Surprise! Indians still alive

CLEVELAND -- There have been bullpen meltdowns leading to late-game collapses; unsteady play that results in losing streaks and lapses; and talk of rebuilding with young, unproven talent.
Yet, the Cleveland Indians are only six games out of first place in the American League Central Division.
Hard to believe, isn't it?
"It is surprising, just for the fact of how many close games we've lost and how many times we've had the lead and lost it," Indians third baseman Casey Blake said.
Popular questions
Through much of the 55 games this season, Indians manager Eric Wedge has been forced to answer questions about inefficiencies in his bullpen.
Relievers such as Rafael Betancourt, Chad Durbin, Jose Jimenez and David Riske all have struggled on the mound, becoming unraveled at the worst times -- with Cleveland ready to lock up a win.
Knocking Tribe relievers has become the norm. In fact, the bullpen's blunders have been so well-documented and publicized that the team's perseverance in the sub-par Central seems to have been overlooked.
"It's kind of frustrating, because maybe we should be five games in front," said Blake, whose team trails the Chicago White Sox and Minnesota Twins. "That's how a lot of people feel.
"It could be the other way [five games ahead], if some of those games were just turned the other way and the bullpen pitched the way they're pitching right now," he said.
Blake said that before another implosion by the bullpen Tuesday night. In 19 games before Tuesday, Indians relievers had recorded a 3.61 earned-run average to lower their season ERA from 6.97 to 5.84. And over their last 11 games, they had accumulated a 2.70 ERA.
"If those games would have been reversed, we would be sitting on the lead right now, but you can't focus on that," Blake said. "You have to go out and take care of each day as it comes. Hopefully we'll keep eating away at that lead."
Rookie of the Year
Because of interleague play, Indians fans had the opportunity Tuesday to watch the 2003 Rookie of the Year in 22-year-old Florida pitcher Dontrelle Willis.
The Indians put Willis behind early by scoring two unearned runs off him in the first inning.
"I was just trying to keep it close and not get into a big inning where they break the game open," Willis said. "Just trying to give us a chance to win the game. We ended up coming back, so it was successful."
Despite allowing those early runs, Willis maintained his focus.
"[Marlins catcher Mike] Redmond did a good job of just calming me down," said Willis, a left-hander whose unique wind-up includes a high leg kick. "I was just trying to execute as a pitcher."
Since winning the league's top honor for rookies and being named to the National League All-Star team in 2003, Willis said he's become more relaxed this season when teams are threatening.
"I'm just trying to keep my composure and not try to do too much," he said.
Willis and Indians starter Cliff Lee, also a young left-hander, pitched well Tuesday despite not having "their best stuff." Willis allowed one earned run on eight hits in five innings, while Lee allowed two earned runs on seven hits over six innings.
Still, Lee wouldn't admit that pitching against Willis motivated him any more than usual.
"I never factor in who's pitching for the other team," Lee said. "I just try to do my job and keep it at that. Everybody who's pitching in the big leagues is pretty good, so anybody can have a good game."
Scrapper watch
The Mahoning Valley Scrappers, Class A short-season affiliate of the Indians, will begin play against the Auburn Doubledays on June 18 at Eastwood (formerly Cafaro) Field.
Many of the Indians' draft picks will begin their professional careers at Mahoning Valley.
To preview the 2004 season, The Vindicator will run a series of stories in the days leading up to the Scrappers' sixth season in the Mahoning Valley.
XBrian Richesson is a sportswriter for The Vindicator. Write to him at richesson@vindy.com.