Justin Masterson, with GM Chris Antonetti and manager Terry Francona watching from second base, throws a one-inning simulated game Sunday before being added to the bullpen.Chuck Crow,The Plain Dealer
Hey, Hoynsie: Why is it Zach McAllister and Corey Kluber can miss weeks on the disabled list and come back and pitch five innings as starters, but Justin Masterson essentially misses three weeks and he's sent to the bullpen? If he's healthy he should start. -- Mike Baldwin, Pensacola, Fla.
Hey, Mike: It's mostly because they suffered different injuries. McAllister and Kluber sprained their right middle fingers, while Masterson has a strained left oblique muscle.
The injuries came at different times of the season as well. McAllister had time to make three rehab appearances before returning to the rotation. The minor leagues were finished when Kluber was injured, but there was still enough time left in the season for him to throw simulated games to make sure he was conditioned to start.
Masterson, who returned nearly two weeks ahead of schedule for his kind of injury, wasn't able to get stretched back out because the season was ending and there was nowhere to send him to pitch. He'd also risk re-injuring the oblique if he tried to throw five, six or seven innings because a pitcher stresses that muscle every time he makes a pitch.
One more thing, Masterson has been successful out of the pen in the past. Kluber and McAllister have been starters most of their careers.
Hey, Hoynsie: If the Indians somehow make the playoffs, will they have to cover up sections of the upper deck at Progressive Field due to poor attendance, much like other cities have done in the past? -- Chris Niklas, Hudson.
Hey, Chris: If they sell enough tickets they won't. Right now, it's a problem the Indians would like to deal with for the next several weeks.
Hey, Hoynsie: If the Indians make it into a Division Series in the playoffs, would they consider using Danny Salazar as the closer seeing how shaky Chris Perez has been? -- Rich Smith, Columbus.
Hey, Rich: Those discussions started a couple of minutes after Perez gave up four runs to the Twins in the ninth inning Thursday night. And they had nothing to do with the Division Series and everything to do with just trying to get to Sunday, the end of the regular season.
Hey, Hoynsie: Is Terry Francona planning on working Justin Masterson back into a starter spot in the rotation when the Indians play in the ALCS? Also, what are they going to do at closer with Chris Perez so shaky? -- Paul Vocca, Cottonwood, Ariz.
Hey, Paul: If the Indians reach the ALCS, maybe Masterson has a chance to start. Other than that, no. But he could be the Tribe's closer after Perez's performance on Thursday against the Twins.
Hey, Hoynsie: I presume that the wild card game will not have the expanded 40-man rosters that have been available to both managers in September and that the regular 25-man roster will return. -- Dave Siringer, Doylestown.
Hey, Dave: Correct. The 40-man rosters will still be in play for any tiebreaker games.
Would the Indians consider saving Ubaldo Jimenez for the wild card game Wednesday instead of starting him Sunday against the Twins?Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer
Hey, Hoynsie: If the Tribe doesn't clinch by Ubaldo Jimenez's next start, do you start him in that game or save him to start the wild card game? -- Nick M, Cleveland.
Hey, Nick: Jimenez is scheduled to start Sunday against the Twins. If the Indians need that game to reach the wild card, I think you've got to start him.
Hey, Hoynsie: What are the chances the Tribe re-signs Scott Kazmir next season? They certainly need a lefty starter for the immediate future. -- Adam Zimmerman, Akron.
Hey, Adam: If Kazmir doesn't ask for the moon, I think there's a chance the Indians will re-sign him, but he's going to draw interest.
Hey, Hoynsie: Has the Tribe given any consideration to working out Carlos Santana at third base during the winter? I think he played third some in the minors. With Yan Gomes and Kelly Shoppach available to catch, he could be an improvement at third. -- David Fish, Madison.
Hey, David: Interesting thought, but I have heard no discussion along those lines.
Hey, Hoynsie: Terry Francona seems like a smart manager when it comes to running the team and the game. Why do you think he continues to pitch Chris Perez in save situations? -- Richard Bernard, Richmond, Va.
Hey, Richard: Like most managers, Francona believes a bullpen works best when it has an end point, aka a closer. Until Thursday's performance against the Twins, Perez was the Tribe's end point and the bullpen functioned adequately. Perez's days as the end point probably ended Thursday against the Twins.
Hey, Hoynsie: Been watching the Tribe on STO all year and I need to know how many pieces of bubble gum Terry Francona consumes in one Indians game. Every time the camera zooms in on him he`s jamming one or two into his mouth. I hope that when he signed his four-year contract they also included the premium dental plan. -- Waldo Andrews, Avon.
Hey, Waldo: Depending on the score, Francona says he usually chews between 50 and 80 pieces a game.
Indians relievers Joe Smith (left) and Cody Allen keep an eye on the Rally Chicken as it prowls the Progressive Field outfield on Sept. 4.Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer
Hey, Hoynsie: Can you provide an update on the status of the Rally Chicken? And what's the Indians record since it was introduced? -- Paul Dalalau, Raleigh, N.C.
Hey, Paul: The last I heard the chicken was doing fine. Since it's now-famous Progressive Field debut on Sept. 4, the Indians are 16-5 following Thursday's victory over the Twins.
Hey, Hoynsie: If you were going to upgrade a single position on the Indians for next year, what would it be? For me, it would be third base. -- Jerry Brodkey, Cleveland.
Hey, Jerry: If the third baseman was a threat to drive in 90 to 100 runs, I'd have to agree. My concern, however, is the starting rotation should the Indians fail to re-sign free-agents-in-waiting Scott Kazmir and Ubaldo Jimenez.
Hey, Hoynsie: Before I might spring for playoff tickets, do you have any indication if ownership will be committed to winning next year? -- Glen Bishop, Cleveland.
Hey, Glen: I certainly hope ownership does continue to improve the team over the winter. They have something good going here, but from a business point of view, I think GM Chris Antonetti would have a hard time convincing Paul Dolan to continue to spend money when the fans ignored a good ballclub for an entire season.
Hey, Hoynsie: I am just tired of watching Chris Perez as the Indians' closer even though I admit he is better than Bob Wickman or Joe Borowski. Do you think he will be traded this off-season? -- Paul Welling, Rossford.
Hey, Paul: What the Indians wouldn't give today for Wickman or Borowski?
Hey, Hoynsie: I know you haven't been able to interview him this season, but based on the past and on your observations, what is Chris Perez's relationship like with his teammates? Is he popular in the clubhouse? Also what is his reputation like as a worker? His beard and hair are getting bigger, but it seems like the rest of him is too. -- Nate Klooster, Iowa City, Ia.
Hey, Nate: I think Perez gets along with his teammates fine. I think his decision not to talk to the media this year has not gone over well with some of them who have to answer questions about him when he has a bad outing. Conditioning-wise, pitchers aren't required to be marathoners. As Gaylord Perry once said, "You don't run the ball across the plate.' Has Perez gained a few pounds, perhaps, but a lot of people, including me, said the same thing about Bartolo Colon and CC Sabathia and they've both had long careers.
Source: http://www.cleveland.com/tribe/index.ssf/2013/09/why_isnt_justin_masterson_star.html
