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By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 05:36 p.m. EST, Sep 27, 2008
CHICAGO:Cliff Lee's season is over. Indians manager Eric Wedge will not risk injury to the ace of the staff and probable American League Cy Young Award winner by allowing him to make his last start today.
''If Cliff's neck hurts, it could change his delivery,'' Wedge said. ''There's no way I'm going to take that chance.''
The danger is that the pain in Lee's neck might cause him to alter his delivery in such a way as to put an unnecessary strain on his shoulder or elbow.
''It's a stiff neck,'' Lee said. ''I probably was sleeping kind of weird. It started two days before my last outing, but it was just kind of there. Then afterward it got fired up.
''I want to pitch, but I don't want to go out without my good stuff or if I feel something when I pitch.''
Added head trainer Lonnie Soloff, ''Cliff mentioned it after his last start. It's on the left side of his neck and is slowly improving.
''Whenever any pitcher throws, he has some soreness afterward. For the last five years, Cliff has been sore in the same places. But when he pitched this time, the soreness had shifted, and that set off alarms to us.''
Lee ends the season with a 22-3 record and 2.54 ERA, leading the American League in wins and ERA.
In his last start, Lee was rendered vulnerable by the Boston Red Sox, who got to him for five runs in seven innings, earning a 5-4 win.
''I felt it that night,'' Lee said. ''I don't know, maybe it was just a little bit. But I still threw seven innings and gave us a chance to win it.''
Bryan Bullington will start the final game of the season today in place of Lee.
Nothing serious
Indians third baseman Andy Marte underwent an MRI in Cleveland that confirmed he has a mild strain of the left calf.
''He will remain in Cleveland and receive treatment at Progressive Field through Thursday,'' Soloff said. ''After that, he will relocate to Arizona and stay there until he can resume baseball activity.
''Probably, he will be ready to go in two to four weeks. He's already off crutches and feels good walking.''
Marte suffered the injury Tuesday night at Fenway Park when he broke from the batter's box on a ground ball.
Miller on mound
Adam Miller (finger surgery) is pitching simulated games and reportedly doing well at the Tribe's fall instructional league program at the new complex in Goodyear, Ariz. He is expected to pitch winter ball.
Always next year
Wedge is confident the Indians can put together a team that will contend for the postseason in 2009.
''I believe we'll be back in the mix next year,'' he said. ''We nearly got back in the mix this year. I don't think there's a person on the planet who thought we had a chance to be .500 (in early July).''
Westbrook update
Jake Westbrook (Tommy John elbow surgery and hip surgery) has gone home to Georgia after completing his therapy program in Cleveland.
He will return to Cleveland monthly for rechecks, and he will report to spring training several weeks early. Westbrook is expected to begin a throwing program in six to eight weeks.
Other med news
Anthony Reyes (inflamed elbow) will be shut down for 30 days, then begin throwing. An MRI showed no structural damage, and team officials are not expecting major problems.
Aaron Laffey's sore elbow is back to 100 percent health, in that he has full range of motion and full strength.
On the move
Wedge said he will travel to the Arizona Fall League to check out individual players. What he did not say is that on Oct. 17, he will be inducted to the Arizona Fall League Hall of Fame and that his number (37) will be retired.
Sheldon Ocker can be reached at socker@thebeaconjournal.com.
CHICAGO:Cliff Lee's season is over. Indians manager Eric Wedge will not risk injury to the ace of the staff and probable American League Cy Young Award winner by allowing him to make his last start today.
''If Cliff's neck hurts, it could change his delivery,'' Wedge said. ''There's no way I'm going to take that chance.''
The danger is that the pain in Lee's neck might cause him to alter his delivery in such a way as to put an unnecessary strain on his shoulder or elbow.
''It's a stiff neck,'' Lee said. ''I probably was sleeping kind of weird. It started two days before my last outing, but it was just kind of there. Then afterward it got fired up.
''I want to pitch, but I don't want to go out without my good stuff or if I feel something when I pitch.''
Added head trainer Lonnie Soloff, ''Cliff mentioned it after his last start. It's on the left side of his neck and is slowly improving.
''Whenever any pitcher throws, he has some soreness afterward. For the last five years, Cliff has been sore in the same places. But when he pitched this time, the soreness had shifted, and that set off alarms to us.''
Lee ends the season with a 22-3 record and 2.54 ERA, leading the American League in wins and ERA.
In his last start, Lee was rendered vulnerable by the Boston Red Sox, who got to him for five runs in seven innings, earning a 5-4 win.
''I felt it that night,'' Lee said. ''I don't know, maybe it was just a little bit. But I still threw seven innings and gave us a chance to win it.''
Bryan Bullington will start the final game of the season today in place of Lee.
Nothing serious
Indians third baseman Andy Marte underwent an MRI in Cleveland that confirmed he has a mild strain of the left calf.
''He will remain in Cleveland and receive treatment at Progressive Field through Thursday,'' Soloff said. ''After that, he will relocate to Arizona and stay there until he can resume baseball activity.
''Probably, he will be ready to go in two to four weeks. He's already off crutches and feels good walking.''
Marte suffered the injury Tuesday night at Fenway Park when he broke from the batter's box on a ground ball.
Miller on mound
Adam Miller (finger surgery) is pitching simulated games and reportedly doing well at the Tribe's fall instructional league program at the new complex in Goodyear, Ariz. He is expected to pitch winter ball.
Always next year
Wedge is confident the Indians can put together a team that will contend for the postseason in 2009.
''I believe we'll be back in the mix next year,'' he said. ''We nearly got back in the mix this year. I don't think there's a person on the planet who thought we had a chance to be .500 (in early July).''
Westbrook update
Jake Westbrook (Tommy John elbow surgery and hip surgery) has gone home to Georgia after completing his therapy program in Cleveland.
He will return to Cleveland monthly for rechecks, and he will report to spring training several weeks early. Westbrook is expected to begin a throwing program in six to eight weeks.
Other med news
Anthony Reyes (inflamed elbow) will be shut down for 30 days, then begin throwing. An MRI showed no structural damage, and team officials are not expecting major problems.
Aaron Laffey's sore elbow is back to 100 percent health, in that he has full range of motion and full strength.
On the move
Wedge said he will travel to the Arizona Fall League to check out individual players. What he did not say is that on Oct. 17, he will be inducted to the Arizona Fall League Hall of Fame and that his number (37) will be retired.
Sheldon Ocker can be reached at socker@thebeaconjournal.com.
Comments
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Posted 09:31 PM, 09/27/2008
Bryan Burlington didn't start; Jackson did.
Posted 07:06 AM, 09/28/2008
Stiff neck! huh.
Naples, FL
Posted 07:55 AM, 09/28/2008
Robert M: Bullington is starting in Lee's spot today, Jackson is currently part of the regular rotation with Reyes and Laffey out with sore elbows.
Posted 08:15 AM, 09/28/2008
Who cares! Let's all celebrate what a great manager we have because we finished .500!! Yahoo!! Can't wait until next year. Maybe we can move Garko or Martinez to third base! Put Peralta in center field. With his range he'd be sure to win the Gold Glove there. But, he works hard. So do the Pittsburgh Pirates and how are they doing the last few years!