If the Tribe enters Spring Training next year without the "veteran bullpen" help they are hoping to obtain (which seems like a definite possibility), what player on this roster would be the leading candidate to close out games for us next year?
-- Kris D., Canton, Ohio
Good question, Kris. It's one the Indians sincerely hope they don't have to answer. But given the thin free-agent class, I think it's definitely worth taking a stab at.
In my opinion, the Indians have a few guys in-house who could potentially close out games on a consistent basis.
The first one who comes to mind is Tom Mastny, who was unflappable in the closer's role in August. He struggled in September, and the Indians, when all was said and done, claimed he had some shoulder issues toward the end of the season. I'm not sure how much those problems affected Mastny's pitching, because he never said a word about the injury to reporters. What I can say with great certainty is that the league adjusted to the rookie's stuff.
Still, one can't ignore Mastny's stretch of five saves in his first five opportunities. He showed in that time that he has the right mind-set for the job.
The next name to consider might come as a surprise, but his numbers speak for themselves. Matt Miller has a sidearm delivery, hits 90 mph about as often as my Mitsubishi does on Euclid Avenue and barely pitched this season because of elbow trouble.
But look at Miller's numbers: He's 2-for-4 in career save opportunities, he's given up exactly four homers in 105 big-league innings and his career ERA of 2.74 -- especially with the injuries factored in -- is nothing to scoff at.
Manager Eric Wedge said that Miller's obscure delivery probably would preclude him from getting a ninth-inning job. There's always a fear that left-handed hitters will pounce on right-handers who have sidearm deliveries. But lefties have hit just .234 (26-for-111) off Miller in his career.
If Fernando Cabrera, who's out of options, ever learns to consistently control his fastball, he'll shoot to the top of this list. For now the Indians would just be happy to see him earn a job in middle relief. And Jason Davis, also out of options, has shown that he can close at the Triple-A level, but prolonged big-league success has always eluded him.
What in the world happened to Guillermo Mota? He couldn't get my grandmother out when he played with the Tribe, but since the trade to the Mets, he's done a fabulous job. Was it the coaching staff? Was pitching in a pennant race something that made him excel? Is pitching in the National League that much different than the American League? Go figure.
-- Brian G., LaGrange, Ohio
Well, first off, Brian, let's not be so quick to dismiss the skills of your grandmother. As for Mota, he did a lot of work on his mechanics with the Indians' coaches behind the scenes. Perhaps it took a change of scenery and a new opportunity for those alterations to set in.
I think Mota benefited from two factors: Returning to the NL and reuniting with Paul Lo Duca, his catcher when he was dominant with the Dodgers.
Lefties have hit just .234 (26-for-111) off Matt Miller in his career. (John Grieshop/Getty Images)
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Mailbag: A closer look at Tribe closers
Mailbag: A closer look at Tribe closers
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