from AP preview:
INDIANS PROBABLE STARTER: Jason Davis (0-0, 2.25 ERA). Davis takes the rotation spot of demoted right-hander Jaret Wright. Davis, who made his major league debut in relief against Toronto on Monday, will be making his first start. Against the Blue Jays, the 22-year-old right-hander went four innings and allowed an earned run and three hits. Davis started the season at Class A Kinston, then went 6-2 with a 3.51 ERA in 10 starts for Double-A Akron.
Bullfighter Victor Puerto flies in the air after he was gored during a bullfight in Murcia, southeastern Spain, Friday Sept. 13, 2002. His condition was not immediately known. (AP Photo/J.F.Moreno)
Indians Notebook
Indians will take sneak peek of Davis
22-year-old is replacing Wright in Tribe rotation
Wednesday, September 11, 2002
Scott Priestle
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
CLEVELAND -- The Indians do not necessarily believe Jason Davis is ready to be a starting pitcher in the major leagues, but they are convinced that Jaret Wright is not ready for such a role. And because Davis has a brighter future, he has the job in the present.
Davis, who made his big-league debut with four solid innings in relief of Wright on Monday, will replace Wright in the starting rotation, Indians manager Joel Skinner said yesterday.
"He's got moxie,'' Skinner said. "He's got what it takes.''
Davis, 22, has made just 10 starts above Class A, but he went 5-0 with a 1.17 ERA in his last five starts for double-A Akron. He allowed one run and three hits Monday, with four strikeouts.
Skinner said Davis is adept at holding runners and fielding his position, and he has shown no signs of fatigue down the stretch. For those reasons, the Indians are willing to thrust him into a prominent role while more advanced prospects like Billy Traber and Cliff Lee are expected to head home after triple-A Buffalo's season ends.
"We're not going to overexpose him, ask him to go beyond certain limits, but he has been progressing all season,'' Skinner said. "So we feel comfortable enough . . . to do this.''
Skinner said the Indians, who will be cautious with Davis, do not expect him to challenge for a spot in the rotation next spring, at which point he will have only a half-season above Class A. Consider September a sneak preview well in advance of the main event.
The Indians are unwilling to be as patient with Wright, who is 1-3 with a 15.98 ERA in six starts this season, allowing 37 hits and 17 walks in 16 1/3 innings.
After having surgery on his right shoulder each of the previous two seasons, Wright, 26, considers it a success that he has remained healthy through this season. The next step is to learn how to get hitters out with the new shoulder. It is a big step.
"I've put everything I have into what I do,'' he said. "As long as I'm healthy and I have something to work on, I have somewhere to go.''
INDIANS PROBABLE STARTER: Jason Davis (0-0, 2.25 ERA). Davis takes the rotation spot of demoted right-hander Jaret Wright. Davis, who made his major league debut in relief against Toronto on Monday, will be making his first start. Against the Blue Jays, the 22-year-old right-hander went four innings and allowed an earned run and three hits. Davis started the season at Class A Kinston, then went 6-2 with a 3.51 ERA in 10 starts for Double-A Akron.
Bullfighter Victor Puerto flies in the air after he was gored during a bullfight in Murcia, southeastern Spain, Friday Sept. 13, 2002. His condition was not immediately known. (AP Photo/J.F.Moreno)
Indians Notebook
Indians will take sneak peek of Davis
22-year-old is replacing Wright in Tribe rotation
Wednesday, September 11, 2002
Scott Priestle
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
CLEVELAND -- The Indians do not necessarily believe Jason Davis is ready to be a starting pitcher in the major leagues, but they are convinced that Jaret Wright is not ready for such a role. And because Davis has a brighter future, he has the job in the present.
Davis, who made his big-league debut with four solid innings in relief of Wright on Monday, will replace Wright in the starting rotation, Indians manager Joel Skinner said yesterday.
"He's got moxie,'' Skinner said. "He's got what it takes.''
Davis, 22, has made just 10 starts above Class A, but he went 5-0 with a 1.17 ERA in his last five starts for double-A Akron. He allowed one run and three hits Monday, with four strikeouts.
Skinner said Davis is adept at holding runners and fielding his position, and he has shown no signs of fatigue down the stretch. For those reasons, the Indians are willing to thrust him into a prominent role while more advanced prospects like Billy Traber and Cliff Lee are expected to head home after triple-A Buffalo's season ends.
"We're not going to overexpose him, ask him to go beyond certain limits, but he has been progressing all season,'' Skinner said. "So we feel comfortable enough . . . to do this.''
Skinner said the Indians, who will be cautious with Davis, do not expect him to challenge for a spot in the rotation next spring, at which point he will have only a half-season above Class A. Consider September a sneak preview well in advance of the main event.
The Indians are unwilling to be as patient with Wright, who is 1-3 with a 15.98 ERA in six starts this season, allowing 37 hits and 17 walks in 16 1/3 innings.
After having surgery on his right shoulder each of the previous two seasons, Wright, 26, considers it a success that he has remained healthy through this season. The next step is to learn how to get hitters out with the new shoulder. It is a big step.
"I've put everything I have into what I do,'' he said. "As long as I'm healthy and I have something to work on, I have somewhere to go.''
