Prior to another loss, 7-5 to Tampa Bay, the Indians re-worked their beleaguered bullpen ... again. The Indians outright optioned Masa Kobayashi and Tony Sipp to Class AAA Columbus, purchased the contract of Greg Aquino and recalled David Huff, a left-handed starter.
The demotion of Kobayashi was not a surprise. He has struggled in his one-plus seasons with the Indians. After signing a two-year $6.25 million contract prior to the 2008 season, Kobayashi has never become the dependable setup man Indians officials envisioned. In a combined 67 appearances in 2008 and 2009 Kobayashi had a 5.10 ERA. Sipp was recalled from Columbus on April 22, and after an outstanding major league debut struggled in his next eight appearances.
Aquino was signed to a minor league contract during the off-season. He was not expected to be brought up from Columbus this soon, but with virtually every reliever in the Indians bullpen in a slump, the call to Columbus for Aquino eventually came.
In an attempt to fix their broken bullpen the Indians, according to Manager Eric Wedge are willing to consider anything "within reason." The team continues to make moves each week trying to find some relievers on whom Wedge can count. But so far that search hasn't produced any dependable relievers.
RAYS 7, INDIANS 5: OF Ben Francisco belted two home runs and had four RBIs, but the Indians still lost their third game in a row. LHP David Huff, in his major league debut, gave up seven runs on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings.
