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They will keep him. They would be just another team with a revolving door if they did not.

I'll tell you, though, CC's got mental issues at it relates to his pitching. I've seen it for years and been concerned but last year he pretty much kept it in check until he melted-down for all the world to see in the playoffs.

If Fausto has another season similar to last, I think that he would be more suited to be the team's ace than CC.

I don't think the contract with Fausto shows any indication at all that they are planning on losing CC. If anything I think it shows they are setting up to keep him and this is why I think that.

1.) they signed this young pitcher to a possible 7 year contract for a steal. If he does all 7 years it is a little over 6 Million a year. As the article says, that was player and team friendly. An indication early on to CC that the team now will do a long term contract and that they are serious about winning.

2.) With this contract being team and player friendly it also means that they didn't blow their budget on one pitcher and have left more in reserve for their Ace come seasons end.

3.) Both CC and Fausto have been in the Cleveland system pretty much for their entire careers. The team just showed loyalty to their player by coming off their reluctance to sign pitchers to long term deals. Basically letting CC know that when it comes time, a long term contract for him possible as well.

Bottom line is Shapiro is a very effective leader in the front office of this team and I feel very positive that come next year our opening day pitcher will be CC and Fausto will follow.

To have those two guys locked up would be a 1-2 punch for years to come...Those two guys on the top of the rotation is scary sick, and I dont follow the AL like the NL....I think that the Indians know what they have in CC..

Tribe13 - Educate me on the meltdown from last year...I dont rememeber, plus I was not following the the Indians last year..

Slinky / Tribe13 - Sorry guys I looked at the posts wrong...Could either one of you guys lets me know about last years playoff meltdown..Still early here in Texas...

Well Tribe, I hope you are correct because I like the thought of Ceveland being a contender for the next few years. It was enjoyable taking you down in the playoffs last year and I'd like that matchup to continue. Boston fans had a lot of respect for what these two guys did and were capable of in the playoffs. Fortunately for us, it didn't pan out well for them.
Enjoy the weekend, man.

Slinky, I agree with you about questionable mental issue possibilities with CC. He looks though like he could be at point where he's starting to listen to coaching and catching which could keep him stronger, longer.
Kind of like where Josh Beckett is.

#1astrofan....I wouldn't label it a meltdown as much as I would a young pitcher not providing what he did pretty much all season long. But show me any player that doesn't have any lull in his ability. I mean look at A-rod during post season. Fausto pretty much established himself last year with excelent numbers that weren't expected. Apparently the team feels he's on the right track now which brought on the long contract. But if you look at CC as well, he didn't exactly mow them down against Boston. I'll give Boston credit because they had/have a lineup you can't slip up with or you will pay dearly. I think they were trying too hard to figure the team out instead of just pitching to their abilities. No question CC over threw a lot. Once he gets over 95-96, he starts getting wild. I think what happend with Fausto and CC stemmed from a couple things. Many innings pitched. CC and Fausto both go deep into games when they are on. Secondly it was the first playoff season for Fausto so inmaturity probably contributed to his difficulty in producing. So the media calling it a "meltdown" is a little extreme, but he definitely fell of agains Boston.

Man, still early here in Charlotte as well..."fell off against Boston".

Tribe13 - Thanks for the insight...I kind of remember now what you are talking about...I feel like a backwoods hill-billy when I have to ask questions I should already know the answer to.....Anyways, thanks for the help...

You shouldn't already know that answer, but you're still a backwoods hill-billy. ;-)

I would not say Fausto melted down, CC did. and I think it was mental, not physical (because of innings pitched) - he was hitting 98 and 99 on the radar guns in the playoffs. He never throws that hard. His control suffered and he'd have to throw over the plate. A lack of comand against teams as patient as the Yanks and Sox will kill you and it did.

Fausto's game 2 of the ALDS was the #1 single game pitching performance in the post season last year. Bar none. Better than Becketts complete game shutout of the Angels.

astrofan, don't worry about being a backwoods hill-billy -- I'm a dirty half-jew that lives in Cleveland.

And we love ya for it Slinky...how was opening day by the way? Seeing as how you were actually there.

CC should take heart - Yankee pinstripes are slimming.

Slinky - I grunted when I read you first sentence, and then sharted after laughing so hard when I finished.....Great job on that one...

Opening day was SWEET. We won. It wasn't snowing. It wasn't raining. It was about 55 degrees, I think, and we actually saw the sunshine for a while.

I drank WAY too much but it was worth it!

Glad you enjoyed it, Astro.

What's that smell?........Oh! It's Cleveland!

Broadhead they let you back on the forums already? At least if you are going to throw in mornoic one liner insults have it come somewhere in the middle of a paragraph where you have something insightful written so that it balances out the equation. And the Indians really pulled a steal with this deal. And by not breaking the bank they still have the money needed to sign CC. Also the 7 year deal shows CC that Cleveland is willing to give him a long contract. Indians whole front office should go out for a well earned steak dinner for this one.

Broadhead I take that back. You won immunity for the day with your comment about Tony LaRussa getting pinched on a DUI every year on the other forum.

What's that smell?........Oh! It's Cleveland!
Broadhead | 04/11/08, 11:17 AM

That smell is your shytty jokes