Factory Of Sadness
FanSided

Cleveland Indians: How the bullpen became one of MLB’s worst

By Nick Dudukovich

CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 01: A Cleveland Indians fan reacts during Game Six of the 2016 World Series between the Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field on November 1, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - NOVEMBER 01: A Cleveland Indians fan reacts during Game Six of the 2016 World Series between the Chicago Cubs and the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field on November 1, 2016 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – APRIL 22: Pitcher Bryan Shaw #29 of the Colorado Rockies throws in the sixth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Coors Field on April 22, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – APRIL 22: Pitcher Bryan Shaw #29 of the Colorado Rockies throws in the sixth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Coors Field on April 22, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

Departures

The drop-off in production serves as cold, hard slap in the face reminding the Indians of who they lost over the winter.

Bryan Shaw signed a lucrative deal with the Rockies.

Joe Smith used a stellar two months in a Tirbe uniform to sign a lucrative deal with ***.

These were huge pieces of a bullpen corps that played an instrumental part during the Tribe’s 22-game win streak last season.

Shaw had his critics in Cleveland, but if you don’t miss him now, something’s wrong. Shaw posted a 3.11 ERA between 2013-2017 and was an innings eater. It didn’t matter how many games Terry Francona summoned him to pitch because the skipper could usually rely on his effectiveness.

Shaw led the league in appearance during the 2014 (80), 2016 (75) and 2017 (79) campaigns.

Now with the Rockies, Shaw has been excellent on the road, however, he’s had difficulties pitching in the thin air at Coors Field.

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