While the walk-off was a joy, it was far from the only story tonight. How about Fausto Carmona? Whatever they did to Fausto over the break, can we please bag it and give him a intravenous feed? Carmona before the break (4-10, 5.78, 1.41 WHIP) versus after (1-0, 1.50, 1.17 WHIP) is like beef tenderloin after Dinty Moore. Again, he seemed to be talking to himself (tonight amidst a torrent of his own perspiration). I would like to believe that this is a method of slowing the game down for a guy who is fanatically emotional. Regardless, he produced tonight (6 IP, 4 H, 3 BB, 3 K) and if he can pitch similarly down the stretch, the Indians chances are much improved.
I fondly recall the days of Vinnie Pestano being nothing but nasty. Such has not been the case recently. Since July 2nd (the day he was the de facto closer and converted his first MLB save) Pestano has posted a 9.82 ERA and allowed opponents a .925 OPS. He seems to be struggling with his control. While his pitches continue to show the same filthy movement as in the season's first 3 months, their location has become erratic as he has left far too many over the fat part of the plate. Vinnie has just 43 innings of major league baseball under his belt, he will learn consistency. Joe Smith is a great example as he has put up numbers far exceeding expectation based not on better stuff, but on improved command. Wouldn't it have been nice if he had been able to pitch 2 innings?
Alex White pitched a simulated game this afternoon, throwing his full compliment of pitches. White experienced some mild soreness in his injured finger following the outing, but that is to be expected with an injury of this kind. Earlier today, it was announced that White would pitch "multiple innings" out of the bullpen upon his return. The rational is that after sitting on the shelf for 10 weeks, the time needed to build his arm strength back to a starter's endurance would preclude him from being of any help in the playoff run. If Alex's arm feels good tomorrow, he will likely begin a rehab assignment next week.
Combine White's status with the news that Mitch Talbot will also be working out of the 'pen following his own rehab stint and I deem it exceptionally likely that one of the Bullpen Mafia departs as part of a trade deadline deal. For those of you wondering, possible targets for the Tribe include starters Aaron Harang and Hiroki Kuroda and outfielders Ryan Ludwick and BJ Upton. Personally, I am hoping for Upton. Maybe we can unload Matt LaPorta on someone. He sucks.
Here's to not seeing Danny Haren against the Indians until after the apocalypse.
Cheers.
