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From the White House – New Federal Approach to Hiring
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal staff writer
POSTED: 12:28 a.m. EDT, Apr 15, 2009
KANSAS CITY, MO.: Carl Pavano isn't bragging about his 16.71 earned-run average, but it sure beats the figure he was stuck with after his first start of the season.
Pavano lugged that embarrassing 81.00 ERA around for only five days, but it probably seemed like five months since he gave up nine runs and retired three batters last Thursday in Texas.
His first chance to rehabilitate his reputation came Tuesday night at Kauffman Stadium, making giant strides by giving up four runs in six innings.
''I'm not even looking at that start,'' Pavano said. ''That was 10 days ago [not really]. Out of sight, out of mind.''
Not that Pavano was in danger of breaking his arm by patting himself on the back.
''It's tough for me to have a positive attitude the way the season has started for us,'' he said. ''We lost, and I didn't do my job. They gave me two runs. That's who's got to bear down, the starting pitcher. We got two runs to tie, and I have to shut them down right there.''
Pavano allowed two runs in the fifth, giving the lead back to Kansas City after the Tribe scored twice in the top of the inning.
But Pavano's inability to hold the tie was hardly the thing that sunk Cleveland's ship. The Royals took advantage of horrendous relief pitching by Rafael Perez and Vinnie Chulk in the eighth inning to turn a one-run game into a 9-3 rout.
Four runs in six innings has been as good as it gets for anyone in the Tribe rotation this year. The only other Cleveland starter to match Pavano was Anthony Reyes on Sunday in an 8-4 win over the Blue Jays.
''Carl was a lot better tonight,'' manager Eric Wedge said. ''It was good the way he ran through the first inning and got himself some momentum. He had more on the baseball this time, and he gave us every chance to win the ballgame.''
Among the eight hits Pavano (0-2) yielded, five went for extra bases, including a solo homer off the bat of John Buck. That's what happens when a pitcher throws 90-mph fastballs down the middle of the plate between the thighs and waist.
''Sometimes you get away with pitches and sometimes you don't,'' Pavano said.
Pavano did not walk a batter, and he struck out eight, something he hasn't done since he started for the Marlins against Tampa Bay on June 27, 2004.
The Indians struggled early against Kansas City starter Kyle Davies, who gave up three runs in 52/3 innings.
Davies (0-1, 2.13 ERA) retired 11 batters in a row before allowing Ben Francisco's leadoff single in the fifth. The Tribe tied the score that inning with help from the Royals. Francisco stole second and continued on to third on Buck's throwing error, and with one out, Trevor Crowe reached when he was hit by a pitch.
Asdrubal Cabrera singled to score Francisco, and Mark DeRosa hit a hard grounder in the shortstop hole that Mike Aviles knocked into the outfield trying to make a diving stab. And when Cabrera attempted to score from first on the play, he was thrown out at the plate.
After Victor Martinez doubled to lead off the sixth, Shin-Soo Choo's bloop single to right brought him to the plate, but with runners on first and third and two outs, Crowe struck out.
For the fourth time in five appearances, Perez offered aid and comfort only to the enemy by giving up an insurance run, then loading the bases with one out and leaving the mess for Chulk.
Chulk made it worse by giving up Buck's second homer of the night and the second grand slam of his career.
''Perez has had some early season struggles before,'' Wedge said. ''He hasn't had his same command. His ball is up a little. Obviously, he's a very important guy for us, and we have to get him back on track.''
With Aaron Laffey being called up from Columbus today to start for injured Scott Lewis, a roster move had to be made. But instead of a reliever being demoted (Chulk was summoned as the eighth man in the bullpen), it is Josh Barfield who will pay for the relievers' incompetence.
''We'll be carrying an extra pitcher for the short term,'' Wedge said, explaining Barfield's latest visit to Triple-A. ''Josh hasn't had a chance to play much because of the way we've started.''
Barfield, who held down one of two utility infielder spots, had not appeared in a game. His absence will leave Tony Graffanino as the lone infielder on the bench.
Sheldon Ocker can be reached at socker@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Indians blog at http://www.ohio.com/tribematters. Follow the Indians on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ABJ_Indians.
KANSAS CITY, MO.: Carl Pavano isn't bragging about his 16.71 earned-run average, but it sure beats the figure he was stuck with after his first start of the season.
Pavano lugged that embarrassing 81.00 ERA around for only five days, but it probably seemed like five months since he gave up nine runs and retired three batters last Thursday in Texas.
His first chance to rehabilitate his reputation came Tuesday night at Kauffman Stadium, making giant strides by giving up four runs in six innings.
''I'm not even looking at that start,'' Pavano said. ''That was 10 days ago [not really]. Out of sight, out of mind.''
Not that Pavano was in danger of breaking his arm by patting himself on the back.
''It's tough for me to have a positive attitude the way the season has started for us,'' he said. ''We lost, and I didn't do my job. They gave me two runs. That's who's got to bear down, the starting pitcher. We got two runs to tie, and I have to shut them down right there.''
Pavano allowed two runs in the fifth, giving the lead back to Kansas City after the Tribe scored twice in the top of the inning.
But Pavano's inability to hold the tie was hardly the thing that sunk Cleveland's ship. The Royals took advantage of horrendous relief pitching by Rafael Perez and Vinnie Chulk in the eighth inning to turn a one-run game into a 9-3 rout.
Four runs in six innings has been as good as it gets for anyone in the Tribe rotation this year. The only other Cleveland starter to match Pavano was Anthony Reyes on Sunday in an 8-4 win over the Blue Jays.
''Carl was a lot better tonight,'' manager Eric Wedge said. ''It was good the way he ran through the first inning and got himself some momentum. He had more on the baseball this time, and he gave us every chance to win the ballgame.''
Among the eight hits Pavano (0-2) yielded, five went for extra bases, including a solo homer off the bat of John Buck. That's what happens when a pitcher throws 90-mph fastballs down the middle of the plate between the thighs and waist.
''Sometimes you get away with pitches and sometimes you don't,'' Pavano said.
Pavano did not walk a batter, and he struck out eight, something he hasn't done since he started for the Marlins against Tampa Bay on June 27, 2004.
The Indians struggled early against Kansas City starter Kyle Davies, who gave up three runs in 52/3 innings.
Davies (0-1, 2.13 ERA) retired 11 batters in a row before allowing Ben Francisco's leadoff single in the fifth. The Tribe tied the score that inning with help from the Royals. Francisco stole second and continued on to third on Buck's throwing error, and with one out, Trevor Crowe reached when he was hit by a pitch.
Asdrubal Cabrera singled to score Francisco, and Mark DeRosa hit a hard grounder in the shortstop hole that Mike Aviles knocked into the outfield trying to make a diving stab. And when Cabrera attempted to score from first on the play, he was thrown out at the plate.
After Victor Martinez doubled to lead off the sixth, Shin-Soo Choo's bloop single to right brought him to the plate, but with runners on first and third and two outs, Crowe struck out.
For the fourth time in five appearances, Perez offered aid and comfort only to the enemy by giving up an insurance run, then loading the bases with one out and leaving the mess for Chulk.
Chulk made it worse by giving up Buck's second homer of the night and the second grand slam of his career.
''Perez has had some early season struggles before,'' Wedge said. ''He hasn't had his same command. His ball is up a little. Obviously, he's a very important guy for us, and we have to get him back on track.''
With Aaron Laffey being called up from Columbus today to start for injured Scott Lewis, a roster move had to be made. But instead of a reliever being demoted (Chulk was summoned as the eighth man in the bullpen), it is Josh Barfield who will pay for the relievers' incompetence.
''We'll be carrying an extra pitcher for the short term,'' Wedge said, explaining Barfield's latest visit to Triple-A. ''Josh hasn't had a chance to play much because of the way we've started.''
Barfield, who held down one of two utility infielder spots, had not appeared in a game. His absence will leave Tony Graffanino as the lone infielder on the bench.
Sheldon Ocker can be reached at socker@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Indians blog at http://www.ohio.com/tribematters. Follow the Indians on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ABJ_Indians.
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