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Why the loss of CC may not be as bad as people think – 7-15-08
Tribe fans are mourning the loss of its leader, but may be better off in the end

So he holds a career record of 108-71. So his career ERA is 3.81. So he has pitched 20 complete games – 7 of which were shutouts. So his career strikeout total stands at 1,279. So what?

Well obviously this is nothing to brush off with a simple “so what”. CC Sabathia has been a rock and as reliable as they come for the Indians for the last seven and a half seasons. His powerful rein started with a rookie season in which he was robbed of Rookie of the Year honors by the already-seasoned Ichiro Suzuki leading up to a Cy Young season where he helped pilot one of the best seasons in history. It is a shame to see a guy that has meant so much during the reconstruction of the franchise leave now, while another rebuilding era may be eminent during this sour time.

He will truly be missed as a Cleveland icon and for his tremendous play on the field.

He joins the long list of players who left during the prime of their careers because the money was not there to get the ink to paper. Frustrating? Yes. But that’s the way it has been and will be in Cleveland for sometime. He was in no way, shape or form going to be in a Tribe uniform next year.

The Tribe may be better off without CC though in the long run. Start with the rotation. True, it would look better on paper with Sabathia at the helm, but Fausto Carmona, Aaron Laffey and Cliff Lee are a formidable trio as it stands. Jake Westbrook will be back at some point, but for argument sake, forget about him. Jeremy Sowers – despite his recent troubles – could serve as a fourth or fifth starter worst case scenario, and he may still develop into the pitcher we saw glimpses of in 2006. That leaves one more spot. Why can’t the Indians bring in a free agent that is a third or maybe even a second starter? They were planning on giving CC $72 million over four years – that money has to go somewhere, right? The oft-injured Adam Miller would be a bonus at this point if he pans out as advertised.

So the rotation is a concern, but may not be too far off. Still not convinced? Remember, the Tribe received four prospects in the deal. The blue chip in the deal, Matt LaPorta, by all accounts, is an MVP-caliber player waiting in the wings. With the struggles of some of the Tribe’s “sluggers,” it is reassuring to know that a guy with potential 40 home run power is a year or two away.

Still have that bitter taste in you mouth? Consider the fact that Sabathia turns 28 next week - usually a prime age for pitchers. But CC has been a workhorse since he was 20 years old. Sabathia also isn’t the smallest guy in the clubhouse as his weight has always hovered around 300. At this point it’s all speculation since he still competes at a high level, but there is a good chance that productivity could drop sooner rather than later.

He is always in the top of the league in complete games and innings pitched. He is a power pitcher where wear and tear affects the body more than a finesse pitcher. After eight years, CC’s legs and joints have really taken a beating after that big body continuously has sent fastballs across the plate every fifth day.

Again, this is all speculation, but there is a very good chance that CC’s body begins to break down in the coming years, and the production drops off. Whichever team signs him to that long-term deal he most certainly will get may be thrilled at first, but could end up kicking themselves if CC gets the “injury-prone” tag.

On a personal side, let’s hope he doesn’t though. He truly has been a great guy for Cleveland, and there is certainly an empty space on that club that the big man used to inhibit. Indians fans absolutely do wish them the best.

Bottom line: The Indians need to be smart with their money. Nothing is guaranteed, but a man of that size doing the things to his body that he’s done, entering into his thirties, may not be as effective as he was during his first eight seasons. Time will tell. All we know at this point, is he is in a playoff chase, and the Indians are set to finish the season figuring out what will work in the future.

Tags: aaron laffey, adam miller, cc sabathia, cliff lee, jake westbrook, jeremy sowers