A change of scenery never hurt.
That's how Zach Jackson approached the news of being traded from the Milwaukee Brewers to the Indians on July 7 as part of the CC Sabathia trade. That will be his mindset Thursday night when the left-hander starts against the Baltimore Orioles after being called up from Class AAA Buffalo to replace Paul Byrd in the Tribe's starting rotation.
"I'm very excited just to start over halfway through the season," said Jackson, who spent most of the last three seasons at Class AAA Nashville. "I look at it as a blessing in disguise with new scenery.
"I was shocked by the trade, what with all the names being thrown around and I wasn't one of them. But I guess you can't be too surprised in this game. You just have to embrace it and go with it."
The 6-5 Jackson was drafted by Toronto as the 32nd player overall in 2004. He was traded to Milwaukee in 2005 and went 2-2 with the Brewers in seven starts in 2006. But other than two brief relief appearances with the Brewers this May, he looked to have fallen off the big-league club's radar.
He said this move was probably the best thing for him.
"I wouldn't say it was getting stale," said Jackson, who was 3-1 (4.05 ERA) in eight appearances (four starts) at Buffalo. "But when things aren't going your way, it couldn't come at a more perfect time. At Buffalo the coaches told me to just see what you're about and bring it to the table. The game's easier when you simplify things."
Not much has been that simple during this trying Tribe season. Manager Eric Wedge was asked why Jackson got the call instead of Aaron Laffey, another lefty.
"We wanted to take a look at him," said Wedge, who is considering Jackson for some bullpen use down the line. "He threw the ball decent down there and, obviously, we liked him because we traded for him. We wanted to give Laffey a few more starts [at Buffalo]."
Jackson, 25, said he had been a starter throughout his career before going to the pen this season with the Brewers.
"I got a couple weeks in the bullpen [at Milwaukee] and I wouldn't take back what I've learned," he said. "I bounced back well and learned some things about myself. I'm a young guy and excited about the future and ready to go. What better place to get started than Cleveland?"
A native of Latrobe, Pa., Jackson said he remembers coming to Jacobs Field to watch a game with his father.
"I think I was a freshman in high school," he said. "You think about this. This is a dream come true."
That's how Zach Jackson approached the news of being traded from the Milwaukee Brewers to the Indians on July 7 as part of the CC Sabathia trade. That will be his mindset Thursday night when the left-hander starts against the Baltimore Orioles after being called up from Class AAA Buffalo to replace Paul Byrd in the Tribe's starting rotation.
"I'm very excited just to start over halfway through the season," said Jackson, who spent most of the last three seasons at Class AAA Nashville. "I look at it as a blessing in disguise with new scenery.
"I was shocked by the trade, what with all the names being thrown around and I wasn't one of them. But I guess you can't be too surprised in this game. You just have to embrace it and go with it."
The 6-5 Jackson was drafted by Toronto as the 32nd player overall in 2004. He was traded to Milwaukee in 2005 and went 2-2 with the Brewers in seven starts in 2006. But other than two brief relief appearances with the Brewers this May, he looked to have fallen off the big-league club's radar.
He said this move was probably the best thing for him.
"I wouldn't say it was getting stale," said Jackson, who was 3-1 (4.05 ERA) in eight appearances (four starts) at Buffalo. "But when things aren't going your way, it couldn't come at a more perfect time. At Buffalo the coaches told me to just see what you're about and bring it to the table. The game's easier when you simplify things."
Not much has been that simple during this trying Tribe season. Manager Eric Wedge was asked why Jackson got the call instead of Aaron Laffey, another lefty.
"We wanted to take a look at him," said Wedge, who is considering Jackson for some bullpen use down the line. "He threw the ball decent down there and, obviously, we liked him because we traded for him. We wanted to give Laffey a few more starts [at Buffalo]."
Jackson, 25, said he had been a starter throughout his career before going to the pen this season with the Brewers.
"I got a couple weeks in the bullpen [at Milwaukee] and I wouldn't take back what I've learned," he said. "I bounced back well and learned some things about myself. I'm a young guy and excited about the future and ready to go. What better place to get started than Cleveland?"
A native of Latrobe, Pa., Jackson said he remembers coming to Jacobs Field to watch a game with his father.
"I think I was a freshman in high school," he said. "You think about this. This is a dream come true."
