Cleveland Indians Half-point Grades: Pitchers and Catchers

Saturday's game against the Cincinnati Reds marked the official halfway point in the season for the Cleveland Indians. With 81 games down, and 81 more to go, it seems as if it's a perfect time to assess the situation in front of us.

The situation of course is the Cleveland Indians and their horrendous start to the 2008 campaign. I think "start" is a relatively lost term at this point. It's no longer a start to the season; it has drawn on longer than a month, it's more of a season at this point.

What's particularly frustrating about this team is the fact that they are not out of the race by any stretch. A poor start from the Tigers, combined with the inability for Chicago to run away with the lead has kept the Indians in it.

In addition, the team has shown those spurts and flashes of a team that we know can get the job done.

It's been a season of turmoil, injuries, and ever-lasting doubt.

No one will ever have faith in this team again. Not after reaching the closest point to the World Series humanly possible, and following that year up with a total clunker.

Let's be honest. This team isn't winning the World Series, not with this awful luck, injury-riddled lineup, and overall offensive inconsistency.

Still, why not further torture myself by grading and commenting on the players and team at this halfway mark?

Starting Pitchers

C.C. Sabathia: B

6-8, 3.78 ERA, 114.1 IP, 118 SO, 3 CG

C.C. Sabathia got off to probably the worst start of his career in April. Every start he made was a disaster, and it really got people wondering what was up with the reigning Cy Young winner.

He followed that up with quite possibly the best stretch of baseball in his career. In his last 13 starts, Sabathia has a 1.96 ERA and he has the major-league lead in strikeouts.

Why litter this with trade discussion? I won't do that to C, he's too good of a guy. His first few starts were rocky, but his recent stretch has been downright awesome.

Cliff Lee: A+

11-1, 2.34 ERA, 103.2 IP, 90 SO, 1 CG

Cliff Lee has pitched above and beyond expectations. I thought Cliff was in store for a bounce back year to be honest, but I never in my wildest dreams would have thought he would be the front-runner to start the All-Star Game.

There isn't enough you can say about the job Cliff has done, and I firmly believe this success will carry. Lee had to reinvent himself as a pitcher, with a new attitude and philosophy. He has saved his career and is panning out to be the pitcher we all knew he could be.

Fausto Carmona and Jake Westbrook: No Grade

Fausto Carmona started the year out just trying to prove last year was no fluke. He earned a nice seven-year deal and pretty much showed the world he could pitch in the big leagues as a top of the rotation guy.

But, the injury bug has struck and he will be out till after the All-Star break. Jake Westbrook is in the same boat; only his circumstances are different.

Jake was looking to show everyone he was back to form and that his up-and-down 2007 was behind him. He was doing a good job of that until he got hit with multiple injuries. It could be at least another season-and-a-half before we see him pitch again.

Aaron Laffey: A+

4-4, 2.83 ERA, 70 IP, 30 SO

Aaron Laffey has been to the Tribe in 2008 what Fausto Carmona was in 2007. The sad part is it's kind of gone unnoticed.

I'm a big fan of the young southpaw with spunk. He is going to be a mainstay in this rotation for years to come, especially since we are losing at least one starter next year, possibly two, and another is injured.

Paul Byrd: D

3-9, 5.26 ERA, 90.2 IP, 35 SO

Paul Byrd has been inconsistent at best, and his longevity is very poor. Lately, he has dropped that inconsistency thing and has gone to straight up bad pitching. He's been taking his team out of the game before they even step on the field.

It might be time to cut ties with Byrd, if anyone wants him.

Jeremy Sowers: C

0-3, 5.97 ERA, 31.2 IP, 15 SO

I don't expect much out of Jeremy to be honest with you. I think he's a guy we would be better off to package. I'm a fan of the soft-tossing smart guys who work out a game plan.

But to be honest, Sowers and his attitude have never won me over. He seems quite easily perturbed and closed off. Either way, he has done a decent job as the spot starter so far.

They are in no situation to deal him with all the injuries and impending offseason. But I don't think he'll ever be anything better than a spot starter.

Relief Pitching

Joe Borowski: B

1-2, 6 SV, 7.20 ERA, 15 IP, 8 SO

I know, I know, you think I've completely lost my mind this time.

But if you know Joe Borowski by now, you know you can never judge him based on the numbers.

He was hurt through the first two blown saves he had. The last one since coming back was a bunch of bad luck.

Like it or not, the bullpen completely fell apart with him out. They certainly haven't been any better since he came back, but everyone has a role, and for that reason it hasn't been nearly as disastrous as it was with him out.

Joe has been as good as you can expect since he's been healthy. Whether you love him or hate him, the man gets the job done.

Rafael Perez: C

1-1, 3.47 ERA, 36.1 IP, 36 SO

No one was expecting Rafael Perez to be as lights out as he was last year. But every appearance from him puts doubt into your mind. You never know which Perez you are going to get.

Perez has been average, but hardly what you were expecting from your left-handed set-up man.

Masahide Kobayashi: B

4-3, 4 SV, 3.15 ERA, 40 IP, 26 SO

He didn't really work out as a closer as some expected him to. But he pretty much has become the set-up man by default.

Again, you can't expect Masa Kobayashi to come in and be Hideki Okajima for you. He isn't Okajima, he is Kobayashi.

He hasn't been the most consistent guy coming out of there, but for the most part; he's done his job since settling in. He's also been the most used guy for Eric Wedge.

Rafael Betancourt: F

2-4, 4 SV, 6.06 ERA, 35.2 IP, 36 SO

I was never the biggest fan of Rafael Betancourt. Some people forget the previous years before 2007 when he was downright frustrating.

I'm going to jump to the conclusion that his good year was a fluke. I think he's a decent relief pitcher, but hardly the premiere set-up man in the league like we thought.

I wasn't expecting his 2007 year to be repeated, but the 6.06 ERA is unforgivable. He has blown more games than he's saved, and his refusal to listen to the coaching staff just makes me irate.

I wouldn't mind if we traded him at the deadline. He has run his course in my opinion.

The Rest: Jensen Lewis, Tom Mastny, Jorge Julio, Rick Bauer, Ed Mujica

I purposely listed all those names for you to look at. After the constant changes last year to get group that gelled, you didn't expect this much turnover.

The idea was for Jorge Julio to be the one question and for Mark Shapiro and company to fill that spot as the year went along, depending on Julio's performance.

That wasn't the case at all. Julio was ousted, but Mastny couldn't stick, due to lack of appearances, and the biggest surprise of them all was Jensen Lewis.

Lewis has lost velocity on his fastball, and the Indians decided to fix him now rather than let him figure it out at the majors and lose confidence.

Rick Bauer and Ed Mujica are pretty much late additions here that have stuck. Neither has a pretty ERA, and both are sitting ducks for when Jensen Lewis is ready or they decide to recall Mastny.

Catchers

Kelly Shoppach: B+

.248 AVG, 5 HR, 16 RBI, 19 R

Kelly Shoppach is solidifying himself as a backup catcher in my eyes. He is showing that he is nothing more than a backup, and he isn't consistent enough to be a full-time starter, which makes me absolutely happy.

Teams will now start to back off him; at least, I hope they will. Then again, if they want him as a starter, they can overpay Shapiro for him.

I don't see them even considering getting rid of Shoppach anyway. He is far too valuable as a backup. His defense is top notch and he does what you want a backup to do, come in and swing for the fences.

That doesn't work much as a starter. But if he comes in there every five or so days and he's swinging as hard as he can, that's exactly what you want.

Victor Martinez: No Grade

.278 AVG, 0 HR, 21 RBI, 17 R

I hate to give the guy a grade considering he's been battling all sorts of injuries this year.

Victor Martinez looked like he was going to be carrying the middle of the lineup once again. Yet, he could only do so much with a bum leg and arm.

I expect Victor to return later this year, sometime before or at the start of August. He should be back to normal with a healed up hamstring and cleaned out elbow.

Sal Fasano: Mustache

.200 AVG, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 R, 1 Fu Man Choo

It wouldn't be me without a little joking around.

In all seriousness, I want to take this time to talk about Sal Fasano and just how awesome he is.

His game on Saturday against the Reds was real nice for a defensive backup. He also made some great plays behind the plate.

What impresses me the most about Fasano is his potential. This guy has manager written all over him. He did an interview with Al Pawlowski just a week after getting acquired by the Indians.

He acted as if he's been with the club all year, and not only were they going to get out of this funk, he was going to be with them for it.

I wouldn't mind holding onto this guy in some capacity, and if his playing days are soon over, giving him a shot in the lower levels.

Click here to see the grades for the infielders and outfielders.