Playing It Out

So they've set the rotation for the remainder of the season and our two aces both get one more start.

Tues: Laffey
Wed: Sowers
Wed 2: Carmona
Thurs: Byrd
Fri: Sabathia
Sat: Westbrook
Sun: TBD

ESPN.com actually has Westbrook going Friday and Sabathia Saturday and Sowers pitching on Sunday, but what I wrote above is from the Plain Dealer. For that matter, it makes little sense for Sowers to pitch on Sunday, as it would be short rest.

Basically, Sabathia gets extra time off now, but regular time between his last start and his first post-season start (if it's Oct. 3rd) and Carmona's last start comes on regular rest, but he gets extra time before the post-season (as does Byrd).

It will be interesting to see who backs them up in those doubleheaders.

The mailbag over on the Tribe's official site raised an interesting point about the #3 starter debate. While I figured the debate existed because Jake, when on, can be far more dominate than Byrd, I didn't consider the other aspect: the offense.

Byrd's catcher is Shoppach, so any time Byrd pitches Victor goes to first and Garko sits. Pulling a bat like that out of the line-up is not exactly something you want to do.

For that matter, if the Tribe ends with the best record (or plays the team with the best record), they can opt for the longer series which starts on Oct. 3rd. The series is so long, in fact (day off between first two games, travel days, etc.), that Sabathia and Carmona could start games 1, 2, 4, and 5 on regular rest. If Westbrook starts the third game, then the Tribe has their normal offense going in every game.

At this point, I think it might make more sense to move Jake to the #3 spot. Sorry, Byrdie, you've been great this year, but all things considered (they should call a show that) using Jake at #3 makes more sense.

Honestly, at this point I hope we get that longer series and I hope we get the Yankees because I like our odds with C.C. and Fausto going twice each.