Scott Lewis named 4th starter, Reyes 5th, Laffey sent down
"They told me this moning," said Lewis, before the Indians played San Diego later today. "I think a lot of it had to do with how I pitched in September and how I've pitched this spring."
As opposed to?
almost 3 years ago
painaxl
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I still have pretty high hopes for Laffey and am not opposed to having him put it together in Columbus. I’m honestly intrigued to see if Lewis can put together sustained success at the big league level.
my cheat sheet for watching Lewis is:
- not allow an obscene number of HRs (his 4 in 24 innings last year was right on the cusp), and
- minimize the damage from those HRs (keep his BB% in the 5-8 range, and his K% +15)
can you please restate these “keys to the game” in Foxspeak? I have trouble deciphering these complicated concepts with all these fancy numbers.
I think the Indians’ 2009 motto should be “Remember first four games of ’07 ALCS”
by Buckeye Brad on Mar 25, 2009 5:06 PM EDT up reply actions
that’s more like it.
how about:
Throw baseballs, not balls.
Travis Hafner is overrated. Clarity is underrated. David Dellucci is David Dellucci.
Win for 9 innings… No, 8… No, wait, 9…
Steel Nick
by nickjs21 on Mar 25, 2009 4:09 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Hello APV,
As Wedge said when Sowers, LaPorta, and Brantley were sent down a day or two ago, it’s likely Laffey will still factor into the 2009 rotation, since it’s more than the 25-man roster that will likely contribute to the Indians’ season.
I think Lewis has been more consistent than Laffey, though Laffey has come on strong of late, and the Indians likely want to make sure Laffey is “right” before they put him back in the ML rotation.
Just my 2 cents.
The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.
I’m very happy with this decision. Laffey will get a chance later though I’m still nowhere near sold on him.
Between Reyes, Pavano and Lewis, it seems like Laffey will be back with the big league club by May 1, right?
May 1 sounds about right. When did the FO pull the plug on Johnson and/or Elarton? With the guys we have in Columbus this year, I think the leash will be even shorter.
by millionairesrow on Mar 25, 2009 1:13 PM EDT up reply actions
I’m most happy because, based on the stellar analysis here, I had added Lewis as a bench starter in my fantasy league.
So how do we line em up 1-5 to start? Here’s how I would:
1. Lee – L
2. Carmona – R
3. Reyes – R
4. Lewis – L
5. Pavano – R
Note updated headline … Reyes has been put in the #5 spot so they can skip his turn now and then, give him some extra rest.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
So, the article doesn’t clarify if they’ll skip the five starter every time or only as needed. Do we have an expectation about that?
“Damn?” He’s in the rotation, they just don’t want to push him.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
Well moving him to fifth because of the injury potential makes me think he’s not going to be consistently healthy. Maybe I read to much into it.
This implies that the Indians know of a current problem, which I don’t think is right to assume.
Travis Hafner is overrated. Clarity is underrated. David Dellucci is David Dellucci.
The problem they know of is that (1) he’s a pitcher and (2) with an injury history.
I don’t think it’s a question of whether he’s healthy, but rather, is there one guy out of these five that we’d like to be able to skip a start?
I just spent a couple minute looking at the early schedule, and I don’t see how they’re going to skip him more than once in April, possibly not at all in May. So we shouldn’t overstate the significance of this move.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
I just spent a couple minute looking at the early schedule, and I don’t see how they’re going to skip him more than once in April.
As indicated below, I count three times in April. I may be missing something. I’m really interested in this, there was a discussion of it in the White Sox section of B-Pro’s annual. Admittedly, I’m hopeful it won’t be Reyes we’re skipping after April. Anyway, here’s my breakdown:
6@Tex-1
7 OFF DAY
8 @Tex-2
9 @Tex-3
10 TOR-4
11 TOR-1
12 TOR-2
13 @KC-3
14 @KC-4
15 @KC-5
16 @NYY-1
17 @NYY-2
18 @NYY-3
19 @NYY-4
20 OFF DAY
21 KC-1
22 KC-2
23 KC-3
24 MIN-4
25 MIN-5
26 MIN-1
27 BOS-2
28 BOS-3
29 BOS-4
30 OFF DAY
May 1 @DET-1
Incidentally, I also count one time in May, during the KC series on 19-21.
Nyet. You have our #2, #3 and #4 starters pitching on short rest on April 12-14. That won’t happen.
They might do this:
6@Tex-1
7 OFF DAY
8 @Tex-2
9 @Tex-3
10 TOR-4
11 TOR-5
12 TOR-1
13 @KC-2
14 @KC-3
15 @KC-4
16 @NYY-5
17 @NYY-1
18 @NYY-2
19 @NYY-3
20 OFF DAY
21 KC-4
22 KC-1
23 KC-2
24 MIN-3
25 MIN-5
26 MIN-4
27 BOS-1
28 BOS-2
29 BOS-3
30 OFF DAY
May 1 @DET-4
2 @ DET-1
3 @ DET-2
The #5 spot is pushed back three days (from Apr 22 to Apr 25), which gives him extra rest and also lines him up for the next off-day.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
I knew I was missing something which is why I was so adamant about posting my claim until you debunked it.
I think they’ll do what you posted.
And, thanks.
16 @NYY-5
Reyes vs. Sabathia. If this game has a post-season flavor to it, one of these guys has an advantage.
The one who started Game 1 of the World Series.
Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile
by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Mar 26, 2009 12:22 PM EDT up reply actions
I also learned recently that Pavano had some injuries with his last team.
Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile
by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Mar 26, 2009 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions
But I bet you didn’t know Tom Mastny was born in Indonesia.
Travis Hafner is overrated. Clarity is underrated. David Dellucci is David Dellucci.
WHAT?!?
Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile
by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Mar 28, 2009 1:08 PM EDT up reply actions
First game at the new Yankee Stadium should give C.C. monster butterflies, no?
by JulioBernazard on Mar 26, 2009 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions
Because of the stupid opening week day off, they could actually skip the fifth starter his first time through which would have the added benefit of lining up 1-4 for the Yankees series. Then, they’ll have two more opportunities to skip the fifth starter in April.
I now see Jay has written that this will be Reyes, which was (seriously) going to be my suggestion.
So, we get to see Pavano pitch against the Yankees and we’ll have some idea by the end of the month if he’s any good.
“I think a lot of it had to do with how I pitched in September and how I’ve pitched this spring.”
After his 20th win:
“I think a lot of it had to do with how I allowed less runs than my team scored.”
Steel Nick
You’re laughing at the obviousness, but the truth is that he’s mistaken. I’m sure the Indians are heavily considering how he pitched throughout 2008, which he basically excludes.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
Agreed…he pitched a lot better before being called up in September than he did in Cleveland. The results were good in Cleveland, obviously, but his success had a lot to do with luck.
I’m not saying he wasn’t great in September. I am saying that he he’d been mediocre prior to September, his great performances in September and March would not have won him this spot over Laffey.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
2004 draft
6 – Jeremy Sowers
77 – Scott Lewis
107 – Chuck Lofgren
19th – Chris Gimenez
24th – Wyatt Toregas
45th – Tony Sipp
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
Among his friends: Bear Bay.
Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile
by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Mar 25, 2009 4:10 PM EDT up reply actions
without logging in, I see a guy named C.C. and a chick with the last name LaPorta.
Travis Hafner is overrated. Clarity is underrated. David Dellucci is David Dellucci.
I didn’t go past the first page.
Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile
by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Mar 25, 2009 9:07 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t know how I feel about this.
So 2009.
by Gradyforpresident on Mar 25, 2009 1:23 PM EDT reply actions
Well, you get back to us about that. Take your time.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by Jay on Mar 25, 2009 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Here’s how I feel – the idea that a rotation has five members is wrong, especially when you’re talking about guys like Laffey, Lewis and Sowers. You name the first five, not the Final Five.
by FredOx on Mar 25, 2009 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
can we give Pronk a little “resurrection” treatment?
by DontCallMeJoey on Mar 25, 2009 3:14 PM EDT up reply actions
I have no idea what you’re talking about.
Travis Hafner is overrated. Clarity is underrated. David Dellucci is David Dellucci.
Except for Larry Hughes.
Steel Nick
by nickjs21 on Mar 25, 2009 11:21 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
it’s gonna be Zachson. they can send Chulk to c-bus till like mid-may – so they should and probably will. then they can bring him up for Masa then.
Keeping it warm for Jake
Hopefully Lewis and Reyes will be pitching so well the Tribe can take their time bringing Westbrook back in.
I expect to see Laffey soon due to Pavano’s delight with the DL.
by GenerationTribe on Mar 25, 2009 5:08 PM EDT reply actions
Question: Do service time issues with Laffey come into consideration here at all?
So 2009.
by Gradyforpresident on Mar 25, 2009 5:14 PM EDT reply actions
A little. I meant to comment on this earlier.
With pitchers, I think you worry a little more about arbitration than free agency, due to the high attrition rate. Laffey has 0 years, 147 days of service time, which makes him a free agent after 2014 — definitely not sooner and probably not later. If he doesn’t spend a little time in the minors, however, he’ll be a Super Two arbitration guy after 2010, i.e., going into the 2011 season. If he spends about five weeks in the minors this season, he’ll be out of that range, so it’s minimum salary for 2011. It matters only because (a) he’s so close to the cusp and (b) we seem to have other options.
Lewis is in a different situation, with just 22 days in. You really don’t worry about his free agency, because you’d be very lucky if he makes it that far in terms of durability. He’s looking at arbitration after 2011 (for 2012) if he sticks, and you’d have to keep him in the minors for a solid three months to push that back. If he’s one of your six best starters, you won’t artificially keep him out of the majors for three months.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
by Jay on Mar 25, 2009 5:35 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Yeah. I wish you’d learn it, so I could stop writing about it.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
Neyer weighs in with his thoughts on Lewis (and prospect rankings):
In the new Baseball America Prospect Handbook, Scott Lewis comes in 21st among Cleveland’s prospects. In the new Baseball Prospect Book, John Sickels assigns a C+ grade to Lewis. Oddly, both books suggest that he might be good enough to pitch in the Indians’ rotation this season.
Maybe I’m missing something, but isn’t this one of those bird-in-the-hand sort of deals? Baseball America has nine pitchers ranked higher than Lewis. I know that potential’s important, too. But how many of those nine guys ahead of Lewis will wind up in a major league rotation, ever? I’m obviously biased, but I’d move Lewis up a dozen or so spots on that list, even if he can’t throw 90 miles an hour.
Which isn’t to say he’s going to be good in 2009. Based on what he did last year, though — from Double-A through four winning starts with the big club — he would seem to have a pretty decent shot. 90 or no 90.
And his thoughts on the Indians this year:
I like the Indians. I think they’re going win their division. But their No. 1 starter isn’t going to go 22-3 again, their No. 2 starter went 8-7 last year, and Nos. 3 through 5 are question marks wrapped in enigmas surrounded by conundrums. So at the very least, it should be an interesting spring and summer in Cleveland.
The point he’s making about Lewis is the same one I’ve made repeatedly about Huff. I understand these guys are gaga for ceiling, but Huff already projects to be an average big-league starter right now.
Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.
I stopped thinking of Lewis as a prospect and instead as a major leaguer (who might happen to be pitching in AAA) because of his 2008, but I agree completely regarding Huff.
Travis Hafner is overrated. Clarity is underrated. David Dellucci is David Dellucci.
Hopefully, that #2 starter Neyer mentions won’t go 8-7 again (hopefully, it’s more like 15+ wins) – that will help to negate any loss that Lee has this year, as I don’t think anyone can realistically expect him to go 22-3 again (heck, even Clemens, Pedro, Johnson, Maddux, Glavine, and Smoltz couldn’t duplicate high numbers like that in back-to-back season – come close, yes, and hopefully, Lee will too, but not duplicate them. Likewise, Carmona will hopefully not “duplicate 2008,” but will moreless duplicate his 2007 season instead).
Just my 2 cents.
The "cream of the crop" doesn't always rise to the top.
Right now a bunch of Tribe fans are going, “Scott WHO?” And they’re picking up their Annual.
Also, this is what Kenny Roda is doing.
Or they’re writing letters to Hey Hoynsie.
by Buckeye Brad on Mar 25, 2009 6:05 PM EDT up reply actions
Why didn’t we sign Pedro instead of letting this no-name pitch?
by Voltaire on Mar 25, 2009 6:36 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Those of us living in Columbus have known Scott Lewis for a long time.
Frankly, I don't contribute much.
My post should have been a response to Tabler’s comment, not some super savvy observation about where Scott Lewis pitched in college. But thanks for the cookie, even if it’s not the superior oatmeal raisin.
Frankly, I don't contribute much.
by emd2k3 on Mar 26, 2009 2:08 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
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