His stats are painful to look at. His attitude sounds great. (Thing Tribe would prefer a rotten attitude with great stats?) http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/sports/baseball/mlb/cleveland_indians/9037036.htm? Posted on Tue, Jun. 29, 2004 Robertson starts on road to relief Indians lefty content with move to bullpen from starting rotation By David Lee Morgan Jr. Beacon Journal staff writer CLEVELAND - ``It's been a crazy year,'' Indians left-handed pitcher Jeriome Robertson said. Crazy and frustrating. First, Robertson was a mainstay in the Houston Astros' rotation last year but he was out of a job after Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens were signed over the winter. Traded to the Indians on March 31, Robertson was first called up April 20 when Indians No. 5 starter Jason Stanford went on the disabled list with a strained left forearm. In one game, Robertson allowed eight runs (five earned) in 5 1/3 innings. He was sent back to Buffalo three days later. More than two months later, Robertson is back. ``I made it hard on myself early on,'' he said. ``It was all in my head. I thought because I had a successful year last year, I deserved to be in the big leagues, and that didn't happen. I just had to be patient and pitch the way I knew I could.'' Robertson was recalled the second time after right-hander Rafael Betancourt was placed on the 15-day disabled list. At Buffalo, Robertson was 4-5 with a 7.27 ERA in 14 appearances, including 12 starts. ``I started throwing well my last couple of appearances in Buffalo,'' he said. ``I feel healthy and strong.'' Robertson has been mainly a starter his entire career. Last year with Houston, he was 15-9 with a 5.10 ERA. So far with the Indians' organization, he has been used as a reliever, as well. ``We transitioned him in the bullpen just because we felt like that's where he can help us up here,'' Indians manager Eric Wedge said. ``He's had success in lefty-on-lefty situations, and he can give us length. He has experience.'' In his only appearance since being called up, Robertson pitched two scoreless innings Saturday in relief and allowed just one hit, as the Indians defeated the Colorado Rockies in extra innings. He was credited with the win. Robertson is 1-0 with a 6.14 ERA in two appearances (7 1/3 innings) for the Tribe. ``We threw him right in the fire, and he handled it very well,'' Wedge said about the appearance Saturday. ``Ideally, we'd love to have him as a guy that's an option for us in the bullpen, whether it's early or late in a game.'' ``I like his experience. You have to be doing something right to get 15 wins in one year at the major-league level,'' Indians pitching coach Carl Willis said. ``I certainly don't think you could ever rule out this guy as a starter. When we acquired him, that was the thought and he's obviously making himself more valuable and giving us more options.'' Robertson doesn't care where the Indians use him. ``I'll throw out of the bullpen if that's where they need me,'' he said. ``If they need a lefty specialist, I'm willing to do that too. I've been humbled this year. There are things that happen in this game that you don't know why. But this is the place to be, there's no doubt in my mind.''
