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Wedge focuses on being sure Sowers, Huff, Laffey are ready
By Stephanie Storm
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Friday, Jul 03, 2009
CLEVELAND: Like the old chicken-or-egg theory, Indians executives have been dealing with a similar quandary: Which comes first — the starting rotation or the bullpen?
In the rotation, only left-hander Cliff Lee can be counted on to deliver consistent outings. In the bullpen, the opening day group has been decimated by injuries and demotions because of poor performance.
Indians General Manager Mark Shapiro secured three new right-handed relievers in the past week in Chris Perez (Mark DeRosa trade to the St. Louis Cardinals), Jose Veras (trade from New York Yankees for cash) and Winston Abreu (trade for a minor-leaguer and cash with the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday).
Manager Eric Wedge is keeping his focus on the team's starting pitchers — the
guys he thinks set the tone for the game.
That's why Wedge thinks it's so important that young guys such as left-handers David Huff, Jeremy Sowers and Aaron Laffey make strides in proving they can handle major-league demands.
Huff has been a work in progress but has steadily improved on the job. Sowers is still trying to get over the hump after multiple times through the opponent's lineup.
And Laffey? Well, it appears Laffey finally gets the point.
Originally, he figured he was ready to be activated after making a second rehabilitation start for the Double-A Aeros on Sunday. Laffey threw his allotted 80 pitches, but he lasted just 31/3 innings, allowing three runs in the Aeros' 6-4 loss to the visiting Binghamton Mets.
So instead of returning to the majors, Laffey will be starting tonight in a Triple-A game against Toledo.
It took a little time for the message to get through.
He shrugged off the rough outing Sunday and said he ''felt great'' physically, despite struggling to find his control and issuing six walks.
''I have one of those [outings] once in a while where I just can't find the strike zone,'' Laffey said ''I was just cutting the ball a lot and getting behind everybody.''
What Wedge wants Laffey — and the rest of the team's pitchers — to understand is that consistency, not mediocrity, rules in the big leagues.
Now, Laffey understands that he can't just go out and pitch without purpose, even when he's on a major-league rehabilitation assignment.
''Aaron needs to go out and show us more than he did last time to get back here,'' Wedge said. ''And I think he will.''
But this time, unlike when he was injured on May 24 as part of the bullpen, Laffey will return to the Indians' starting rotation.
''I still think [he's best suited for] the rotation,'' Wedge said. ''I'm not quite sure for who right now, but it's in a rotation. . . . Because that's what's going to enable us to have an opportunity to hopefully have a lead in the sixth, seventh, eighth inning.''
Laffey put what he hopes is his final rehabilitation appearance tonight in perspective.
''I need to go out there and have a good outing,'' Laffey said. ''I need to go out and get a solid five, six, seven innings of work in before I can come back.''
Stephanie Storm can be reached at sstorm@thebeaconjournal.com. Read the Indians and Aeros blog at http://www.ohio.com/tribematters.
CLEVELAND: Like the old chicken-or-egg theory, Indians executives have been dealing with a similar quandary: Which comes first — the starting rotation or the bullpen?
Get the full article here.
Comments
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Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Posted 09:11 AM, 07/03/2009
Well if Eric doesn't know, let me tell him, since it's a frikkin no-brainer. Jeremy Sowers has about a 3-20 record as a starter since '06, but he's pretty good for five innings. It's time for him to become the long-reliever we SO OFTEN need, unfortunately. Laffey did it earlier this year to stabilize the pen. But Aaron seems to have much more upside in the rotation than Sowers.
Lee, Huff, Laffey, Pavano, and Fausto. Ohka should not be given another start. We're now at the point where I'd consider promoting our next-best minor-league starter (Rondon?) to get his feet wet. Can he possibly be any worse than what we're getting already (losing 14 of 17)?
Tallmadge, OH
Posted 09:40 AM, 07/03/2009
The Tribe season is OVER. It's just a matter of time till Wedgie is fired and the Dolan/Shapiro spin begins again less Lee, Martinez, Hafner, and any other veteran that can get them a buck or trade for prospects. 100 losses is guaranteed.
Stow, OH
Posted 10:34 AM, 07/03/2009
The title of this article should be:
CHEAP Starting pitchers still Tribe's priority
Posted 05:23 PM, 07/03/2009
Hahahahaha...Wile
Cheap Pitchers wanted....by cheap Ownership..
Develop prospects. Sign them to long term contracts.
Trade them when their contracts are about up for resigning.
One or two year chance to be a competitive team every 6-8 yr cycle.
Always rebuilding....hahahaha Sounds a lot like the Browns....
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