Indians Closer Kerry Wood Out 6-8 Weeks

• Al Bundy

  Wood was 3-3 with a 4.25 ERA. He blew over 23% of his save opportunities (6/26). These are all horrible numbers for a closer. I don't want to see anyone get hurt, but it will be give an opportunity to see if any of the younger players can do it.
• royal_k

  

  Tigerfan00 wrote: I just read in the plain dealer that Carmona has only let up 1 run in 20 innings so far and only needed 70 pitches to get through 7 innings yesterday against Arizona.It also said that Arizona complained to the umps during the game about the color of Carmonas glove saying it was disguising the ball. The umps allowed him to use it the rest of the game but said he could not use during the regular season.

  I think the most impressive stat is that he has only issued 2 walks all spring. That is what got him in trouble the last 2 years. If he throws strikes, he has the stuff to dominate.
• royal_k

  

  Al Bundy wrote: Wood was 3-3 with a 4.25 ERA. He blew over 23% of his save opportunities (6/26). These are all horrible numbers for a closer. I don't want to see anyone get hurt, but it will be give an opportunity to see if any of the younger players can do it.

  Chris Perez will be fine as our closer. He, actually, has better stuff.
• From the Hills

  

  Carmona's spring has been encouraging, but can he carry this over to the regular season?? Seems to me confidence is a big issue for Carmona. If, and it's a big if, he can keep his confidence up even when he struggles then maybe he has turned the corner. Also, Royal k is correct about bringing up his walk problems. That is the other big if, can he limit his walks.
  
  Here is my last if. Even if Carmona is successful the starting pitching is still going to be the Achilles heel for this team.
• Laley23

  

  If Carmona throws strikes early he is virtually untouchable. Its when he gets behind and either walks the guy or they are able to sit on a pitch in the zone and just smoke it that he struggles.
  
  Im not sure how much his hip problem affected him last year, but I really hope he can be a real #1 for us this season. It would make Westbrook and the rest of the staff that much better because they wouldnt be needed as much.
• Footwedge

  From the Hills wrote: Carmona's spring has been encouraging, but can he carry this over to the regular season?? Seems to me confidence is a big issue for Carmona. If, and it's a big if, he can keep his confidence up even when he struggles then maybe he has turned the corner. Also, Royal k is correct about bringing up his walk problems. That is the other big if, can he limit his walks.
  
  Here is my last if. Even if Carmona is successful the starting pitching is still going to be the Achilles heel for this team.

  Fausto was so unbelievably good in 07, it's hard for the die hard tribe fans to not think he will return to form. CC won the Cy Young that year, but IMO, Fausto was better than CC that year.
  
  I also think Aaron Laffey is a solid pitcher, and Masterson has the tools to be really good.
  
  After that, I think the starters are sub major league level. Sowers has shown moments of good pitching, but he's only a 5 inning pitcher.
  
  I can't stand watching David Huff pitch. Clueless on the hill.
  
  Hopefully, a miracle will happen, and Westbrook will return to form...but I don't think it will happen.
• Footwedge

  Al Bundy wrote: Wood was 3-3 with a 4.25 ERA. He blew over 23% of his save opportunities (6/26). These are all horrible numbers for a closer. I don't want to see anyone get hurt, but it will be give an opportunity to see if any of the younger players can do it.

  Yes indeed. Wood had a horrible year. Tribe did not get their money's worth of 10 million.
• From the Hills

  

  Footwedge wrote:

  From the Hills wrote: Carmona's spring has been encouraging, but can he carry this over to the regular season?? Seems to me confidence is a big issue for Carmona. If, and it's a big if, he can keep his confidence up even when he struggles then maybe he has turned the corner. Also, Royal k is correct about bringing up his walk problems. That is the other big if, can he limit his walks.
  
  Here is my last if. Even if Carmona is successful the starting pitching is still going to be the Achilles heel for this team.

  Fausto was so unbelievably good in 07, it's hard for the die hard tribe fans to not think he will return to form. CC won the Cy Young that year, but IMO, Fausto was better than CC that year.
  
  I also think Aaron Laffey is a solid pitcher, and Masterson has the tools to be really good.
  
  After that, I think the starters are sub major league level. Sowers has shown moments of good pitching, but he's only a 5 inning pitcher.
  
  I can't stand watching David Huff pitch. Clueless on the hill.
  
  Hopefully, a miracle will happen, and Westbrook will return to form...but I don't think it will happen.

  I agree with you about Laffey. I think he could be a solid 3 or 4th starter. Probably could win around 12 games and log 180 to 200 innings. ERA would never be great, but I think I seen where he is starting out in the bullpen anyhow. Another head-scratching decision.
• royal_k

  

  Laffey has pitched out of the bullpen before (Huff hasn't) and been effective in long relief. There's a pretty good chance he will be needed in that role. Huff may not even make the team if Carasco continues to pitch well. They are in a battle for the 5th spot.
• Footwedge

  From the Hills wrote:

  Footwedge wrote:

  From the Hills wrote: Carmona's spring has been encouraging, but can he carry this over to the regular season?? Seems to me confidence is a big issue for Carmona. If, and it's a big if, he can keep his confidence up even when he struggles then maybe he has turned the corner. Also, Royal k is correct about bringing up his walk problems. That is the other big if, can he limit his walks.
  
  Here is my last if. Even if Carmona is successful the starting pitching is still going to be the Achilles heel for this team.

  Fausto was so unbelievably good in 07, it's hard for the die hard tribe fans to not think he will return to form. CC won the Cy Young that year, but IMO, Fausto was better than CC that year.
  
  I also think Aaron Laffey is a solid pitcher, and Masterson has the tools to be really good.
  
  After that, I think the starters are sub major league level. Sowers has shown moments of good pitching, but he's only a 5 inning pitcher.
  
  I can't stand watching David Huff pitch. Clueless on the hill.
  
  Hopefully, a miracle will happen, and Westbrook will return to form...but I don't think it will happen.

  I agree with you about Laffey. I think he could be a solid 3 or 4th starter. Probably could win around 12 games and log 180 to 200 innings. ERA would never be great, but I think I seen where he is starting out in the bullpen anyhow. Another head-scratching decision.

  Why is Laffey headed to the pen? Is Acta that crazy?
• Mulva

  

  Footwedge wrote: Fausto was so unbelievably good in 07, it's hard for the die hard tribe fans to not think he will return to form. CC won the Cy Young that year, but IMO, Fausto was better than CC that year.

  Fausto was so unbelievably terrible in 2006, 2008, and 2009, that I would say it's harder for die hard tribe fans not to think 2007 was a complete fluke until he proves otherwise.
• Footwedge

  Mulva wrote:

  Footwedge wrote: Fausto was so unbelievably good in 07, it's hard for the die hard tribe fans to not think he will return to form. CC won the Cy Young that year, but IMO, Fausto was better than CC that year.

  Fausto was so unbelievably terrible in 2006, 2008, and 2009, that I would say it's harder for die hard tribe fans not to think 2007 was a complete fluke until he proves otherwise.

  Not me. I think he can return to form. It's not like he dominated for a couple of months...he dominated for an entire year. And citing 2006 is irreelevant to the argument.
• Footwedge

  royal_k wrote: Laffey has pitched out of the bullpen before (Huff hasn't) and been effective in long relief. There's a pretty good chance he will be needed in that role. Huff may not even make the team if Carasco continues to pitch well. They are in a battle for the 5th spot.

  Of our returning starters, Laffey is far and away our best starter, if comparing last year's numbers.
• HitsRus

  

  I think they need to put him in one role or the other....I've seen this type of indecision ruin players before. Make up your mind, and let the kid adapt to the role.
  
  Carrasco is ticketed to AAA. Today's performance just about insured it.
  
  
  There is one thing I like about Huff, and that is that he does keep his team in the game. He did win 11 games last year...not a full season and for a team that pretty well sucked. He ate a lot of innings. Laffey has too often been injured.....I'm betting on Huff.