Proceed as you have this year, with Sowers and Westbrook.Sowers has two option years left, including this year.It’s something to ponder going into next year. It is unreasonable to expect Westbrook to be ready for the start of the year. It would be an insurance policy of sorts, because you can never have too much pitching.Or you could simply re-sign Paul Byrd for another year.You can give Adam Miller an outright chance to win the spot out of Spring Training, but seeing as he has been shut down this year, I don’t know what to make or think about that idea.Maybe the most favorable option would be to up the ante for C.C Sabathia. We have no one in house to take that spot in the rotation.That leaves the Indians with a few options.Sign a low-priced veteran of the Paul Byrd mold, or maybe take a chance on someone ala Boston with Bartolo Colon. Paul Byrd is as well, and he could even retire.Adam Miller, the stud flamethrower in the Minor Leagues is also out for the year, and that severely hinders his progress once again.Miller was supposed to contribute this year, and if all went well would have been claiming one of those rotation spots next year.This leaves only three pitchers in the rotation next year that we can count on being there: Cliff Lee, Fausto Carmona, and Aaron Laffey.Even if Jeremy Sowers shows his stuff filling in for Fausto Carmona for the next month or so, does that really put faith in the rotation as a whole? You do still have another spot up for grabs, and as far as I can tell. He probably won’t have spring training, so that means he will have to start similarly to how Choo did.That puts an even tougher strain on an Indians’ rotation that is in question next year.Not a bad question, but one of intrigue.As it’s widely known, C.C Sabathia is a free agent after this year. Lewis Yocum on Friday, which is never good news for any athlete, especially pitchers He and fellow medical guru Dr.

James Andrews are fast becoming known as the “Doctors of Death.”A visit to either of them usually signals the end of your season, more than likely.That is Westbrook’s fate, and he will now need Tommy John surgery on his elbow.He is almost certainly gone for the rest of the year, and depending on his progress could miss some of next season as well.Let’s face it, Shin-Soo Choo missed some of this year with the same injury, and he isn’t even a pitcher.Jake Westbrook could be out for the rest of the year, and then some. Jake Westbrook keeps leaving the door open, and other pitchers are just sliding right in.Last year, it was Westbrook’s injury that enabled the Indians to keep Fausto Carmona around just a little bit longer.The rest is the legend of Carmona, who went from laughing stock closer, to Cy Young candidate.Well, Jake has done it again, this time it’s Aaron Laffey as the benefactor.Westbrook saw Dr. Hamlin took the sweep at Pocono in his rookie season by winning both poles and both races that year. Hamlin starts on the outside of Row 8, but it is a long race and he will have plenty of time to make his way to the front, and my prediction he will finish inside of the top five.I also think that Jeff Burton will have a great run thisweekend, along with Jimmie Johnson, and I think this weekend, Matt Kenseth will begin his quest to make a comeback to make the Chase, as he did in 2005. . Edwards has been the fastest car in practice, and he starts the race in the 6th starting position. Edwards will take the lead somewhere around lap 40, and will lead the majority of the race and take his 4th checkered of the season.Dark horse: Denny HamlinHamlin may not be much of a “dark horse” as he always seems to run well, and he drives for one of the super-teams, in Joe Gibbs Racing.

He’s been hot all season, with 3 wins and he sits 4th in the points standings. However, he wrecked his primary Cup car in practice, and will have to go to the backup car. Carl Edwards in the #99 Office Depot Ford has been the fastest in both practices this week. This weekend the Winsto….er…NEXTEL….er Sprint Cup Series heads to Pocono Raceway for the Pocono 500.Kyle Busch, the Sprint Cup points leader by 142 points, is scorching hot this season. Nobody is suggesting Alex Cora should receive tons of at-bats any time soon But, would pushing Pedroia down in the order help?J.D Drew stands at .310/.413/.476 on the season. It took him plenty of time to figure out Drew shouldn?t be our #5 hitter.

Francona?s leash is always very long with established regulars moving them from permanent batting slots. That alone brings his value up even with the below average numbers.This doesn?t excuse the 0 for 4 last night against Seattle, or the 0 for 8 he put up vs. Tampa, or the fact he has two multi-hit games since May 21, or that his once remarkable .364/.418/.523 line last in April has now plummeted to .266/.313/.375. For his small frame, the range Pedroia has at his position is remarkable. I can remember countless outstanding diving plays at second base that saved leads and ballgames. For someone hitting in front of Ortiz and Ramirez, managing the lowest OBP on the team is very concerning.Pedroia does make it up in some ways.