Even without CC Sabathia, the Cleveland Indians could make the playoffs in 2009 if they focus on fixing their long relief.

Over the past several years, the Indians builit a solid pitching staff comprised of CC Sabathia, Jake Westbrook & Cliff Lee. When Fausto Carmona emerged, and Paul Byrd was put into the fifth spot, the Indians suddenly had no two pitchers that could be called clones of each other, and they also had one of the best 1-5 pitching in either league.

CC was the fireballer with a deceptive change up, Jake Westbrook, by design, would allow many hits but very few walks, teasing opponents into makiing contact that many times resulted in crucial double plays. Fausto Carmona could throw hard, and had a sinker that left many batters wondering who elevated batters box. Even Cliff Lee could be viewed with his own style as well, a decent fastball and an effective curve with excellent accuracy.

When Paul Byrd was added, the Indians suddenly possessed one of the best one through five starting rotation in either league, and their top four pitchers were all UNDER the age of 30.

Another benefit the Indians enjoyed was that many of these pitchers not only could work into the 6th and 7th innings on a regular basis, they didn't walk that many batters, which helped keep their pitch counts down. The Indians starters tend to skew near the top of the league in allowing more hits, while giving up fewer walks. This is an interesting strategy as it actually can lower a pitchers overall pitch count while keeping the defense on their toes and alert. A batter can easily cause a pitcher to throw five or six pitches when getting a walk, and if they foul off a few two strike pitches, that pitch count can easily reach 8 pitches. Since the batter than reaches base, the next hitters pitches might as well be added, meaning every walk causes a pitcher to lose 8-10 pitches towards their pitch count total.

Starting the 2009 season, three of the five Indians starters are GONE, and their replacements just don't have a history of being 200 inning pitchers. I am estimating that the Indians relievers will pitch at least 162 more innings than this year, than they did last year.

I have read nothing from any of the spring training articles that suggests the Indians are planning on keeping 2 or 3 long relievers in the bullpen. The Indians seem so focused on the back end success of their pen (innings 7-9 less concerned with innings 4-6.

Games that the Indians fall hopelessly behind are also not conducive to using the back end of the pen, meaning the long relievers will serve two roles. First, they will try and save a game early on when the starters can't cut it. Secondly, games in which it looks like Cleveland has little chance to win should be closed out by a long reliever who can go the final three innings of the game.

I think the Indians will have most of their games decided based on what happens in innings 3-6. Lack of long relievers ready to go in the pen may force Eric Wedge to go with his starters too long. The Indians bullpen cannot afford to carry too many relievers who can only go one or two innings max, it will be their downfall if they choose this path.

Many average to slightly less than average pitchers tend to get lit up the more the other teams line-up faces them in the same game. Converting these types of pitchers to once through the line-up may prove somewhat effective.

The Indians offense, led by Grady Sizemore and Shin Soo Choo, should be good enough to come back from deficits and put up five and six runs a night. The key to winning will be taking a starting pitchers three runs allowed in three innings, and then holding the other team over the next 3 innings with a long reliever, as their own offense gets them back in the game. Then and only then will the back end relievers matter.

One bubble reliever has to be Kobayashi, who seems only capable of going one ineffective inning at a time. This slot MUST GO to a pitcher than can go three innings. As it stands right now, it appears the Indians have way too many one and two inning relievers, and nowhere near enough relievers that can go three innings.

I think Sarloos might be an ideal candidate for three inning relief work. Jeremy Sowers might fit that role as well. However, the third three inning guy should be able to throw some heat so we don't have three guys who all throw the same type of ball.

Ironically, Paul Byrd might be a candidate for long relief, but I think he remains unsigned as we speak. Here's hoping the Indians stockpile those three inning relievers coming out of the pen, they will surely need it this upcoming season.