Tribe's Bullpen Plans Get Foulked
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by user I am a cpcp
The Cleveland Indians had a plan to fix their bullpen woes of 2006: Get as many options as possible.
So they signed Keith Foulke and Joe Borowski to compete for the closers role. Both have battled injuries, both have been great closers. Both would make a fine closing act to an Indians win. The other could hopefully setup the closer and be a backup if the other got hurt.
The Tribe also signed Roberto Hernandez, Aaron Fultz and Cliff Politte to fill in the other bullpen spots.
All five of these veterans were signed to compliment and support each other. It was a solid plan, but apparently the injury bug that killed the Browns this year decided to travel south and hit the Tribe early this year.
Keith Foulke has retired.
"Over the last few weeks, while preparing for the 2007 season, my body has not responded as it has in years past," Foulke said in a statement. "I feel strongly I will not be able to perform at the level where I need to be to help the Indians this season. They are a class organization and I wish them the best of luck in 2007."
Now I'm usually of the belief that fans don't have the right to criticize player's personal decisions, but pitchers and catchers just reported. Couldn't he give the club that was expecting his veteran leadership until at least mid-summer before he gave up?
The Plan counted in the fact that Foulke may not last the season, but to not even make it out of February? No one could have seen that coming.
The Tribe now has to rely on JoBo's possibly bum right shoulder to close the whole season or else they'll be right back to where they were last season, trying a different guy in the closer's roll every week.
Mark Shapiro may have to work a deal to trade for a closer at this point. This could end up being a major setback for the Tribe. For the first time in years their roster was set going in to spring training, but now they have a big question mark to deal with. A question mark that could mean 20 or 30 wins. Foulken A.
