Cleveland Cavaliers 2009-10 Schedule Breakdown
August 4, 2009While We’re Waiting… Elam Talks Camp, Admiring Script Ohio, Ranking Delonte’s Lines
August 5, 2009
Something that was glossed over in the wake of the Cliff Lee trade was a comment made to the press from GM Mark Shapiro:
When asked who might be the Indians’ opening day starter next season, GM Mark Shapiro said, “Jake Westbrook if he’s healthy.”
Quite an interesting development considering Jake hasn’t pitched since May 2008 and has never been considered top of the rotation material. True, Jake is a rock of consistency and probably the one vocal leader left on the team, despite being on the disabled list.
Before blowing out his elbow early last season, Jake has rightfully earned his three year, $33 million extension. The shame of it is the Indians haven’t been able to reap the benefits of it as of yet. Westbrook averaged 15 wins from 2004-2006 while pitching over 210 innings per year. He missed time in 2007 with a side muscle injury but returned to be a solid post-season starter during the run to game seven of the ALCS.
Lets not forget that while CC Sabathia and Fausto Carmona were wetting themselves against the Red Sox, Jake won his first start pitching into the seventh inning, allowing just two runs. He was also given the ball in game seven and went six strong innings and would have been dealt a better fate if not for the Skinner Stop sign and the Casey Blake 5-4-3 in the top of the seventh followed by Blake’s error that opened the flood gates in the excruciating bottom of the seventh.
In case you couldn’t tell, I still haven’t forgiven Casey Blake.
Regardless, the hope is to have the veteran savvy of Westbrook head the 2010 rotation with guys like Fausto Carmona, Justin Masterson, Aaron Laffey, and David Huff behind him. With Hector Rondon, Carlos Carrasco, and Jeanmar Gomez staying ready in Columbus, the rotation doesn’t look too bad.
Of course, this is coming from the same guy who thought that Anthony Reyes would win 15 games this year and that the depth of Scott Lewis and Zach Jackson was appealing. So in other words, take it with a grain of salt.
If you need your Jake fix, he starts for the Akron Aeros tonight. He threw a simulated game at Canal Park each of the past five days, per our Aeros insider Jacon Rosen. Westbrook hasn’t pitched in a full game since June 12th after suffering a set-back in his rehab.
29 Comments
It’s all about 2011-2012. The last thing on my mind is our Opening Day starter for next year. Oh, and if Jake is the OD starter in either ’11 or ’12, we’ve got problems.
So next year is his final year in his contract?
Probably will win the Cy Young and be gone shortly after.
Jake Westbrook – Opening Day Starter
Sounds pretty good, wonder what kind of prospects we can get for that
Any chance of coaxing Greg Swindell out of retirement?
Hope, hope, hope, hope, hope.
Cmon, get serious. What’s the odds not only of Jake starting opening day, but working injury free in 2010. How can any GM make such an absurd statment.
Oh yea…..one who’s conning the gullible public……aka Pinnochio.
I really fail to see the con here. Its not very “awe inspiring” to have a #3 (at best) pitcher who is has been out for quite a long time with some pretty serious rehab as your potential starter for the next year. In fact, it seems to play heavily into the theme of “don’t even think this team is going to compete next year.” So, if anything, it seems like Shapiro is trying to tamp down already depressed expectations.
Isis, if he was trying to selling us on a bill of goods as you’re implying, I would imagine he would have tried to tell us about Fausto having a return to glory.
When asked who might be the Indians’ opening day starter next season, GM Mark Shapiro said, “Bob Feller if he’s healthy since we have pretty much dumped most of our pitchers for a bag of balls. Which i had some!”
The rotation doesn’t look too bad? Bwahaha.
Yea JM. He forgot to use capital letters there. The official WFNY sarcasm font.
You misquoted the article.
“Jake Westbrook if he’s not traded in the off-season”
Jake Westbrook will be opening day starter and will spend the rest of 2010 on the DL. Nothing Mark Shapiro says means anything to me. He and his bosses the Dolans have successfully recreated the Indians of the 80’s. And while I wax nostalgic for thngs of the 80’s from time to time,The 80′ Tribe is not one of those things. We’ve become the Ebay to the rest of MLB; we’ll sell anyone for the right price…no matter their skill or their fan appeal.
Everyone talks about how good the 90’s were for the Tribe, but the difference is only that all those guys came together and won before they got to free agency. Once it came time to resign, Belle, Thome, ManRam all bolted for more $$$.
Hart signed them all young to team friendly contracts and when those were up, they left and the Tribe got nothing in return. Like I said above, the only difference was that they matured a lot faster and a lot better. It seems like Shappy is trying to do that this decade as well, but instead of letting them walk, he is trying to get something for them all.
We just need the players to actually step up and win something now.
every time I read anything about the indians, I get anxious and excited because they’re a young team with a promising future…then I read all the whiney, sniffling comments by “fans” and wonder why they even bother watching or follow a team they seem to hate so much…it seems pretty stupid to me why someone would even waste their time commenting about it…no wonder players dont want to stay here…
@12 – completely agree. people dont seem to realize that…they just think Shapiro is some devil-horned guy that wants to move the team to Miami…oh wait…that was a movie…
@13 Amen. If you hate the team so much stop reading articles and commenting everytime someone tries to write an objective article.
I certainly don’t hate the team. I just don’t like the the possibilities for our starting rotation next year. Bringing young guys up and getting them experience and developing their talent is absolutely impretive to the future of the club, but I’d like at least 2 consistent veteran arms. Westbrook and Carmona haven’t shown that as of late. So when our GM tells me that Westbrook is our anchor, I complain. Not because I have given up and won’t cheer on our team, but because I’m a human being and when I see a turd, I react to the smell.
@16 – I didnt mean to imply that I was referring to anyone in particular…I just meant that while this team is trying to accomplish something, theres one or two people every single indians post that just say the same whiney lines over any over…i have no problem with alternative views, but it just gets old really quick when your argument is based on personal feelings and not facts or insight…
I agree that I am not particularly excited about Jake being the opening day starter (although if I had my way, I might choose Rondon or Masterson, just for the excitement factor) but, it is what it is…you may not like it either, and OD doesnt really mean much of anything anyways…its 1/162th of the season, and will not make or break the team…
No one necessarily wants to root for a team they can identify with, but with the injection of young guys and some power arms….its just exciting to think about the possibilities…sure they might stink to high heaven, but theres the same 50/50 shot that they find the magic they had in the 90s…people are completely writing them off based on their feelings being hurt because they traded some guys…*sniffle*…get over it…its professional sports…players come and go…
***correction***
“No one necessarily wants to root for a team they CAN’T identify with”
I love when someone gets a gig on a noted site like this one and thinks he knows more than anyone else. I realize the stabbing comments are directed at my earlier post.
I have been an Indians fan the better part of my life…I’ve been to Muni to see Buddy Bell, Toby Harrah, Rick Manning, Miguel Dilone, and so manny others. I have cheered with great achievements among difficult times Thorton’s cycle, Barker’s perfect game. DON’T question my fandom!
You say people are entitled to their opinions and feelings then blast them for expressing them. I have looked into the players we recieved and am excited about the possibilities. I question the price we have paid for them, but as you say “it’s professional sports” and sometimes you have to take these chances we’ll see, and I will cheer them win or lose. I am just not convinced the current administration has what it takes so, mister high and mighty blogger get over yourself.
John – It may just be me, but I’m not seeing anywhere on this site where one of our writers has “stabbed” or gotten “high and mighty.”
Scott, when I wrote “gig” I simply meant this type of open forum where people express their views. I realized after completing this comment that my wording might be misinterpreted as indicationg one of the writers. Sorry for the confusion.
Not a problem – just wanted to make sure. Thanks!
Scott – I think he is referring to me…he’s referring to me, even though I didnt refer to him…regardless…I dont really see where “stabbing” comments are coming from, as I too, have been to games since I was old enough to remember…I dont think it makes a difference how long you were a fan or what you have done…what matters is that you provide a good, articulated argument as to why you might know more than everyone else…rather than just throw up your hands and say “they’re horrible”…give me reasons…I have absolutely NO problem admitting when I’m wrong and have done so many times…
If you think they’re making a mistake and dont have a clue, then why were they just named top manager and GM when they were making their run, only to be called “stupid” or something a year and a half later? they looked like geniuses and most people would have a hard time debating that fact when they won those awards….the accolades were something along the lines of “they’re doing a great job with little resources”…now that they are trying to recapture that with what they feel is their best chance, now theyre imbeciles? i just dont see it…
if anyone has taken personal offense, my apologies, I did not intend for that…I was making a blanket statement about a few people, but didnt mean to make someone feel singled out…
I dont understand why people do have this strange love affair with players though…even if they leave your team, theyre still the same players…if you liked who they were when they were playing for your team, why does that preclude you from stopping liking them or your team? why would you have to choose? you dont have to…heck, I still root for ManRam, CC, Giles, etc…I love em no matter what uni theyre wearing…and on top of it, i still root for my Tribe…as a fan, its all you can do…
I AM HIGH AND MIGHTY.
AND I SHANK, I DON’T STAB.
I really don’t feel like making this a battle. I just don’t appreciate being told I’m not a real fan or don’t have a clue what I’m talking about because I disagree with you.
As to Gm of the year have you always agreed with every MVP award? or every Grammy or Oscar handed out? Awards are little more than arbitrary accolades.
I will cheer heartily for whomever the line up includes, and as I said before I am excited to see what the new acquisitions will bring.
I just would like to see Shapiro get a better value for players he is unloading . This may be due to economic pressure from above to unload salary, or concern that he won’t be able to make the deal if he asks for what he thinks a certain player is worth, and I even admit that I am not at the table when these deals were hashed out. I just believe that he sold short on the V-mart and Lee deals and my frustration with losing talent and favored players…forgive me for being a fan.
I am sorry for causing such turmoil. I will endevor to keep my comments to myself.
@John – to be absolutely clear (again) nothing was directed to you. no one said “JOHN IS NOT A FAN BECAUSE …”
this is not a “battle” by any means, and there is no need to keep any comments to yourself…thats why this forum is here…
i did not say the choice was right in your eyes, (gm of the year), all i said was that was the majority that voted decided…im sure you might see it differently, the point i was making is that they both won it because they overachieved that year with a small payroll…arbitrary? sure…but who votes on it? people that probably know a little bit about it…
…as for the players he traded away, you cant say he didnt get a better value for what he gave up because it wont be evident for a couple years…even if you get a #1 cant miss prospect like Drabek (who I have my doubts about) he might turn into an Andy Marte…and for every “throw in guy” like a soft tossing lefty, he might turn out to be Cliff Lee (colon trade ’02)…so it is very very premature to say he didnt get a good value…
it is completely respectable to assume that they didnt, but its also just as easy to say he did…
i dont have a problem with your perception or stance, im merely giving you the other side…thats all…
no harm no foul…
Go Tribe!
Just get rid ofWedge.
Even though Casey Blake blew that play, I still want a witness shirt. Do you guys have any more?
[…] know the other day I penned a piece about Jake Westbrook possibly being next year’s opening day starter, but right now, the best candidate is looking more and more like Aaron […]