Cleveland Indians: What took so long to promote Anthony Gose?

The Cleveland Indians dropped a double-header to the Royals on Monday, dropping their record to 73-76 and putting at risk the team’s seven-year run of posting records over .500.

This outcome became more and more likely after it became clear that the early summer injuries to Aaron Civale and Shane Bieber couldn’t be covered up.

So after falling out of the race after the All-Star break, the Tribe’s been using their time to find out about players for 2021.

Which begs the question: What the heck took so long to promote reliever Anthony Gose?

The converted outfielder made his Tribe debut on Monday, making his first major-league appearance since 2016.

Gose threw 1.2 innings and threw 39 pitches. Of those throws, 21 were clocked at 99 miles per hour or faster. Eight of those pitches traveled at least 100 miles per hour, according to Statcast. He gave up a run and struck out one during the second-game of the double header.

His lone strikeout was of MLB co-home run leader, Salvador Perez.

Cleveland Indians: What took so long?

What remains unclear is why the Indians took so long to promote Gose. The front office will probably talk about control issues, and it’s worth noting that Gose was robbed of a Major League season in 2020.

The last time he played for a team, he issued 10 walks per nine innings (he only threw 18.0 innings) for the 2019 Akron RubberDucks.

That said, his potential has been tantalizing. Tribe writers have been dedicated some keystrokes to him over the past couple of seasons, listing him as a potential option.

Considering the bullpen hasn’t been the same since James Karinchak lost it a couple months back, you would have though there might be an opportunity for someone like Gose.

It’s not like Gose went to the bump this season and started to throw. Heck, he was a member of the silver-medal winning Team USA squad. He threw four scoreless innings while representing his country.

With the Indians, Gose had done all his work with the Triple-A Columbus Clippers before making his MLB pitching debut. While there, he struck out 49 in 33 innings. He did have 28 walks. He was 6-1 with a 3.55 ERA and appeared in 28 games.

The bullpen, once a strength of the 2021 Indians, will have to be re-vamped when the Guardians begin play next season. If Gose is strong in Spring Training, and I’d expect him be there, the Guards must find a spot for him.