Article published May 16, 2008
Betancourt could be out as closer
By JOE VARDON
BLADE SPORTS WRITER
CLEVELAND - Rafael Betancourt is the Indians' interim closer, which suggests the job isn't his long term.
It might not even be his job by tonight.
Betancourt was pulled from a save situation in Cleveland's 4-2 win over Oakland yesterday in favor of Masa Kobayashi, who pitched out of Betancourt's bases-loaded jam to record his second save this week.
Manager Eric Wedge said he yanked Betancourt because his pitch count had already passed 25 and he was "having difficulty throwing it where he wanted to."
When Wedge was asked if he planned on making any changes regarding his closer, he replied: "I haven't really had any time to think about it."
"I'm going to reflect upon that inning and go from there. Not just that inning, I should say, but on everything."Betancourt assumed the closer's role when Joe Borowski was placed on the disabled list April 15. He's 1-2 with four saves and a 7.31 ERA, and he allowed three runs in the 10th inning of the Indians' 3-0 loss to Toronto on Monday night.
Yesterday, Betancourt retired Frank Thomas on a fly ball to left after a lengthy at-bat, then gave up singles to Jack Cust and Bobby Crosby and walked Jack Hannahan. Betancourt declined comment following the game.
Kobayashi, who left Japan after last year as the country's active saves leader with 227, has allowed three earned runs in his last 162/3 innings. He offered professional indifference when asked about a return to closing.
"It doesn't matter to me," Kobayashi said through an interpreter.
STUDY HALL: The Indians' clubhouse is full of large, flat-screen TVs, video-game systems, and tables for card games.
But over in the corner sits left fielder David Dellucci, who's usually studying the starting pitcher he'll face next.
Dellucci watches DVDs of pitchers on his laptop, looking for the pitcher's release point, the kinds of pitches he throws, how he pitches left-handed hitters, etc.
"As a hitter, I need every little edge I can get," Dellucci said.
Dellucci, currently the Indians' No. 3 hitter in the batting order against right-handed starters, said he's been studying pitchers this way for the last seven years. He said he follows the same routine just about every night.
"If I don't have my computer at the field, then I would've [studied the DVD] at home already," Dellucci said. "I don't play video games, I don't watch movies. Everybody has a different approach to getting ready, but when I get to the field I'm locked into baseball mode."
Dellucci, batting .235 with four homers and 14 RBIs, also noted that his study habits don't guarantee success.
"You still have to go out that night and get the hits," he said.
ROSTER MOVES: The Indians will designate outfielder Jason Tyner today to make room for pitcher Jeremy Sowers.
Sowers is coming up from Triple-A to pitch the first of Cleveland's three games in Cincinnati this weekend. He allowed three runs on seven hits in 51/3 innings in his only other start for the Indians this year - on April 26 against the Yankees.
Cleveland's three-game series with the Reds is just a brief foray into interleague play. The Indians will play 15 games against the National League from June 13-29.
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