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Pitcher is first of three in Sabathia trade to go from minors to Tribe
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Thursday, Aug 14, 2008
CLEVELAND: So this is how baseball works.
The least touted of three players acquired for C.C. Sabathia last month became the first to make the jump from the minors to the Indians' roster.
Consequently, it will be Zach Jackson on center stage tonight at Progressive Field.
The Tribe's deep thinkers bypassed Aaron Laffey and selected Jackson to start against the Baltimore Orioles, but don't read anything into that.
Laffey has not suddenly become an afterthought to General Manager Mark Shapiro and manager Eric Wedge.
''We talked about Jackson and Laffey,'' Wedge said Wednesday. ''But we want to give Laffey a few more starts in Buffalo.''
Laffey was sent to Triple-A to make corrections in his delivery and approach, but he has started only twice for the Bison.
When Paul Byrd was abruptly traded Tuesday, there was an urgent need for a starter tonight, so Jackson got the call.
''We want to take a look at him,'' Wedge said. ''He was throwing decent down there. He has enough fastball, and his secondary stuff is OK. He also can throw the ball where he wants, and he has a good feel (for pitching).''
Jackson, 25, was 3-1 with a 4.05 ERA in eight games (four starts) at Buffalo. He has been in the rotation since July 21.
He started the season at Triple-A Nashville, where he posted a 1-5 record and 7.85 ERA in 22 appearances (six starts).
He has pitched in 10 big-league games (seven starts), compiling a 2-2 record and 5.36 ERA.
''As of right now, we look at him as a starter,'' Wedge said. ''But he could eventually be in the bullpen.''
As of right now, Jackson looks at himself as fortunate.
''I'm very excited to get the opportunity to start over,'' he said. ''Not too many guys get to do that after the middle of the season. I was shocked by the trade. I hadn't heard anything about my going anywhere. But I just embraced it.''
Jackson won't say he felt the Milwaukee Brewers were looking past him to others, but he did say: ''Sometimes things don't go your way. When it rains, it pours. So a change of scenery couldn't have come at a better time.
''I wouldn't take back the things I learned there, but now I'm excited about the future and want to move forward.''
Jackson was a career starter until this year.
''This is the first time I've been in the bullpen,'' he said. ''I'm thankful to have the opportunity to get that experience. I learned some things about myself.''
On the move
Rehabilitation assignments are just around the corner for Josh Barfield and Victor Martinez.
Barfield (finger surgery) is scheduled to play three innings at second base for the Aeros tonight. Victor Martinez (elbow surgery) will be the Aeros' designated hitter Friday and Sunday.
When the Aeros go on the road Monday, Barfield and Martinez will continue to play at either Buffalo or Lake County.
Travis Hafner (weakness in the right rotator cuff) will stay at Progressive Field, but he has advanced to the point where he will take batting practice with the team today.
Fatigue setting in?
Why has Masa Kobayashi struggled recently? Maybe his arm is beginning to tire.
Last year as a closer in Japan, he worked 471/3 innings, making 49 appearances. He pitched in his 50th game Tuesday night and reached 492/3 innings for the season.
''We've had to go to him more than we originally planned,'' Wedge said. ''It's fair to say he's probably wearing down a little.''
On the other hand, his first two years in Japan, he threw 1241/3 innings (including seven starts) and 1092/3 innings (including three starts), but that was nine and 10 years ago. Kobayashi is 34 now.
Not too early
Shin-Soo Choo not only knows the score, but he also knows some of the players.
Choo watched his native South Korea defeat Team USA 8-7 in the first day of the Olympic baseball tournament.
''I checked around 100 channels and couldn't find it,'' he said. ''So I watched it on the Internet.''
Why couldn't he find it on his television dial? Because it was 4:30 in the morning.
''I got up early to watch,'' Choo said. ''I went to high school with a couple of those guys.''
Farm facts
Kelvin De La Cruz threw five scoreless innings, giving up three hits, as Kinston beat Lynchburg 7-0 in Class A. . . . Danny Salazar gave up one earned run (two total) and five hits in six innings, as the Gulf Coast League Indians defeated the Tigers 6-5. Abner Abreu hit his 10th home run of the year.
Sheldon Ocker can be reached at socker@thebeaconjournal.com.
CLEVELAND: So this is how baseball works.
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