The Indians' season ended Sunday in a 6-5 loss to Chicago. So where do we all go for rehab? Someplace warm and sunny to help us forget, right?
View full sizeDrew Sutton (right, facing camera) accepts the congratulations of his teammates after his two-run homer in the ninth inning Sunday in Chicago. The drive produced the final runs of the Indians' season, which ended with a 6-5 loss to the White Sox.CHICAGO -- Made it through another one. An ugly one at that. Pat yourself on the back, sit down and take a deep breath. Feel better?
Another season, another 90-plus losses for the Indians. If there was a corner to be turned somewhere just beyond the horizon, it would make things easier. Except for a little bit of pitching, the end of this story remains blanketed in darkness.
On Sunday ,the Indians lost the season finale, 6-5, to the White Sox at U.S. Cellular Field. Here's what they're up against.
White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen started his A lineup. Not only did he want to win his 600th game, but he wanted to make sure potential free agents A.J. Pierzynski and Paul Konerko played one more time in front of the hometown crowd.
Pierzynski came out of the game in the fourth to a nice ovation. Konerko left in the seventh to an even louder ovation.
The Indians don't have one big-league free agent to worry about this winter. What they do have are potential minor-league free agents and a lot of hollow spots on the 40-man roster.
Justin Germano, pitching in Japan last year, started in a game where he was expected to only go three innings. He lasted two, allowing five runs on seven hits in his first big-league start since May 2, 2008 with San Diego.
Shelley Duncan, who can be a minor-league free agent after the season, scored the Indians' first run and recorded their first hit in the fourth inning against Edwin Jackson (4-2, 3.24). The two guys who homered, Luke Carlin and Drew Sutton, were acquired in late-season trades not to help the Indians, but to assist Class AAA Columbus' run to the International League championship.
Hey, an organization has to have its priorities.
Carlin is headed for the Dominican Republic and winter ball. Sutton high-tailed it out of the clubhouse, equipment bag slung over his shoulder, like he was being chased or was late for a flight.
"I never think anything," said Carlin, when asked if he felt he was in the Tribe's plans for next year. "As soon as you start doing that, it's dangerous."
The Indians finished the year 69-93, clinching fourth place in the American League Central on Saturday night when Kansas City lost to Tampa Bay. They had to win 16 of their last 30 games, including a season-high seven-game winning streak, to do that.
Last year they finished 65-97 and tied the Royals for last place. Eric Wedge and his coaching staff were told before last year's finale that they would not be back. Manny Acta and his staff will return next year to see if they push this team a little farther down the road.
If that's going to happen, pitching will be the driving force. After Germano left, the bullpen did what it has been doing since the All-Star break. Aaron Laffey, Frank Herrmann, Joe Smith, Tony Sipp, Justin Masterson and rookie Vinnie Pestano combined to allow one run in six innings. The pen's ERA since the break is 2.99 (79 earned runs in 240 2/3 innings).
"A lot of the guys in the bullpen got their confidence back by throwing strike one," said Acta. "Guys like Raffie Perez started slowly, but little by little he got his confidence back. Then Chris Perez made a huge contribution by just stabilizing that last inning and helping everything fall into place."
Chris Perez became the closer after Kerry Wood was traded on July 31. He finished the year at 2-2 with 1.71 ERA and 23 saves in 27 chances. He had a 0.53 ERA in his last 33 games.
The starting rotation's ERA since the break, discounting Germano's two-inning performance, is 4.34 (202 earned runs in 419 innings).
"The most encouraging thing about this season has been our pitching," said Acta.
What that will be worth next year depends a lot on how much young starters such as Carlos Carrasco, Jeanmar Gomez and Josh Tomlin learned. Not to mention if Fausto Carmona's comeback was for real and whether Masterson and Mitch Talbot are ready to establish themselves.
But those are worries for another day. For now enjoy the silence of another Indians winter. You've earned it.