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Tribe off-day topics are easy to come by these days. We could always go with the conventional “The Dolan’s are cheap” route, or discuss the fact that Eric Wedge does his best work when the Indians are 10 games out of first or more. Instead, I thought we should look back from Spring Training to today at what the rotation did and does look like.

Heading into Goodyear, the biggest question mark (or so we thought) on this team was what the Indians would have behind Cliff Lee. Penciled in for the #2 spot was Fausto Carmona, who was coming off a horrific ‘08 season that saw him lose his command. In January, the Indians snagged themselves another question mark for the third slot, veteran Carl Pavano who hadn’t seen regular time since 2004. It was a definite risk/reward move by GM Mark Shapiro, but a veteran was sorely needed in the middle of the rotation.

The final two spots were up for an open competition between several candidates who at the time, were thought to provide depth and interchangeable parts. Those guys were Anthony Reyes, Aaron Laffey, Jeremy Sowers, Scott Lewis, Zach Jackson, and David Huff.

I think we learned this season that there is a fine line between “depth” and “quality depth.”

Reyes, was essentially locked in one of the jobs thanks to a six start audition in August and September last season where he went 2-1 with a 1.83 ERA. I for one, was a big time Reyes kool-aid drinker. As I wrote back in January:

Don’t forget that just a few short years ago, Reyes was the #1 pitching prospect in the Cardinals organization and was deemed untouchable by former GM Walt Jocketty. If Reyes stays healthy, he can become the Indians bizarro Jeremy Guthrie – as in they waited so long for him to blossom, then dropped him, then he found himself in another organization.

As Tom Hamilton would say, “SWIIIING and a miss…”

Laffey had the best major league success of the rest of the group, but for some reason, the Indians brass seemed to sour on the sinker-ball specialist. Sowers had been given numerous chances to make his presence felt and grab a spot in the rotation long term, but had failed to capitalize.

Lewis, a former second-round pick out of Ohio State was a wild card, who went 4-0 in September. Jackson was a long shot to make the rotation and was probably the perfect candidate to be held over as the long man. Huff, a first round pick, seemed to need more seasoning in AAA, however, the front office hoped he could cease one of the final two spots.

You know all know what happened. Reyes was handed the third spot and showed such little velocity, that the organization knew something had to be wrong. Sure enough, during just his eighth start on the season in Cincinnati, he left the game in the third inning with elbow pain. A week later, a visit to Dr. James Andrews proved that Reyes needed a second Tommy John surgery. That will probably be the last we see of him in an Indians uniform.

Lewis, the surprise winner of the fifth starter role, made just one start; opening day in Cleveland against Toronto. It was a rain shortened appearance in which Lewis hurt his elbow. Surgery wasn’t needed, but the lefty hasn’t been heard from since.

Laffey’s travails have been widely discussed here. After taking over Lewis’ spot and a brief bullpen stint, Laffey became arguably the Indians most consistent starting pitcher behind Cliff Lee. Sowers has been up and down three different times and battled the fifth inning wall most of the season.

The Zach Attack made the team out of Goodyear as the long man, but quickly was sent back down with the Indians bullpen struggles. He got one shot as a starter and was rocked for six earned runs in four innings. He’s been in Columbus since May. Huff has become a mainstay in the rotation and has had a typical rookie season, showing some flashes of brilliance, while also struggling.

Lee was the victim of poor run support seemingly all season, but pitched close to the level of his Cy Young season – 7-9/3.14 ERA/1.30 WHIP/107 K’s. With the Tribe’s season in the tank, Lee was dealt to Philadelphia on July 29. In two starts since the trade, Cliff has been absolutely dominant. 2-0/1.12 ERA/0.81 WHIP/15 K’s/3 Walks.

Fausto’s had the most interesting journey. He literally lost his command and tried to throw nothing but his power sinker, which hitters learned to lay off. Things had gotten so bad that Carmona was sent all the way back to rookie ball in Arizona to re-find himself. After stints there, in A ball, Akron, and Columbus, Carmona re-joined the rotation after Lee was dealt. In two starts since his return, Fausto has pitched 11 innings, allowing just three earned runs. He still has walked too many (7), but the hope is that he has turned the corner.

Pavano, a guy nobody thought would be healthy the entire year, was a rock in the middle of the Tribe rotation all year. He made 21 starts, going a modest 9-9 with a 5.37 ERA/1.37 WHIP. The numbers don’t reflect the season though. He was 3-0 against the division leading Tigers and was a strike thrower, walking just 23 in 125.2 IP. Traded on August 7th to the Twins, Pavano made his first start against the Tigers and threw seven shutout innings, striking out five and walking nobody. Shapiro does catch a lot of flack for some of his free agent moves, but you have to give him credit for the Pavano signing.

So where are we now?

With Lee and Pavano gone, Lewis and Reyes hurt, and Jake Westbrook still not ready for action after his rehab from Tommy John surgery, the Indians depth has been tested to say the least. You don’t really have an “ace.” Not that this would happen, but if you  had to line up the rotation tomorrow for a playoff series (ha ha), you’d probably go this way:

Aaron Laffey – The sinker-ball, double play specialist is the most legitimate starter in the rotation as of today in regards of consistency and previous experience.

Fausto Carmona – Don’t ask me why I am putting him second. I just have the feeling that he is on the way to righting himself and his power sinker is still electric if he can harness in the emotions.

Justin Masterson – The newly acquired right-hander looked great in his first two appearances – one out of the pen, the other a 65 pitch start. He allowed just one earned run in seven innings. His next start he will be limited to 80 pitches. Looks like a keeper.

Jeremy Sowers – Readers of mine know I am no Sowers fan, but how can you argue with his last three starts? 20 innings pitched, 2-0, 1.50 ERA. All three times he pitched at least six innings, which is a big step for him.

David Huff – In Huff’s case, the statistics do tell the story. 16 starts/6-6/6.72 ERA/1.62 WHIP/44 K’s/25 Walks. He is up and down. When he spots his breaking pitch, Huff can pitch with anyone. The problem is half the time, he can’t.

We’ve certainly run the gamut since early March in Goodyear. You can expect more of the same this coming Spring with the return of Westbrook, and arms like Carlos Carrasco and Hector Rondon expected to fight for spots in the rotation in 2010.