Elarton still battling for last spot

A long-shot to make the roster, he’s still in the running.

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (AP) — Scott Elarton resurrected his career with the Cleveland Indians four years ago, and he believes he can do it again.

The right-hander reported to spring training last month a long shot to make the roster. One week before the season opener, he’s still battling Tom Mastny and Jorge Julio for the only open spot on the Indians’ pitching staff.

“Why not?” the 32-year-old said of making another comeback in Cleveland. “I just get a special feeling with this team. I’ve never felt so comfortable pitching anywhere else.”

When the 6-foot-8 veteran signed a minor league contract in February, it was without any promises. “They basically said, ’Don’t have any expectations, but come ready to make the ballclub,’ ” Elarton said. “That’s what I’m trying to do.”

Manager Eric Wedge has used the former starter exclusively out of the bullpen and has been impressed.

“Scott has been throwing all his pitches well, leveraging the ball down,” Wedge said. “He has good command of his fastball and works his secondary pitches off it.”

In nine outings covering 131‚Ñ3 innings, Elarton has a 2.02 ERA and allowed only one home run.

Wedge also likes what he’s seen from bullpen holdover Mastny and former Orioles closer Julio, who signed a minor league deal just before camp opened.

“All three are different,” Wedge said. “Julio is a hard thrower and has a lot of experience at the end of the game. Mastny is young and still learning to pitch at this level.”

Elarton, 56-60 in his career, has worked in relief only once in 154 big league outings since 1999. But he understands that his only path back to the majors likely is through the bullpen.

“I think the starting days are over for now,” he said.

“Three shoulder surgeries, one elbow surgery and a lot of miles on the mound made that decision for me.

“I’ve always loved coming out of the bullpen. It’s a rush of adrenaline to come in and let it loose for an inning at a crucial point in the game.”

Elarton pitched in relief for Houston in the postseason in 1998 and 1999, then won 17 games as a starter in 2000.

But he missed all of 2002 after shoulder surgery and hit rock bottom in May 2004 when he was released by Colorado after going 0-6 with a 9.80 ERA.

Picked up by the Indians, he went 3-5 in 21 starts that year, then was a credible 11-9 in 2005 before signing a two-year, $8 million free-agent contract with Kansas City.

“It was tough to leave Cleveland, I didn’t want to, but the Royals made a great offer,” Elarton said of more than doubling what he had earned during his first eight seasons.

Elarton was Kansas City’s starter on opening day in 2006, but wheeled into surgery again that August and released by the Royals last July 25. He signed a minor league deal with the Indians and went 1-0 in nine relief appearances for Triple-A Buffalo in 2007.

“Last year was miserable,” Elarton said.

“Every time I have surgery I push my way back too fast and try to pitch in the big leagues when I really shouldn’t. You’d think by now I’d learn.”

Elarton feels like he’s turned back the clock this spring, regaining his fastball and even experiencing the jitters he had as a hard-throwing rookie a decade ago.

“Early on, I was a little nervous,” Elarton said. “I felt like I did when I was trying to get to the majors for the first time. I knew I had to make an impression.

“I came here fully intent on making the team, but I’ve been a little surprised at how good I feel. I guess it’s the magical 18-month mark after surgery. It usually takes that long.”

Elarton believes he can pitch effectively this season and hopes it will be in Cleveland’s bullpen.

“I’m very excited to be back with the Indians,” he said.

“All those young kids I was with a few years ago have grown up and can really play. I think I can help them win.”