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Sunday, May 28, 2006

Beacon Journal | 05/28/2006 | Charge error to Shapiro

What’s with all the focus on Cleveland’s fifth starter? Their #1 starter, C.C. Sabathia, has only made six starts. Their #2 starter, Jake Westbrook, has struggled with a 5.58 ERA. The #3 guy, Cliff Lee, has compiled a mediocre 4.65 ERA. As mentioned in the article, Paul Byrd hasn’t fulfilled expectations by allowing 5.22 runs per nine innings. Add in the fact their top pitching prospect in AAA, Jeremy Sowers, is 6-1 record with a 0.91 ERA and it’s easy to come to the conclusion Shapiro figured he’d be better served taking a chance on signing Jason Johnson to a one-year contract, rather than tying himself down with a two-year commitment to the mediocre Scott Elarton (4.76 ERA for KC in 2006). Cleveland’s pitching problems are a group effort, not just an issue with one slot in the rotation.

Jim Furtado Posted: May 28, 2006 at 12:27 PM | 7 comment(s) | Login to Bookmark
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1. Jimmy P Posted: May 28, 2006 at 03:07 PM (#2040846)

I never understood why everyone was saying that Paul Byrd was the guy that would push them over the White Sox. Paul Byrd's a good pitcher, but he's still Paul Byrd - a #3 starter. I guess I just didn't see how he would be any better than Millwood. While I agree that signing Millwood wouldn't have been a good idea, I don't see how Cleveland expected to pass the Sox without Millwood if they couldn't pass the Sox with Millwood, even if they did add Paul Byrd.

2. Barry`s_Lazy_Boy Posted: May 28, 2006 at 05:15 PM (#2041057)

What was the allure of Johnson, who is in danger of losing his job? To those who are familiar with his career, his 2-4 record (the Tribe is 3-6 when he pitches) and 6.52 ERA come as no surprise.

What is the allure of Scott Elarton, who has a higher career ERA (and worse ERA+, 89 to 91) than Johnson?

3. ronh Posted: May 28, 2006 at 05:26 PM (#2041088)

Sheldon Ocker is a horrible writer. Don't pay much attention to it when he writes an opinion column.

Last year
Johnson 4.54 ERA 19 QS 6.36 inn per start.
Elarton 4.61 ERA 16 QS 5.84 inn per start.

Why would you give a 2 year contract to Elarton, who has worse numbers, than a 1 year deal to Johnson?

4. Vaux, A.B.D. Posted: May 28, 2006 at 06:03 PM (#2041205)

The idea was that Byrd would be as good as Millwood would be this year, not last year. Millwood wasn't going to be any better this year than Byrd was last year. In other words, there was no AL-ERA champion Millwood to be had in 2006, by the Indians or anyone else; he just doesn't exist. Byrd was as good a bet as anyone on the market, and the fact that he's sucked so far is just the nature of pitching and pitchers. He seems to be turning it around lately, and probably will wind up within a quarter of a run of where Millwood does.

5. Jimmy P Posted: May 28, 2006 at 06:53 PM (#2041396)

Byrd was as good a bet as anyone on the market, and the fact that he's sucked so far is just the nature of pitching and pitchers. He seems to be turning it around lately, and probably will wind up within a quarter of a run of where Millwood does.

But, he's still Paul Byrd. It's not like adding Roger Clemens. I just don't see why everyone was so excited over Paul Byrd.

6. Greg Maddux School of Reflexive Profanity Posted: May 28, 2006 at 07:45 PM (#2041492)

Any excitement about Paul Byrd putting the Indians over the top exists solely in your delusions. Anyone predicting that the Indians would win the division was doing so based on their superior run- and run component-differentials last year, not because Paul Byrd was the missing piece of the puzzle.

7. Bernal Diaz has an angel on his shoulder. Posted: May 29, 2006 at 02:08 AM (#2041875)

Eh, Johnson pitched 6 shutout innings today. Sowers will have to wait a bit longer.

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