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October 12, 2007
AP photo / Charles Krupa
Cleveland Indians pitcher Fausto Carmona laughs during his news conference before Game 1 of the American League Championship baseball series today at Fenway Park. Carmona will face Red Sox ace Curt Shilling in Game 2 Saturday.
By KEVIN McNAMARA
Journal Sports Writer
BOSTON – Ever since the Indians drafted Fausto Carmona as a 17-year old out of the Dominican Republic, they loved the big, strong pitcher’s talent. They just didn’t know how best to use it until this season.
Carmona, now 23, was shuttled to the minor leagues in 2006 after an ugly meltdown in the Indians’ closer role. Soon after trading veteran closer Bob Wickman, the Indians shifted Carmona from his middle relief spot and he promptly blew three saves in a row in August. He finished the season with a 1-10 record and 5.42 ERA in 38 appearances.
When Carmona reported to spring training, the Indians hoped he’d be able to win a spot in the starting rotation. Almost shockingly, their hopes were realized. In spades. The righty blossomed into the most surprising pitcher in baseball, finishing second in the AL in wins (19-8) and in ERA (3.06).
He was especially impressive down the stretch, winning all five of his starts in September and allowing a mere seven earned runs (1.78). In last week’s start against the Yankees in the ALDS, Carmona dominated in a complete-game, 2-1 win where he allowed just three hits.
When he toes the rubber tonight in Game Two of the ALCS, Carmona hopes to continue his outstanding pitching. Curt Schilling, his adversary for the Red Sox, certainly respects the youngster.
“I know enough to know I'd rather be facing somebody else. This kid is something else. I've watched him a couple games against us, and I've seen him on TV a couple other times,” said Schilling. “The game he threw in New York was just a dominating, dominating outing. He's as good as anybody I've seen this year.”
Schilling, one of the game’s all-time best playoff pitchers, went a step further in his praise for Carmona when he said the Indians and Carmona should be favored tonight.
“You know, it's been a long time since I've gone into a game being an underdog, but given the year he had and the way he's throwing, I can absolutely see why people think we're going to have a hard time winning that game,” he said. “He's been phenomenal, he's been consistent, his stuff is electric and he's been fun to watch. Like I said, I'd rather be facing somebody else.”
The maturation of Carmona says an awful lot about the patience that’s needed with young pitchers. That was certainly the case with the Indians. They saw the strength of the 6-4, 220-pounder and loved how he mixed his fastball and sinker to keep hitters off balance. When he ran into trouble as a closer, Carmona went down to Triple A for a quick spell and came back ready to try his lot as a starter. Then he continued to work on his skills in winter ball.
''I'm a big believer that anything you experience in and outside of the game is a big part of who you are today, on and off the field. I think that goes for all of our players,” said Cleveland manager Eric Wedge. “People tend to forget what Fausto did before and after being in the (closer’s) role. He was one of the best setup guys in baseball for six weeks prior to being a closer. Starting prior to being a setup guy, then starting after being a closer, then doing that in winter ball and coming into this season. You talk about a tough young man. A tough, intelligent young man that understands what he’s experienced and how to be a better baseball player for it. Fausto is a great example of that.”
Carmona says putting his troubles as a closer behind him was easy. He gained confidence throughout the winter and came to spring training ready to revitalize his career.
“From the stretch I went through last year as a closer, I learned a lot. I don't regret what I went through last year because it makes me stronger,” Carmona said last night through interpreter Luis Rivera. “I worked hard in the Dominican during winter ball and worked on my confidence and worked on my pitches, and coming into spring training I forgot completely about what happened the year before. I feel like it was a new start for me and I was going to take the opportunity and do the most with it.”
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