Streak of 44 1/3 Innings Ends

By shaking off error, Laffey shows winning savvy
Posted by Joe Maxse jmaxse@plaind.com May 15, 2008 19:37PM
Categories: Indians

Aaron Laffey had more important things to worry about than a scoreless innings streak.
Chuck Crow/The Plain DealerAaron Laffey made 100 pitches, and delivered 60 strikes in working seven innings in Thursday's victory over Oakland. The Tribe's rookie left-hander had just been responsible for allowing Oakland to score a run in the second inning on Thursday afternoon, something the Athletics had not been able to do during the first two games of the series at Progressive Field.

In fact, neither Toronto nor the Athletics had done much of that during this homestand as the Cleveland starters kept shutting them out. But Laffey's throwing error to first base on Rob Bowen's roller allowed the A's to tie the game, 1-1, and left two men on base and one out.
"Errors can lead to big innings," said Laffey, who composed himself to get out of the inning and went on to get the win in the Tribe's 4-2 victory. "I can deal with giving up a run on a base hit, but on an error. I picked up the ball and kind of rushed it. I had more time. I almost threw it to second base."

The misplay resulted in an unearned run and ended the scoreless streak by Tribe starters at 44 1/3 innings. But Laffey, who gave up four of his five hits in the first two innings, got back on track after that as he went seven innings, striking out six, to improve to 2-2, with a 1.35 earned run average.

"The first couple innings I was up in the zone," said Laffey, who was rcalled from AAA Buffalo on April 28. "I didn't have anything going for me. But you know what established you, so I relied on my No. 1 pitch."

That would be the sinker. Once he got that working, things went his way. After giving up a two-out single to Frank Thomas in the third, Laffey retired 12 of the final 13 he faced, giving up his lone walk to Thomas in the sixth.

"The tempo of his delivery was a little slower," said pitching coach Carl Willis. "He picked it up a little in the third. He's got a great sinker, but you have to get your hand up. It's a good day when you can go out there and figure things out."

Laffey, drafted by the Indians in 2003 out of Cumberland, Md., said the solid starting pitching has been remarkable. He has done his part as he has not allowed an earned run in 21 innings of his last three starts.

Cleveland starters have not allowed an earned run over the past 50 1/3 innings.

"Five guys doing it day in and day out is pretty impressive," said Laffey. "It's been an incredible week. You don't want to be the guy to give it up, so you try to minimize your mistakes and concentrate pitch to pitch."

While the Indians will have to make some moves when Jake Westbrook returns, Laffey was told he will start either on Thursday or Friday.

"This was a big game for me because I didn't start off well and I was able to fight through it," he said. "I knew I pitched well enough and my expectations are to keep pitching here."
The other guys in the Tribe rotation can say the same thing right now.

----------------

Rafael Betancourt might have lost his job as substitute closer.
Betancourt was pulled Thursday after loading the bases with one out in the ninth inning and the Indians ahead of Oakland, 4-1.

Manager Eric Wedge opted for Masa Kobayashi, who, after a wild pitch, struck out Mike Sweeney and Ryan Sweeney to save a 4-2 victory for Aaron Laffey.

Betancourt entered the day with four saves in five opportunities since taking over for injured Joe Borowski.

Asked if Kobayashi-for-Betancourt signaled a change, Wedge said: "I really haven't had any time to think about it. I'm going to reflect on everything."
Betancourt threw 25 pitches. After retiring Frank Thomas on a fly to left, he gave up singles to Jack Cust and Bobby Crosby. He walked Jack Hannahan to load the bases.
Wedge had seen enough.

"I felt like that was the move to make at that point," Wedge said. "Betancourt had worked pretty hard, and it looked like he was having some difficulty throwing the ball where he wanted to."
Kobayashi saved 227 games for Chiba Lotte in the Japanese Pacific League from 2000 through 2007. His experience helped him deal with entering in the middle of an inning.
"It's a little bit harder, but we had one out," Kobayashi said through interpreter Toshi Nagahara.
Kobayashi is 2-0 with a 1.86 ERA and two saves in 19 appearances.
"I'm just happy to be here and help the team in any situation," he said.
Betancourt, 1-2 with a 7.31 ERA in 18 appearances, politely declined comment.
Quotable: Of the wild pitch, Kobayashi said: "I squeezed it too much."

===============================
Pitching coach Carl Willis told Masa Kobayashi in the middle of the eighth inning Tuesday night against Oakland, "If we score three runs here, you'll go out for the ninth."


Tracy Boulian/The Plain Dealer
Masa Kobayashi celebrates with Victor Martinez after claiming his first major-league save in Tuesday's win over Oakland.Kobayashi nodded, but anyone who has watched the Indians this season knew that statement was based on wishful thinking. Still, when Ryan Garko hit a three-run, two-out homer to turn a 1-0 lead into a 4-0 lead, Kobayashi pitched the ninth for his first save in the big leagues.
"I wasn't expecting to get a save," said Kobayashi, through interpreter Toshi Nagahara, "but I ended up getting one. I want to thank all my teammates for making it happen."

Kobayashi saved 227 games in Japan, so he is no stranger to closing. He said he did not celebrate the save, but suggested that Nagahara buy him dinner to remember the moment. Nagahara merely laughed.

The closer situation is coming back into focus. Rafael Betancourt is 4-for-5 in save situations since Joe Borowski went on the disabled list April 15, but he's been erratic. Borowski, recovering from a strained right triceps, threw a bullpen session Wednesday and will throw a simulated game Friday in Cincinnati. If all goes well, he'll start his rehab assignment Monday for Class A Lake County.

When Borowski is ready to rejoin the club, he'll be the closer. Kobayashi, however, has made himself a late-inning option.

"You can't get much closer than he is now," said manager Eric Wedge. "He's the guy we've been going to in that set-up role along with Rafael Perez and Jensen Lewis, depending on the situation."

Kobayashi is 2-0 with a 1.93 ERA in 18 appearances. He's struck out 11 and walked two in 18 2/3 innings.

"Back home I was a closer," said Kobayashi. "People expected me to get the save. Here I am not a closer. I just got a save by accident. So the feeling is a little different."

Grab a glove: The Indians open the interleague season Friday against the Reds at Great American Ballpark. DH Travis Hafner is expected to play first base if he's healthy enough.

Hafner - Give him something else to worry about

Hafner has a chronically sore right elbow that has flared in the past when he's tried to play first base. He's also been frequently icing his right shoulder.

Of course, it's not like years past when the Indians were in dire need of Hafner's bat. Hafner entered Wednesday's game hitting .223 (29-for-130).

"We want to try and have him in there as much as we can," said Wedge. "If we have him in there, you're going to have to take Ryan Garko or someone else out.

"We're going to see how he feels physically. . . . He's been taking ground balls and throwing a little bit."

Hafner didn't play any first base in spring training. As giving Hafner something to think about besides hitting, Wedge said, "Maybe it just gives him something else to worry about. You can't mask what's going on."

Said Hafner, "I'm ready to play. I've been feeling pretty good."

Some DHs feel like they're trapped because they want to play defense.

"I like DHing," said Hafner, "some people don't, but I do."