There was a time, two spring trainings ago, when Cleveland Indians officials were talking about trading for John Rocker -- and joking about having to go to the podium in disguise to announce it.
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| Karsay |
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| Reed |
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| Rocker |
But by Friday night, there was no more need for disguises.
The Indians' need, halfway through what could be a go-for-broke season, was for a dominating left-handed reliever who could match up with the Yankees, Mariners and/or Twins in the fall.
Bullpen help wouldn't seem, on the surface, to be the Indians' most pressing need.
They went into Friday night leading the major leagues in bullpen ERA (3.10), and closer Bob Wickman was the last closer in the league to blow a save, coughing up his first just this week.
But to win in October, the Indians felt they needed more left-handed presence than simply situational left-hander Ricardo Rincon. And while Rocker may not be voted the Teammate You'd Most Want to Spend 162 Games Around, left-handers have hit just .179 against him in his career.
Nevertheless, what does it say about him that the Braves were so anxious to move him, even in a season in which he was leading the league in saves, was leading the National League's Rolaids reliever standings and had run off 15 straight saves until last weekend? It tells you that his often-turbulent personality had simply worn this team out in every way.
Now he starts fresh with the Indians. And the Indians start fresh with him. But bullpen depth now becomes a worry for Cleveland, where the bullpen has rolled up more innings pitched than any AL team except Texas.
One big-time set-up man (Paul Shuey) was already on the disabled list. Now out the door go Steve Karsay and Steve Reed. And they'll be missed.
But the Indians' feeling here is that the Rocker-Wickman duo at the end of games is as good as anybody's.
In Atlanta, meanwhile, the departure of Rocker will lower everyone's blood pressure. But now that he's gone, are the Braves really better?
Karsay's numbers were as good as any relief pitcher's in the league: 28 hits in 42 1/3 innings and just 7.7 baserunners per 9 innings -- second in the league to Troy Percival. But the Indians expected him to ride the free-agent express out of town after the season.
They'd also come to the conclusion that he couldn't close, after watching him blow one of every three career save opportunities (22 saves, 11 blown saves). Rocker, on the other hand, has blown only 13 of his last 93.
The sidewinding Reed is a useful, professional set-up man. But he comes with instructions that read: "Must face right-handers only."
Left-handed hitters were 9-for-17 (.529) against Reed -- with three homers -- this season. Right-handed hitters, on the other hand, were 13-for-87 (.149), with no homers.
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