Indians continue losing

I know what you're probably thinking when you look at that headline. Duh, right? Well, yeah. The Indians have lost a season-high six straight, and several of those games have been particularly painful, including the one my lovely fiancee and I attended Wednesday, on my birthday. (For the record, the Indians haven't won since I was 37.)

The key problem has been the bullpen, as we know, though the starting rotation hasn't been great either. A quick review of the relievers' performance against the starters' in the six-game stretch:

* 6/15, vs. Brewers: Carl Pavano had one of his worst starts of the year, giving up six runs in five innings, but left with an 8-6 lead. The Indians go on to lead 12-7 before a six-run eighth inning at the expense of Luis Vizcaino, Matt Herges and current minor-leaguer Rafael Perez gives the Brewers a 14-12 win. The relievers gave up eight runs in four innings.

* 6/16, vs. Brewers: Jeremy Sowers took the loss in this one, but still only gave up three runs in his five innings of work, and left with the score 3-2 in Milwaukee's favor. Jensen Lewis did all right in his first two innings of relief, but went on to give up three runs in the eighth. The Tribe came back to score two in the bottom of the ninth, but couldn't make up the deficit in what turned out to be a 7-5 game. The bullpen gave up four runs in four innings.

* 6/17, vs. Brewers: This is the game we went to, and it started late because of rain. Not that that's important, but I'm just sort of thinking out loud, as it were. It's my blog, and I'll think out loud if I want to. Anywhat, starter David Huff struggled through five innings, but still only gave up three runs. It was tied at three going into the seventh, but Joe Smith was in his second inning, and couldn't hold them. Smith, Herges and Vizcaino gave up five runs over the last four innings of regulation. After the Indians sent it to extras with a stirring four-run bottom-of-the-ninth comeback, Kerry Wood pitched a perfect tenth, and current minor-leaguer Greg Aquino was lucky to get out of the 11th with just one run scored. The Indians weren't able to get a run in the bottom of the 11th, and it was a 9-8 loss. The bullpen gave up six runs in seven innings.

* 6/19, at Cubs: The Indians gave starter Cliff Lee a 7-0 lead to work with, but he started to let the Cubs creep back in, giving up a solo homer in the fifth and another one in the sixth. He left with a 7-2 lead after giving up a leadoff single in the eighth, and that runner would score with Smith on the mound. So Lee went seven and gave up three. From there, the bullpen completely imploded. Smith gave up three of his own (two were unearned), and Wood blew his third save in his much-anticipated return to Wrigley Field, forcing another extra-inning game. Vizcaino was the loser after walking Alfonso Soriano, letting him steal second, and then giving up an RBI single to Ryan Theriot. The bullpen gave up five runs (three earned) in 2 2/3 innings.

* 6/20, at Cubs: Starter Tomo Ohka struggled, but battled, through six innings, giving up four runs, but left with a 4-3 deficit. For once, Lewis, Herges, Smith and Perez held them tough while the Indians tied it in the seventh, then scored the go-ahead run in the top of the 13th in their third consecutive overtime game. But Wood totally imploded in the bottom of the 13th, blowing his fourth save of the season as he gave up the tying run on a single and the winning run on a wild pitch, which is the second-worst way for a pitcher to lose a game (after a bases-loaded walk). The bullpen gave up two runs in 6 1/3 innings.

* 6/21, at Cubs: This one was the starter's fault. Sowers gave up six runs in 4 1/3, and the offense was punchless against rookie Randy Wells. The bullpen gave up zero runs in 3 2/3 innings.

So during the six-game slide, the starters' ERA is 6.96, and the bullpen ERA is 8.44. And that's why the Indians have lost six games in a row.

Pitching pandemonium

There's plenty of blame to go around for the Indians' ugly 14-12 loss to the Brewers yesterday. Carl Pavano was never sharp, and gave up six runs on nine hits, including a Ryan Braun home run, in struggling through five innings. And the bullpen was even worse. Greg Aquino, Luis Vizcaino, Matt Herges and Rafael Perez each gave up two runs — though it should be pointed out that Herges' runs didn't score until Perez was on the mound. Perez gave up the Prince Fielder grand slam that put the Brew Crew ahead 13-12, and gave up two other hits and a walk. He never did record an out.

Perez was once one of the better set-up men in the majors, but he sure doesn't fit that description these days. He's been about as good at pitching as George Armstrong Custer was at battlefield planning. In 17 1/3 innings this year, Perez has given up 23 runs, all earned, for an 11.94 ERA. He's struck out 14, which is pretty good; but also walked 14, which is very, very bad. He spent most of May in Columbus, and I hope he liked that city, because he'll be back soon.

The Tribe offense seems to be humming along pretty well, I'm glad to report. Their 12 runs came with the help of four homers, and I just read that Grady Sizemore will be back in a week to 10 days. If they can just get the bullpen straightened out ...

Aw, let's face it. That's not going to happen this year. Too bad.

Today in sports history

Happy 40th birthday, Canadian-born journeyman major league outfielder Matt Stairs.

The stubby little Stairs (listed at 5'9", 175 pounds), grew up in Fredericton, New Brunswick, and was a standout in both hockey and baseball. He chose baseball, obviously, and the Montreal Expos (R.I.P.) drafted him as a pitcher/shortstop. He made his major league debut in 1992, but played in just 19 games for the Expos in '92 and '93 before going to Japan, playing one season for the Chunichi Dragons.

After a season with the Red Sox, Stairs started to blossom in Oakland, where he spent five years, topping 100 RBIs twice, and hitting 38 home runs in 1999, finishing 17th in the American League MVP voting that year. Stairs was kind of a late bloomer, having his best season at 31. Most hitters peak around age 27, but Stairs didn't even get to play regularly in the majors until he was 29.

Sensing that Stairs might be in for a budget-busting contract, A's GM Billy Beane traded him after the 2000 season to the Cubs for Matt Ireland. (Who? Exactly.) After that, he spent one year with the Cubs, one year with the Brewers, one year with the Pirates, and two-plus years with the Royals. Just to make sure he didn't get comfortable, the Rangers made a deadline deal for him in 2006, then waived him that September after he'd hit just .210 for them in 26 games. The Tigers picked him up, and he filled in for 14 games before signing with the Toronto Blue Jays, his 10th major league team (11th if you count Japan).

He had a decent 2007 for the Blue Jays at age 39, hitting .289 with 21 homers and 64 RBIs. He is signed through 2009. Perhaps he'll finish his career in his home country, just as he started it there.