Fantasy Baseball Cafe Forums

by **stumpak** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 3:23 pm

Read this quote. Two interesting things: 1) Carmona still has his job and 2) Wedge has no clear idea who the go to guy is if Carmona falters so bad he loses his job. By the way, Cabrera got hammered yesterday when he was brought in for the 9th with a 5 run lead.

"Aug 2 Anthony Castrovince, of Cleveland.Indians.MLB.com, reports Cleveland Indians CL Fausto Carmona was unavailable to pitch Tuesday, August 1, after pitching in the past two games. If a save situation arose, Indians manager Eric Wedge said he would have used RP Brian Sikorski, RP Rafael Betancourt or P Fernando Cabrera, depending on match-ups. Carmona is expected to be available Wednesday, August 2."

by **The Loveable Losers** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 3:29 pm

stumpak wrote:Read this quote. Two interesting things: 1) Carmona still has his job and 2) Wedge has no clear idea who the go to guy is if Carmona falters so bad he loses his job. By the way, Cabrera got hammered yesterday when he was brought in for the 9th with a 5 run lead.

"Aug 2 Anthony Castrovince, of Cleveland.Indians.MLB.com, reports Cleveland Indians CL Fausto Carmona was unavailable to pitch Tuesday, August 1, after pitching in the past two games. If a save situation arose, Indians manager Eric Wedge said he would have used RP Brian Sikorski, RP Rafael Betancourt or P Fernando Cabrera, depending on match-ups. Carmona is expected to be available Wednesday, August 2."

That does mean that one or more of those guys listed are worth speculative pickups if you see Carmona has pitched in two consecutive games as someone else will get the save opp. Useful strategy in deeper mixed or AL only leagues where a lot of teams only have one closer and some teams don't have any.

by **p32bars** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 3:53 pm

per cantonrep.com

Indians notebook: Carmona’s head up after Ortiz homer
Wednesday, August 2, 2006 indians notebook ANDY CALL

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BOSTON Fausto Carmona had something to say to Indians Manager Eric Wedge and pitching coach Carl Willis on Tuesday afternoon.

“Fausto came in and told us, ‘I’m ready to go; I want to pitch tonight,’ ” Willis said. “He’s not afraid. He wants the baseball.”

The former setup man had wilted under the pressure of his first two ninth-inning workshifts, giving up four runs in Sunday’s 7-3 loss to Seattle and David Ortiz’s game-winning three-run home run to end Monday’s 9-8 loss at Boston.

The 22-year-old right-hander had been named the team’s closer July 20 when Bob Wickman was traded to Atlanta.

“His mechanics may have been off, but that’s a byproduct of inexperience,” Willis said. “He’s overthrowing, a natural reaction for anybody in his situation. There’s nothing to panic about.”

Carmona didn’t appear panicked Tuesday as he played cards and chatted with teammates in the cramped visitors’ clubhouse at Fenway Park.

“The pitch was a sinker, down and away, but (Ortiz) is a good hitter and he was looking for a fastball,” Carmona said.

Wedge said he would not use Carmona in three consecutive games. He said Rafael Betancourt, Fernando Cabrera or Brian Sikorski could pitch the ninth inning, if needed.

“One of the reasons we put Fausto in that role is, we feel he can handle it,” Wedge said. “He’s not going to be in a tougher situation than in this park against that hitter. It should be gravy after that.”

Better days may be ahead for Carmona, but so may other learning experiences.

“This could take some time,” Willis said.

by **onechu82** » Wed Aug 02, 2006 4:14 pm

I say give the kid little more security in that closer role till end of the season. Indians won't make it to the PO this year so why not experiment and give him confidence in that role. Every closer will blow saves at one point or another and some more than the other. But what will make them great is their ability to stay strong mentally, go back the next day and pitch lights out. It may take one blown save or it may take blown saves in teens for someone to gain tighten up mental game. After all, a lot of baseball is mental game...