesday, after a long career as scout, minor-league manager, instructor and author of several baseball books.
Kuehl might be best known for developing Jose Canseco, Mark McGwire, Miguel Tejada and Walt Weiss when they were coming up through the Oakland Athletics' farm system.
New rotation
Anthony Reyes, called up from Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday, will make his first start for the Tribe on Friday against the Blue Jays in Toronto.
That pushes Paul Byrd's start back to Saturday and Cliff Lee's to Sunday.
Sheldon Ocker can be reached at socker@thebeaconjournal.com.
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