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Pitcher is progressing in attempt to rejoin big-league rotation
By Sheldon Ocker
Beacon Journal sports writer
Published on Thursday, Jul 02, 2009
CLEVELAND: The last time Fausto Carmona was seen in Cleveland, he was dragging around a 2-6 record and 7.42 ERA.
That was enough to get him sent to the minors, first in Goodyear, with the Indians' Arizona summer-league team, then to Lake County to make a start for the Class-A Captains and on to the Double-A Aeros, for whom Carmona started a game at Bowie Tuesday night.
Tribe officials are looking at his most recent outing as a breakthrough event, because in throwing 74 percent of his pitches for strikes, it meant that Carmona kept his emotions in check and did not overthrow his fastball.
''Even at Lake County, he would get two strikes on a batter and come out of his delivery, trying to do more than he needed to do,'' said pitching coach Carl Willis, who has kept in close contact with the Tribe's minor-league operatives who are overseeing Carmona's resurrection.
Pitching against Double-A hitters with the Aeros, Carmona displayed better control of himself.
''He was more aware of his emotions and staying in his delivery,'' Willis said. ''After he gave up a solo homer, he got right back in his delivery.''
Carmona's problems have never been caused by inferior stuff or an inability to throw strikes but difficulty in understanding that he doesn't have to exert more than normal effort to retire — even dominate — major-league hitters.
''It doesn't matter so much if they're A-ball hitters or Double-A hitters,'' Willis said. ''It's that 74 percent strike figure. When he sees that number and that he can keep the ball on the ground, he'll know that he doesn't have to do more.''
Manager Eric Wedge listened to the reports about Carmona's start for the Aeros and concluded, ''There are some intangibles that we're starting to see.''
Why did Carmona begin to feel he had to amp up his performance after a 2007 season in which he posted a 19-8 record and 3.06 ERA?
''He had such a good year, and he was locked into a routine,'' Willis said. ''But all of a sudden the season ended, and he started to realize what he did. When the next season came around, he put different expectations on himself. I think that affected him. And when things didn't go as he wanted, he tried to do more.''
Carmona's slide began last year, when he compiled a 8-7 record and a 5.44 ERA and was forced to make corrections in the minors.
''It's tough to learn [to control your emotions] when you're pitching at this level,'' Willis said. ''Everybody is looking at you.''
Carmona probably will start for either the Aeros or Triple-A Columbus on Sunday. After that, it's unclear what will happen, but conceivably he could be back in the Indians' rotation.
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.
CLEVELAND: The last time Fausto Carmona was seen in Cleveland, he was dragging around a 2-6 record and 7.42 ERA.
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Comments
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Posted 06:42 AM, 07/02/2009
Carmona will slide again once Willis gets hold of him!
, OH
Posted 08:00 AM, 07/02/2009
I wish Fausto the best and I hope that he can return to the form that made him a Cy Young candidate, but let's be real...Bob Gibson in his prime couldn't save this team!
Stow, OH
Posted 09:48 AM, 07/02/2009
Who cares ? 50 losses by the all-star break,I would say this season is OVER! Besides ,he is like the rest of the team,they can only perform when there is no pressure on them.
Kensington, CT
Posted 05:30 PM, 07/02/2009
I agree with RRuss. Thsi team's roster is not the seond worst in baseball. Time to cut Wedge and his coaches. Replace them all with the coaching staff in Akron. I do not even know the manager's name but he obviously knows the job. The best record of any minor league team in baseball. The pitchers are rated great. I think the pitching coach at Akron should be in Cleveland.
Posted 07:12 PM, 07/03/2009
make him come to work with me...that'll fix him!!
