Decision time
What should the Tribe do with Jason Stanford?
He has pitched very well since his recall and is left-handed.
With Jake Westbrook coming off the disabled list Sunday and Stanford unable to be sent to the minors without clearing waivers, it is decision time for GM Mark Shapiro.
Trade someone to clear a spot for Stanford, trade Stanford or move Stanford to bullpen and send someone else to the minors?
It is tough to give up on a young left-hander but I also don't think the Tribe can trade Lee or Westbrook or Byrd to make room for Stanford in the starting rotation. Also don't forget that C.C. Sabathia probably won't be with the team for 2009, so starting pitching will be a needed commodity (when isn't it?).
June 20th, 2007 at 9:57 am
Move him to the bullpen for now. Inevitably one of our other pitchers will go on the DL at some point so he can be moved back into the starting pitcher role.
June 20th, 2007 at 1:18 pm
No brainer. The only decision is, which bullpen stiff GOES? Hernandez is worthless, Fultz can only pitch when bases are empty, Cabrera (tho young) can only pitch with 8-run leads… Stanford to the bullpen for now, and if Byrd continues to flounder the 2nd time thru the order, trade places & try him in relief for awhile. At least he won't WALK runs in, AARON FRIGGIN FULTZ!!! We're nearly at midpoint in the season, so player performances aren't just "streaks," they're "trends." Shapiro will show us this week whether he is serious about winning this division. Honestly, his track record in staying too long with mediocre players (list too long to mention) does not bode well for us. I'm expecting another bonehead move.
June 20th, 2007 at 4:45 pm
Give the general manager some semblance of a budget to work with, and he won't be required to stay too long with "mediocre players." The guy has no margin for error. It's a travesty that Sabathia is already considered the property of the Angels, Giants or Dodgers, but it's a way of life for Shapiro. Yes, he's made some serious errors in judgment, but it's amazing what he's been able to create with little more than tofu resources at his disposal. The guy deserves a medal and 73 virgins.
June 21st, 2007 at 8:39 am
Teams will overvalue guys like Westbrook and Byrd as the summer goes on. Stanford can be a good lefty in the bullpen until the Tribe can trade one of those two guys, then the team can use the traded pitcher's salary toward re-signing C.C. There's no excuse not to try.