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October 21, 2007
By STEVEN KRASNER
Journal Sports Writer
BOSTON -- When the ALCS began, most of the talk about the Cleveland Indians' pitching staff centered around the Tribe's dynamic top two, C.C. Sabathia and Fausto Carmona.
Jake Westbrook? Well, he was the soft-throwing sinkerballing right-hander who was going to be given a start in Game Three. He wasn't an after-thought on the mound, but with Sabathia and Carmona having had such superb seasons that they were major Cy Young Award candidates, Westbrook's performances weren't exactly expected to tip the balance of the best-of-seven series the Indians' way.
But if Cleveland is going to advance to the World Series, it's going to be Westbrook who has to pitch like a star Sunday night at Fenway Park in the deciding Game Seven.
That's because Sabathia and Carmona were miserable in their two starts apiece, including Carmona's self-destruction Saturday night. The right-hander was cuffed for seven earned runs in two-plus innings as the Indians were routed, 12-2. Cleveland had a 3-1 lead with Sabathia and Carmona set up for the next two starts and now the series is even, with Westbrook taking the mound in Game Seven against Daisuke Matsuzaka.
Westbrook, who was masterful in a Game Three win, limiting Boston to seven hits and two earned runs in 6 2/3 innings in Cleveland, knows it's a tough assignment.
''They do have a very good lineup and it's going to be a challenge for us,'' said Westbrook. ''I think for me it's just a matter of having a good game plan, sticking with it, making some good pitches when I need to make them and do the best thing I can do, which is to try to keep them off-balance. Hopefully I can do that.''
Cleveland manager Eric Wedge says he has confidence in Westbrook.
''He did a good job for us earlier,'' said Wedge. ''We're just looking for him to go out there and give us a chance to win the ballgame. Jake has pitched some big games for us. He's aggressive. He knows what he needs to do to be successful. We need him to go out there and pitch his game and give us a chance to win.''
Westbrook, who was 6-9 with a 4.32 earned-run average in an injury-plagued 2007 regular season, has beaten the Yankees and the Red Sox in the postseason.
But those outings, while important at the time, pale in comparison to the Game Seven start.
''You can't get much bigger than that,'' said Westbrook of the assignment. ''It's going to be a challenge and there will definitely be a lot of emotions. But I'm excited about the opportunity to be the guy on the mound.''
The start is nothing to lose sleep over, he said. Well, maybe it isn't.
''I'll be able to sleep pretty well. It's already late so I'm pretty tired," said Westbrook.
He paused for a moment.
''I mean, I think I'll sleep pretty well," said Westbrook.
Posted by Steven Krasner 
at 12:22 AM | Permalink
