The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Bieber ‘stoked’ to start Tribe opener
The path of Shane Bieber’s career is like that of a rocket launching straight up through the atmosphere.
The path of Shane Bieber’s career is like that of a rocket launching from Cape Canaveral — straight up through the atmosphere.
Bieber did not pitch in the Indians’ first two games last season, and when he did take the mound on March 31 in Minnesota it was to mop up in a game the Indians lost, 9-3. He was fifth in the pecking order at the start of 2019 behind Corey Kluber, Trevor Bauer, Carlos Carrasco and Mike Clevinger.
One year later, after leading the Indians with 15 victories in 2019, he will throw the long-awaited first pitch of the Indians’ 2020 season when
the Tribe faces the Royals at 7:10 p.m. July 24 at Progressive Field.
Clevinger will follow Bieber against the Royals on July 25, and Carrasco, making his first start in more than a year, will wrap up the first series of the 60-game season when he faces the Royals on July 26 — all without fans in the stands.
The Indians have lumber in the lineup with Jose Ramirez, Francisco Lindor, Carlos Santana and Franmil Reyes batting 2-3-4-5. But make no mistake — the Indians’ strength is pitching, pitching and pitching.
“I feel really good,” Bieber said July 19 after pitching a simulated game in his last workout before facing the Royals in the opener. “I was able to put in some work during the quarantine and get ready to rock.
“I feel we managed not only my buildup, but everybody’s buildup really well. I feel as a team, we’re definitely ready to rock, but on a personal level, I’m stoked for Opening Day. I’m ready to go.”
It must be discouraging for opposing managers to look at the Indians’ rotation and see little relief. The Big Three — at one time Kluber, Bauer, Carrasco — are followed by Aaron Civale, and
Zach Plesac. Adam Plutko, capable of starting, will work out of the bullpen at least to start the season.
The fact the Indians could trade Bauer (17-9 in 2017, 12-6 in 2018) to the Reds last summer and trade Kluber (two-time Cy Young Award winner) to the Rangers in December without the pitching staff suffering a dent is a credit to the way the Indians develop hurlers and how quickly Bieber and Clevinger have matured as leaders.
Bieber is 25 and in his second full season with the Tribe. Clevinger, a minor leaguer when he was acquired from the Los Angeles Angels in 2014, is 29 and in his fourth season with the Indians. Last year, he struck out 169 batters in 126 innings, which works out to 12.07 strikeouts per nine innings — the highest strikeout/nine inning ratio in franchise history. His 2.71 ERA was the sixth lowest in the Majors last year.
Clevinger was on the injured list from April 8 to June 16 with an upper back injury. He went back on the injured list later in June for 10 days with an ankle injury. He led the American League with 11 victories the second half of the season and has not taken his foot off the gas pedal.
Indians manager Terry Francona said “surprised” is not the proper word to describe how Bieber and Clevinger continue to improve.
“I think it’s a big compliment to them and to the people they worked with — not just here but in player development and the fact that once they get here, they understand that they’re not done,” Francona said. “That’s probably been a big part of it that they continue to grow. I hate to say surprised because I think that’s maybe not as respectful to the players. I think happy and pleased is a better way to put it.”
Carrasco was the feelgood story of 2019. He was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukemia on June 1 last year and was on the injured list from June 2 to Aug. 31. He received a standing ovation at the All-Star game in Cleveland last July. He returned to the mound as a relief pitcher in September and was an easy choice for American League Comeback Player of the Year.
The trials Carrasco went through still strike a sympathetic chord, but now the Indians are counting on him to take his regular turn in the rotation while they still monitor his health closely.
“That (three studs at the top of the rotation) is the idea if you can,” Francona said. “Whoever you’re handing the ball to, if you feel like, ‘Hey, if we go out and play our game, we’ll have a good chance to win,’ that means you have good pitching. Some nights, if you look up and you go, ‘Man, we better do a little extra tonight,’ that probably means your pitching has stretched far enough.”
Civale posted a 2.34 ERA in 10 starts last season. Plesac was 8-6 in 21 starts in 2019 after starting the season in Akron.