Carmona and the Bullpen

[MixedBag]

thought this was interesting

No saving grace: Catcher Kelly Shoppach saw the pitch, and he's still wondering how David Ortiz managed to drive it out to dead center field.

"It was a 97-mph sinker," Shoppach said. "It wasn't a great pitch, but it was a 97-mph sinker. And [Ortiz] hit it like it was sitting on a tee. That's not easy to do."

What Ortiz did with that three-run home run was ruin the first save opportunity of newly appointed closer Fausto Carmona's career.

A day later, Carmona didn't seem fazed by the experience. He said he wasn't nervous when he came to the mound, but he did admit to overthrowing.

"I threw a little bit too hard," he said. "But I wasn't scared. I was prepared."

The Indians, who are giving Carmona a long leash with the closer's job, are just hoping he'll use the rough outing to his advantage the next time out.

"He has to experience [save situations] a few times to get a comfort level," pitching coach Carl Willis said.

 

[Blind_Sniper]

Fausto is 0/2 un save situations.. why fausto why???

 

[PIP]

He sucks..

 

[Smooth]

Every closer goes through rough times... You have to have confidence in him, and let him work out his problems... You can't just pull the trigger so soon, you need to have patience so you are sure whether or not he is your future closer.. It also isn't a question of whether or not that he has the stuff the pitch in the majors, but rather can he adjust to his role where ever he is..

Although, I will say this... If Carmona doesn't pan out, then I think you move him back to the starting rotation, and let Fernando Cabrera take over the close duties..

 

[lebron720]

this is not Fausto fault. HE IS NOT A CLOSER.

first off why was sowers takin out of the game after 5 innings??? he was pitching good.

and way was carmona still closing???? also why was he left in after he hit 2 guys and walked another???

I been a guy who defended wedge over and over again. BUT ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, HE NEEDS TO BE FIRED. WE ARE LOSING THESE GAMES BECAUSE OF POOR COACHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

carmona was sweet coming in in the 7th 8th innings. I think im the only one who see's this.

Also my little bro who is 6, was yelling when sowers was talkin out and he said inidans will be losing once this inning is over. then when he saw carmona in bullpin he said the ''games over'' and left.

 

[MixedBag]

Because at this point there are more important things than winning

That was so painful to watch and it was so obvious how it would end, badly.

As soon as he didn't get the call on the borderline pitch for strike three, everything went sour.

Hard to know if you just keep running him out there or if you move him to setup for a couple weeks to shake it off.

 

[Smooth]

Because at this point there are more important things than winning

That was so painful to watch and it was so obvious how it would end, badly.

As soon as he didn't get the call on the borderline pitch for strike three, everything went sour.

Hard to know if you just keep running him out there or if you move him to setup for a couple weeks to shake it off.

I was reading another board, and I felt this poster put it best..

Wedge set him up to fail. Look at how bad he was earlier in tight situations. So you try and build that up by hanging him out to dry against a nasty offense in a hitters paradise, with that crappy defense behind him? Heck no. You let him wait until a homestand, come into a game with a 2 or 3 run lead against a KC or TB or any of the AL West teams, and build confidence that way. If he was a veteran or had closed in the minors I could justify putting him back out there tonight, but with his youthful inexperience and fragile makeup, you have to know it's not going to be pretty. Now this poor kid is ruined for awhile, and he's a kid who only needs the head to go with his great arm. The Tribe just blew his rookie season; if he recovers, I bet it will be in a different uniform.

http://realgm.com/boards/viewtopic.php?p=9553446#9553446

Although, I disagree with the last couple of sentences...

 

[MixedBag]

I think you can look at that way, but also was a golden opportunity to turn the kid around. And he handled the first two guys easily.

It wasnt like he brought him in to face Big Poopi again or Manny, it was set up great the back end of the order.

He gets that one call and strikes the guy out and his whole season and career might have been put on a good path.

hard to complain that Wedge made a poor decision when the guy got two outs and two strikes and almost the third. Not like he went in and they lit him up with hits.

He just lost it mentally.

I think the kid will be ok. You have to know the kid and make the decision what to try with him next based on how he reacts to this.

I would be very tempted to not change a thing and run him right back out there in the next save opportunity.

 

[Blind_Sniper]

The Indans are out of the Race it's time to start expiermenting with things that can help your team next year.. if Fausto learns to close he will be a great closer.. why? he has some great stuff, an can blow the hitters away...

 

[DDJ7777]

Grr, why do I watch these guys? Can there please be anything but Poker on TV at like 9 o'clock when the Indians start losing?

 

[Blind_Sniper]

woot!! the new closer of the Indinas is JASON DAVIS!!! He mafe Fausto look bad...

 

[Blind_Sniper]

There it goes!!!! gone Carmona blow it agin..

For it's one, two there goes a home run at the old ballgame..

 

[DDJ7777]

Poor Fausto. He'll be gun shy now. Wedgie had no right to take JD out of that game.

 

[Blind_Sniper]

I don't know Wedge should have put Betancourt in the 8th then put Jason Davis in the 9th...

 

[PIP]

Fausto Mesa is a horrible.