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 Relief efforts Wakefield situated; Elarton moving to starting cast
Posted: Wednesday June 30, 1999 09:54 PM
Tim Wakefield has become the savior of the Boston Red Sox bullpen, and he tells me he likes his new job. And he likely will stay there for a while -- even if Tom Gordon returns this season. Red Sox manager Jimy Williams might want to use Gordon as a setup man for Wakefield initially. This approach would allow Gordon to get some work before being thrown back into the closer role. Plus, except for Gordon and Wakefield, the Red Sox haven't found anyone else over the past two seasons who can save games consistently. Thus, keeping Wakefield in the bullpen protects Boston should Gordon falter early. And finally, starter Ramon Martinez, brother of Red Sox ace Pedro, is rehabilitating in the minors from rotator cuff surgery. Ramon won't be ready by the All-Star break as initially expected, but his return would mean one more arm in the starting rotation, lessening the need for Wakefield to leave the pen. Elarton's transitionThe Houston Astros say they will move star rookie reliever Scott Elarton into the starting rotation this weekend to fill in for the injured Sean Bergman. Elarton and Billy Wagner had combined to form the most dominating 1-2 relief duo since Mariano Rivera and John Wetteland and were averaging 1 1/2 strikeouts an inning. And I'd be very hesitant to break up such a successful combination, even for the short term. However, the Astros are taking the right steps to make sure Elarton doesn't injure himself making the transition. Interim manager Matt Galante says they will limit him to 50-60 pitches his first outing, then reevaluate at the All-Star break. Needing reliefThe Reds' bullpen has been a major reason for the team's first-place surge in recent weeks. Entering Wednesday, the Reds' relief corps boasted the only ERA in the majors under 3.00. But there is reason for concern in Cincinnati. The Reds' starters are averaging only five innings a game, which can wear out a bullpen quickly. In fact, in the 1990s, only two teams have ever won a division title with a rotation that averaged less than six innings a start: the '97 Giants and '95 Reds. Cincinnati is looking to add another starter. And for good reason. The last thing the Reds want to do is go into a stretch run with a bullpen that has too much mileage on it. Ozzie Smith, a 15-time All-Star, is a baseball analyst for CNN/SI.
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