So, here I am, sitting at the table with my laptop, eating a couple of pancakes and listening to "The Herd with Colin Cowherd" on ESPN Radio online. Ahh, Colin Cowherd, my favorite sports talk radio host. He's harsh, he speaks his mind, he makes great points, but sadly, nothing of what I just said is my point.
As I sit here eating my breakfast (which is very yummeh, by the by), I started to think about the my Tribe's starting rotation, thankies to a blog I recently read by LJ user by skywise12. (Sorry, I can't link because it screws up my laptop, but check that blog out, Indians fans. Some interesting thoughts in there.)
I was thinking about how great horrid Cliff Lee and Jeremy Sowers have been lately. Sowers has been nothing but ugly since the season started with a record of 1-6 and an ERA of 6.63, but Lee's numbers over the past few games have been quite suckish, too, as he is now 2-3 with and ERA of 6.35. Now, usually this wouldn't be a problem considering their numbers after the All-Star Break are usually so much better, but the fact that the Indians will have to clear a spot for Jake Westbrook when he comes back...now that creates a problem.
They would be crazy to send down the 23-year old Fausto Carmona, who has a record of 6-1 with and ERA of 3.29. He is quite something, isn't he? Coming back like that after the scary start he encountered last year as the Idnians' closer. The thing that I truly love, though, is the fact that I never gave up on the kid. He would step on the mound and, yeah, I would be nervous, but I so badly wanted him to do well and now he is. He's owning every team he faces, not to mention he's beat out last year's AL Cy Young winner Johan Santana...twice.
No, if the Indians are smart, that kid isn't going anywhere, but I'm writing because I think I know who is gonna get "the boot" right out of the rotation and down to the Minor Leagues. It'll be Jeremy Sowers, which I am very sad about because I loved to watch him pitch...last year. Now, it's almost agonizing to watch him throw and when he takes the mound, I get that same feeling I had for Fausto Carmona last year.
Now, I know, why can't it be Cliff Lee, right? Well, one big factor is that he only has two minor league options left in him and sending him down would be like wasting a pitcher. Also, Lee, who is 28, seems like he is old enough to cope with the pressure, where as Sowers, who is 25, is having some confidence problems (he even admitted to that himself).
He may be only three years younger, but Jeremy has never been through a "drought" like this and he doesn't know how to pick himself up, which is why I think they will have to send him down and do with him what they did to Carmona. Just sit him down, make him watch videos of himself last year as composed to this year and see what the difference is. He's a smart kid, so I have no doubt in my mind that he will be back by at least next season. I know it's a long time away, but this kid seems crushed, on the verge of deppression almost, and buliding him up may take awhile, but he's worth it. He's a great pitcher, a smart pitcher, and I think if he is back and pitching by next season, he will be like he was last season after the all-star break with that ERA of his under 2.50, again.
I know people may not like the idea of Sowers leaving, but he really needs to be "built up" again, so it may be the for the best to send him to the minors and keep Carmona in the rotation.
~~Ally
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