Transactions: Scott Lewis to DL

by Ryan on Apr 11, 2009 11:43 PM EDT in Transactions

Placed LHP Scott Lewis on the 15-Day Disabled List (left elbow)

Purchased the Contract of RHP Vinnie Chulk and Recalled him from Columbus (AAA)

I guess now we know why Lewis hasn't been as effective his last few starts:

"Hopefully it's not the ligament, but it's definitely the elbow," Lewis said. "It had kind of been bothering me the last few times out. From what I felt, it's not the same as when I tore my UCL."

At the time, he chalked up the pain to normal spring "dead arm," something would go away. If Eric Wedge hadn't taken him out of yesterday's game for the normal reason (ineffectiveness, pitch count), he probably would have had to leave due to injury:

"[Manager Eric] Wedge came out at the right time," Lewis said. "It was gradually getting tighter as the game went on. The last pitch I threw was when I really felt something. I didn't really want to throw another pitch, and I didn't want to call anybody out there, either."

Obviously you want your players to be competitors, but at the same time, if your elbow's hurting, you need to come out of the game immediately.

Lewis had an MRI on his elbow this morning, so we'll know shortly the extent of Lewis' injury.

The Indians will need to make a decision on who will make what would have been Lewis' start this Wednesday. For this start, the Indians will probably go with whoever's on normal rest, and not necessary who's next on their depth chart. 40-man roster considerations also come into play, as the Indians now have a full 40-man roster, and can't bring up a non-roster guy like Kirk Saarloos without designating someone on the roster for assignment. Unless the Lewis injury is serious enough to warrant placing him on the 60-day DL, and I don't want to think of that. Sowers and Laffey are the two Columbus starters already on the 40-man roster, and Laffey pitched tonight, so Sowers, by process of elimination, is probably Wednesday's starter.

The Indians used up the last spot on the 40-roster by purchasing Chulk's contract, but they desperately needed some help in the bullpen, and Chulk was the most impressive reliever this spring. I don't think Chulk is just a stopgap callup, so someone else will be optioned out before Wednesday's game. I could see the Indians optioning out Zach Jackson before the game, optioning Sowers back to Columbus after the game, and recalling another reliever to keep eight pitchers in the bullpen.

Edit: Anthony Castrovince reports that there's no structural damage to Lewis' elbow, and that he should be able to recover with just rest. Good news.

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Comments

Lewis had TJ surgery in college. This doesn’t bode well, and puts a lot of pressure on a starting rotation that is dodgy at best. What if Sowers remains Sowers? That means Laffey and Huff have to fill the fifth slot, and hope for miracles from Pavano and Flatbrim. This is more of a blow to the Tribe than I first thought. A week into the season and the top two aren’t even, the two fliers have bombed, and the fifth is hurt. At this rate we’ll need a dozen starting pitchers. Scott Bullington will be back.

by odradek on Apr 11, 2009 11:55 PM EDT reply actions

I wish I knew who Scott Bullington was.

by supermarioelia on Apr 12, 2009 12:31 AM EDT up reply actions

He must be related to Bryan Bullington, who pitched for the Tribe last year. Sorry.

by odradek on Apr 12, 2009 1:26 AM EDT up reply actions

There is no what if Sowers remains Sowers. He is Sowers. By luck maybe he makes a start and doesn’t give up more than three runs in six innings pitched.

I’m not really all that concerned with Huff and Laffey being in the rotation. I think it would be a better rotation right now if they had both of those pitchers in the rotation. But, as you say there isn’t much left after those two until Westbrook returns. Um….~~Paul Byrd~~ Pedro Martinez is still available right?

by hans on Apr 12, 2009 12:33 AM EDT up reply actions

Well, there’s Jackson who were all conveniently forgetting is actually a starter. It’s not as if he has to remain in the bullpen.

by afh4 on Apr 12, 2009 12:44 AM EDT up reply actions

But well, if Jackson is in the rotation then we're screwed. He's likely not a viable option for more than a couple starts to fill in for injury.

by hans on Apr 12, 2009 12:57 AM EDT up reply actions

They’re never going to win another game again, are they?

Though I look right at home, I still feel like an exile

by Manhattan Tribe Fan on Apr 12, 2009 9:02 AM EDT up reply actions

September 27th, 2008 my friend, hope you remembered it well.

by hans on Apr 12, 2009 9:52 AM EDT up reply actions

What does “viable” mean? Here’s the list of 2009 Indians pitchers who have thrown 4 or more consecutive innings in which they surrendered 2 runs or fewer:

Zach Jackson

And also the list of 2009 Indians pitchers who have pitched at least 3 consecutive innings without walking anybody:

Zach Jackson

For all we know right now, he’s the most viable starter currently on the roster. If we’re screwed because Zach Jackson is in the rotation, that’s a reflection of the rotation, not of Zach Jackson.

by fleerdon on Apr 12, 2009 9:50 AM EDT up reply actions

No disagreement here (well except drawing any conclusions from 4 innings pitched about Jackson).

by hans on Apr 12, 2009 9:53 AM EDT up reply actions

Ha, “viable” is my new favorite word, hans.

Viable Zach Jackson.

by fleerdon on Apr 12, 2009 10:23 AM EDT up reply actions

use it and use it well

by hans on Apr 12, 2009 8:06 PM EDT up reply actions

People are forgetting that Jackson is a starter because he is forgettable. In a little over 400 innings at AAA, he has a 4.90 ERA.

by ClarkM on Apr 12, 2009 11:51 AM EDT up reply actions

He’s no more forgettable than Sowers and people put Sowers on the list.

by afh4 on Apr 12, 2009 5:53 PM EDT up reply actions

While I think Jackson has been handled poorly and is probably better than he appears to be, the fact remains that Sowers generally has dominated at every level of the minors, including most of this AAA time, and Jackson hasn’t.

Well, that's just, like, your opinion, man.

by Jay on Apr 12, 2009 6:17 PM EDT up reply actions

I think at some point consistent major league failure starts to equate with AAA mediocrity. At least Jackson is something of a major league unknown. There’s some excitement there. Mystery!

by afh4 on Apr 12, 2009 6:42 PM EDT up reply actions

I prefer to think of Jackson in the “Science Fiction!” category… but thats just me.

by hans on Apr 12, 2009 8:07 PM EDT up reply actions

Sure, he is a relative unknown at the major league level, but is there any legitimate reason to think he can be an effective major league starter? I don’t see it.

Granted, I think the difference between him and Sowers is minimal, but I’d certainly like to see Laffey get the first shot and David Huff getting the second, 40 man be damned.

by ClarkM on Apr 12, 2009 9:00 PM EDT up reply actions

Bill Bavasi will offer him 48 million for 4 years!

Eric Wedge. The Adam LaRoche of managers.

by emd2k3 on Apr 12, 2009 11:02 PM EDT up reply actions

“Ooooh, shiny!”

by Voltaire on Apr 13, 2009 2:37 AM EDT up reply actions

The Tribe’s advantage was depth. Losing Lewis after one start means the plausible backups and alternatives for three somewhat speculative spots in the rotation are diminished.

by odradek on Apr 12, 2009 1:32 AM EDT reply actions

From Castro:

No word on who will start Wednesday’s game. The Indians are still working through that decision, according to Eric Wedge. The good news is that Lewis’ MRI did not show any structural damage, so the Indians think he can recuperate with rest.

by macasson on Apr 12, 2009 6:04 AM EDT reply actions

It seems to me, as Andrew alluded above, it makes the most sense to give this start to Jackson.

by NickFantana on Apr 12, 2009 10:15 AM EDT up reply actions

Makes sense to me, too.

In the world of conjecture, Lastoria had this to say, based on yesterday’s Columbus action:

In the first game, lefty Aaron Laffey only went 3.1 innings and threw 60 pitches before being removed, possibly setting him up for a callup to Cleveland to assume the 5th starter spot with lefty Scott Lewis going on the disabled list.

Of course, he gave up 5 runs on 6 hits and 2 walks, with just 1 strikeout …

by macasson on Apr 12, 2009 11:02 AM EDT up reply actions

Sounds like he’s qualified.

by SuddenSam on Apr 12, 2009 11:19 AM EDT up reply actions

He’ll have to walk more batters if he’s going to make it with the Tribe.

by odradek on Apr 12, 2009 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions

I posted this in the below thread, but it should have gone here. LaPorta was pulled from the game yesterday with a strained to his rib cage.

“I’m all right,” LaPorta said. “The first at-bat of the first game, I just felt a little something. I just tried to play as long as I could. Hopefully, (today) I’ll be better.”

by dgcambridge on Apr 12, 2009 8:57 AM EDT reply actions

Thanks for the LaPorta update. I was wondering about the 0 0 0 0 line and Lastoria didn’t mention anything. I hope that it’s not the dreaded intercostal…

Stuart Dean

by stuart dean on Apr 12, 2009 9:41 AM EDT up reply actions

No Laffey please.

by mjschaefer on Apr 12, 2009 11:43 AM EDT reply actions

That’s like going to a diner and telling the waitress, “No, I can’t have any of that greasy chicken noodle soup,” and the waitress says, “Well, there’s also chicken rice soup, but it’s kind of greasy, too.”

by odradek on Apr 12, 2009 12:11 PM EDT up reply actions