GradysTribeLady
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| Posted: Mon Apr 14, 2008 7:41 pm Post subject: No cause for concern, Nos. 1 and 2 fine....Command, mechanic |
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CLEVELAND -- The Indians' longest losing streak last season was four games, for which the team could thank the game's finest top-of-the-rotation duo: C.C. Sabathia and Fausto Carmona.
Only once last season did the sensational pair drop back-to-back starts. And not until June 12 did Sabathia and Carmona combine to lose three games.
Both of these occurrences have already come about in the Tribe's 4-7 start.
Is there cause for concern? Not yet. The Indians believe these problems can be solved simply.
"Well, it's not a trend we want to continue," pitching coach Carl Willis said. "We'd rather it not be the case. But I have all the confidence in the world that we'll get them both corrected and turn it around."
Sabathia said his issues following a third straight disappointing start Friday are not mechanical -- and not mental -- while Carmona said his startling eight-walk outing Saturday night stemmed purely from faulty mechanics.
After watching the video tape of both starts, the coaches agreed. Sabathia's biggest problem has been poor command, leading to his inability to put away hitters while ahead in the count. And Carmona's trip to the wild side came as a result of a delivery that wavered from pitch to pitch as his arm consistently came away from his body.
To be sure, Sabathia's problems have elicited the most alarm. Dating back to his three postseason starts last year, he is 1-4 with a 9.82 ERA, leading to several questions.
Is there any effect from his Major League-high 241-inning workload last season? Is the pressure of pitching in the final season of his contract getting to him? Or is Sabathia simply going through a rough stretch that's been unfairly magnified in April, since he's the reigning American League Cy Young Award winner?
Manager Eric Wedge think it's the latter. Sabathia said he feels "great," his velocity is consistent with last year and he's consistently dismissed talk of his pitching in a contract year offering a distraction.
Wedge also said he doesn't believe Sabathia subconsciously has offseason money on the mind, adding he thinks he would be able to tell if that was the scenario.
"I don't think that's the case," he said. "C.C. has developed a lot of mental toughness over the years. He's experienced about everything, good and bad. So I don't think that has anything to do with it."
The good thing, the Indians say, is that Sabathia's command trouble is not similar to the problems that hindered him early in his career. When Sabathia was younger, he often endured stretches of trouble in maintaining a consistent delivery.
"That's not what's happening. He seems to be repeating his delivery," Willis said. "And he's commanding the ball until he gets two strikes. He just can't finish off the hitters right now."
The solution is simple: Sabathia simply needs to work on his late-count pitch selection and stop serving up get-me-over strikes when he's well ahead in the count. Easier said than done, but Willis thinks Sabathia's command problems should work themselves out soon.
"He's not that far off," Wedge added.
Neither is Carmona, if one bad outing means he's off. The team thinks Carmona's start Saturday, the wildest by an Indians starter since Bob Ojeda walked eight hitters in 1993, should just be a one-time blip if all goes well.
During the right-hander's bullpen session this week, Willis will work with Carmona on consistently keeping his arm closer to his side. His flailing arm Saturday night resulted in the ball coming out of his hand at the wrong angle.
"If he just slows down and thinks about where his hand position is, he'll be fine," Willis said.
For their parts, Sabathia and Carmona have vowed they'll be back to the form fans came to expect last year.
Carmona said he'd "make sure I'm back," while Sabathia said, "I will turn this thing around."
The Tribe will find out soon enough.
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~*Brittney*~ |
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