My apologies for missing the first game, I thought there was an off day Thursday.

September 8-11, 2011

U.S. Cellular Field

Scouting Report

• Cleveland – The Indians have all but been eliminated from playoff contention, but they can continue to exceed expectations this season. A second place finish in the American League Central should certainly count as a successful season for the Tribe. However, the Indians are reeling right now. Currently on a four-game losing streak, the Indians will need to rebound against division foe Chicago in the final two games of the series to have a better sight on second place. They are also in danger of falling two games below the .500 mark for the first time since opening the season 0-2. Ironically, those two losses came against the White Sox. The Indians have struggled mightily this year against the White Sox, and after this weekends series, still have four more games against Chicago.

• Chicago - The White Sox took control of second place in the Central at the misfortune of the Indians. They will look to separate themselves from the Tribe this weekend with a pivotal four-game set that could pit either team with a firm hold on second place in the division. The Sox still have a chance at a division crown, but it will be tough to unseat Detroit. They have their work cut out for them, as they will meet Detroit for their final series of the season with the Tigers on Monday. The White Sox will be without the versatile Brent Lillibridge for the remainder of the season after he suffered a broken hand when hit by a pitch from rookie Josh Judy in the seventh Thursday.

Pitching Match-ups

Game 2 – Jeanmar Gomez vs. Mark Buehrle

• Jeanmar Gomez  2-2, 4.11 ERA

Gomez earned a victory for the second straight start after yielding just one run in 5 1/3 innings Friday against the Royals. He has a 0.79 ERA over his past two starts.

• Mark Buehrle  11-7, 3.34 ERA

Buehrle had one of his worst starts of the season at a most inopportune time, as he got knocked out after 3 1/3 innings during an 18-2 loss to the Tigers Sunday night. It was just Buehrle’s second setback since the All-Star break.

Game 3 – Fausto Carmona vs. Philip Humber

• Fausto Carmona  6-14, 5.18 ERA

Carmona lasted just 1 1/3 innings Tuesday against Detroit, the shortest outing of any Indians starter this season. The right-hander surrendered seven runs and eight hits. He has a 9.88 ERA over his past three starts.

• Philip Humber  9-8, 3.45 ERA

In his first start since going on the disabled list after being hit above his right eye with a line drive, Humber was impressive against the Twins, throwing seven scoreless innings and giving up six hits with six strikeouts in a 2-1 victory.

Game 4 – Ubaldo Jimenez vs. Zach Stewart

• Ubaldo Jimenez  2-2, 5.27 ERA

Jimenez made just one mistake Monday against the Tigers, but it proved costly. The right-hander served up a three-run homer to Victor Martinez, one of two hits Jimenez allowed in seven strong innings of the Tribe’s 4-2 loss.

• Zach Stewart  2-2, 4.42 ERA

Coming within one hit of perfection, Stewart delivered a masterful performance in his last start. In just his eighth career start, the right-hander retired the first 21 batters he faced and 27 of 28 on the night in a 4-0 victory over the Twins.

Lineups

Cleveland

1. RF Kosuke Fukudome
2. 2B Jason Donald
3. SS Asdrubal Cabrera
4. 1B Carlos Santana
5. DH Shelly Duncan
6. 3B Lonnie Chisenhall
7.    C Lou Marson
8. LF Trevor Crowe
9. CF Ezequiel Carrera

Chicago

1. LF Juan Pierre
2. SS Alexei Ramirez
3. 1B Paul Konerko
4. DH A.J. Pierzynski
5. RF Dayan Viciedo
6. CF Alejandro De Aza
7.    C Tyler Flowers
8. 3B Brent Morel
9. 2B Gordon Beckham

• While none of the adds were a shock, I was surprised to see Goedert added, since I had figured the Indians had dismissed him as an option as the third base starter since he did not receive a September call-up. However the Indians must feel that Goedert still has value as a utility player, or they felt he would surely be selected in the Rule 5 draft. I’m not arguing with the selection, I’m just surprised the Indians had a change of heart.
• McAllister was another mild surprise. I figured he’d be on the 40-man sometime this season, but seeing as he projects as a back-end starter, I was a little surprised they decided to protect him now. On the other hand, he’s close to big-league ready, and some team might see him as a young, cheap arm they could snag and use.
• Kluber was an easy call, as he’s 24 and was the player the Indians received from the Padres in the three team deal that sent Jake Westbrook to the Cardinals. Kluber strikes out a lot of guys, 157 Ks in 149 IP at Double-A (split between San Antonio and Akron), and he projects as a middle of the rotation starter.
• You might recall that I was asking for Hagadone to be called up in September. He’s another one of the guys acquired in the Victor Martinez deal, and although he seems to be destined to be a reliever (much like another pitcher the Indians acquired in that deal…) he’s got good stuff and could be a factor this season.
• Finally, Judy was an absolute no-brainer, as he was almost called up in September. He’ll get a shot to make the big-league pen in 2011, and could end up being a dominant back end of the pen-type guy. And yes, he’s going to replace Andy Marte as Deep Left Field’s new poster child. I mean, how can you not root for a 34th round pick (2007)?
• Perhaps the only surprise non-roster was RHP Adam Miller. Yeah, the former top prospect who was going to be an ace starter, and then a stud closer. He’s recovering from his finger injury and even though he hasn’t thrown an inning in two years he remains an intriguing player, if no longer a prospect. If a team determines he’s healthy (a big if) then I could see him getting claimed, but keep in mind that whatever team claimed him would have to keep him on the big league roster for the entire season, or sell him back to the Indians. He’s not a sure thing to be selected. If I were the Indians, I probably would have made the same decision.

This is the eleventh in a series of posts looking back at the realities of the Indians 2010 season. We’ll look at what was hoped for, what actually happened, and what the expectations are going forward at the position in 2011.

Now former Indians GM and current team president Mark Shapiro once said that bullpens are very fickle in nature year in and year out (I’m paraphrasing).

After watching the 2010 Cleveland Indians bullpen, I’d have to say he’s right.

Some of the guys the Indians went through probably don’t have much of a future with this club, and some like Jamey Wright (18 games, 5.48 ERA, 1.59 WHIP) are already gone.

Kerry Wood started the season as the closer, pitched miserably, obviously wanted to be somewhere else and was mercifully picked up by the Yankees … and then found his role and has been a stud for them. Go figure.

But the departure of Wood has made way for Chris “Pure Rage” Perez, who was one of the brightest spots in this dark Indians season. Perez had a 1.71 ERA in 63 games with a WHIP of 1.08 (61 Ks in 63 IP). He saved 23 games in 27 chances over the course of the season, and in his last 32 IP, he only allowed two (TWO!) earned runs. Perez has all the stuff to be a great closer, now it’s just a matter of whether or not he’ll get the save opportunities on this team.

There’s the “other” Perez, Rafael Perez, who found himself on the verge of being designated for assignment (on May 31st, his ERA was an ungoldy 7.20) but turned it on in the second half of the season, finishing with a 3.25 ERA and while never the lights-out reliever he was in 2007-2008 (during Eric Wedge’s abuse of him), he’s a reliable late inning setup guy now.

Tony Sipp was the epitome of hot and cold during the season. When he was on, he was good. When he wasn’t, he got lit up (12 home runs allowed). He’s probably better suited for middle relief, but he’ll get his chances in the late innings next year. Speaking of inconsistent, Joe Smith is still around. He also seemed to turn it around towards the end of the season, but he’s never going to be more than a righty specialist (7 ER in 8.1 IP vs. lefties). Then there’s Jensen Lewis, who was sent down to Columbus 50 times during the season (no really, 50 times exactly), but by the end of the year he finally found a role as a 7th-inning/high leverage situation pitcher (or exactly where he should have been all along). I don’t know what the future holds for Lewis, as he’s out of options and the Indians have some younger, hopefully more consistent arms coming into the pen.

There were two “surprise!” guys, and they were Frank Herrmann and Justin Germano. Herrmann busted into Cleveland and was incredibly stingy early on, but after about a month or so opposing hitters began to figure him out. Stop me if you’ve heard this before but he settled down at the end of the year and is probably going to be a middle relief option next year. As for Germano, he cold e-mailed Shapiro to get a job, got one, and found himself in Cleveland after trades and injuries. And he didn’t give the Indians a reason to send him back down. He ran up a 17.1 scoreless innings streak, and really the only blemish on his season was the spot start for the final game of the season where he gave up five runs in 2 IP. Like with many of these guys, I’m not sure Germano guaranteed himself a job, but he at least will get a shot.

Hector Ambriz was the last dude on the bench. I discussed his situation in-depth here. He’s out for all of 2011 after Tommy John surgery.

Finally, there are two guys that will get a shot to make the pen that I’m excited about. One, Vinny Pestano, got a cup of coffee in the big leagues at the end of September, and showed some promise in limited innings. He’s definitely got a shot to make the pen next year. Finally, DLF’s favorite Indians prospect Josh Judy was slowed last year by injuries, and it cost him a September call up. But he definitely has a chance at making the pen out of spring training and if he doesn’t, he’ll see time in Cleveland before the end of the year for sure.

One thing’s for certain: don’t expect the bullpen to look the same at the end of the season as it did at the start of the season. Bullpens are fickle like that.