Indians Turnover Appears to be Record Breaking
Written By: Scott | Category: Cleveland Indians | Comments: 9
Over the course of 2007, the year that found the Indians one game away from the World Series, the team used 21 pitchers. Last season, due to trades (CC Sabathia) and injuries (Jake Westbrook among others), the team was forced to use 28 pitchers. While we sit here today at the All-Star break, the 2009 Indians have already used 26 pitchers.
By innings pitched, here are the 26 pitchers you all have seen take the mound over the first four months of the season:
Cliff Lee, Carl Pavano, Fausto Carmona, Jeremy Sowers, David Huff, Aaron Laffey, Jensen Lewis, Anthony Reyes, Tomo Ohka, Jose Veras, Kerry Wood, Rafael Betancourt, Matt Herges, Rafael Perez, Joe Smith, Greg Acquino, Tony Sipp, Vinnie Chulk, Luis Vizcaino, Masa Kobayashi, Mike “John” Gosling, Zach Jackson, Winston Abreu, Scott Lewis, Chris Perez and Rich Rundles.
Remember Rich Rundles?
Another crazy fact: only 14 players remain from the opening day roster. Amazing, yet very frustrating.
But given the number of pitchers that Eric Wedge has turned to thus far, it is pretty safe to say that the Indians will at least match last year’s number. Jake Westbrook is bound to toss a few innings in the second half. And if Hector Rondon gets fast-tracked as assumed – he should at least get a September call-up – he would be No. 28.
The club/American League record was achieved in 2000 (90-72) when the Indians managed to use 32 pitchers. Chuck Finley, Dave Burba, Paul Rigdon, Paul Shuey and Jamie Brewington are names that just start to crack the surface of the 2000 campaign.
A big hurdle in achieving that number this year lies in the names that TD laid out earlier today as do not exactly scream call-up potential. However, I would not count out Mark Shapiro trading for at least one more pitcher between now and the trade deadline. You never know who our next Winston Abreu will be! Can you feel the excitement?
Do you think this year’s team can top the mark set in 2000? Choose wisely, or Tawny Kitaen may have to make another appearance.
Author: Scott
Scott is a co-founder/editor of Waiting For Next Year who resides in Cleveland, Ohio. Feel free to follow him on Twitter or email him at scott@waitingfornextyear.com.Scott has written 1701 articles for Waiting for Next Year.
I’m going to go ahead and vote yes. Heck, if I play my cards right, I just may get the call to toss a few innings.
Not to brag, but my fastball has been known to reach the mid 50s…ah thank you.
Awesome. Fausto Carmona, 3rd most innings thrown, hasn’t even been on the big league club since June 6th.
Just a pathetic team and a pathetic organization, led by that yutz, Dolan. He won’t spend money unless the fans fill the seats. We won’t come and support crap like this. I think were gonna be losing for a loooooooong time.
for comparison purposes, here are some teams that have roughly the same salary as our beloved tribe, and here is how many pitchers they have used:
Blue Jay – 23 pitchers
Rockies – 18 pitchers
Giants – 17 pitchers
Cardinals – 19 pitchers
Brewers – 17 pitchers
god does this team suck. oh well – next year?
it’s kind of cherry picking – but in 2005 – the grinder used 17 pitchers…fwiw
The Tribe just went from America’s #7 identified team to #25, you listening Paul/Larry? Quit fawing over Shapetti. Before you let Shapetti begin a second rebuild (after failing the first time and demolishing the farm system) BLOW THE WHOLE THING UP. Bring in a NEW GM and let him build his own player development team. If you’re going to blow this up, do it right. If you continue with Shapetti, you’ll be the next Randy Lerner and on the way out.
How come John Meloan can’t pitch for the Indian’s AAA team but can pitch in Tampa Bay’s highly rated farm system?
Isis the sooner you get over Shapiro trading a relief pitcher the sooner your blood pressure will go down
Alex………read the paragraph above, Meloan is only a talking point. If you’re content with Shapiro’s team of scouting, player development, free agent signings, trades………enjoy the NEXT rebuild by such team.
Oh…….I didn’t even mention Winnie Abreu.
[...] Todd will be the 28th pitcher to throw for Eric Wedge this season. As mentioned a while back, the club record for pitchers used is 32. Breaking this record is becoming more attainable by the [...]