If you haven't caught a Cleveland Indians game since last season, and judging from the attendance you haven't, you may have missed the emergence of one of the best pitchers in the American League. His name's Fausto Carmona and he just put the finishing touches on his first career complete game and shutout, 2-0 over the Twins. He did it by outpitching Johan Santana, of all people, and on a day when Santana struck out 11 Indians in seven innings. Carmona's now thrown 15 straight scoreless innings and won his last five starts, giving him a 5-1 record and a 2.55 ERA.
Those unlucky few who haven't caught up with Carmona since last season will probably be surprised by the news. He lost his last 10 decisions in 2006 including one of the least successful spells as a closer in major league history. After the Sons of Geronimo dealt Bob Wickman to the Braves last July they installed Carmona as closer although he'd never filled that role before. Over a seven-day span Carmona blew three saves, with two walk-off homers, and lost four games for the Tribe before being returned to a regular relief role and, eventually, to the starting rotation.
Given Carmona's success in that role this season does that make him the yin to Mariano Rivera's yang? If you set Summer 1995 into the flux capacitator of your Delorean and head up to the Bronx you'll see a young pitcher struggling as a member of the Yankee rotation. The rookie made 10 starts among his 19 regular season appearances and showed few signs of a future as a Yankee legend and Cooperstown enshrinee. Rivera racked up a 5.51 ERA, gave up 11 homers and walked 30 batters in his 67 innings that season. The Yankees made the playoffs anyway, losing to Seattle in the first round, and Rivera didn't make the postseason rotation. He did, however, give some signs of the remarkable run that was to begin in April 2006 by throwing five and a third scoreless innings, striking out eight hitters and picking up a win in three appearances. You could do worse than to follow Rivera's career trajectory and while it's probably silly to wishcast that success for Carmona it certainly looks like some trial and error has led the Wigwammers to put him where he belongs.
(AP Photo/Mark Duncan)
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