Masterson wants to be full-time starter

GOODYEAR, Ariz.

Justin Masterson isn’t ready to kick back in a bullpen and wait for his chance.

The big right-hander, bounced to the bullpen and back in Boston, became a full-time starter in Cleveland after the Indians acquired him just before the trade deadline in July.

“I like being able to concentrate on one role,” Masterson said Monday in the Cleveland clubhouse as he waited out a desert drizzle before going outside for some conditioning work.

“Mentally, it’s a good place to be,” he said. “In one sense, I can relax, just throw strikes, and get the work in. In another sense, I’m working hard, because I know what I’m working toward.”

Red Sox manager Terry Francona liked Masterson coming in with runners on base and throwing his sinker to hopefully induce a ground ball and end the rally.

“I understood their thinking: to get two outs with one pitch at a crucial time,” Masterson said.

New Indians manager Manny Acta wants Masterson to start.

He believes Masterson working more innings can boost a pitching staff that in 2009 ranked next-to-last in the AL in earned run average.

“You look at his size [6-foot-6, 250 pounds] and his stuff and what’s not to like?” Acta said.

Acquired with Nick Hagadone and Bryan Price for Victor Martinez, Masterson is the player Indians fans hope brings a quick return on the unpopular deal. They talk about the Indians not getting enough in return — pointing to Masterson’s 1-7 record after the trade and that the other two players are still in the minor leagues.

Catcher Wyatt Toregas says not to worry. He caught Masterson’s first career complete game — a four-hitter with 12 strikeouts in a 1-0 loss to the Chicago White Sox on Sept. 30. The young catcher says that was just a preview.

“He’s got nasty stuff, real nasty,” Toregas said. “He’s not only tough to hit, he’s tough to catch. His fastball has great sink and his slider is sharp. It really dives.

“The key in that game was how he was in a comfort zone. Before that, it was a learning experience.”

Masterson brought Red Sox theories with him, mixed in a few from former Indians pitching coach Carl Willis and added some of his own. It became a frustrating jumble.

“We worked on some ideas,” he said, “and it didn’t necessarily work as well as I wanted.”

New Indians pitching coach Tim Belcher wants Masterson to maintain his delivery, develop an effective change, and improve against left-handed hitters.

“We want him controlling both sides of the plate,” Belcher said. “If he’s got to go a little further inside to back batters off a bit more, so be it. Make them take notice.

“Not many right-handers enjoy standing in against him now. We want that respect from lefties.”