Indians GM Won't Blind Meloan By Mandating Starting Role

The Dodgers' discard of Jonathan Meloan in the Casey Blake trade comes after his conversion to a starting pitching role was unsuccessful. Indians GM Mark Shapiro told the Cleveland Plain Dealer that rather than push this experiment further, they will evaluate Meloan as a reliever, a more comfortable role for Meloan:

Meloan, 24, was the Dodgers' fifth-round pick in 2005. He pitched out of the bullpen until being moved to the rotation this year at Las Vegas. He went 5-10 with a 4.97 ERA in 21 games, including 20 starts. He struck out 99 and walked 60 in 105 innings.

In his minor-league career -- Meloan made his big-league debut in 2007 with the Dodgers -- he has 355 strikeouts in 262 2/3 innings. The Indians, looking to repair one of the AL's worst bullpens, like him as a reliever.

"The Dodgers needed starting depth so that's why he was starting this year," said Shapiro. "I think most organizations saw him as a reliever. We'll move him to the pen so he doesn't get too many innings, take a look at him as a reliever and then take the off-season to decide what role he'll come to spring training in."

Okay, okay, I know this article is three days late and not really that newsworthy. I came up with the headline pun late, all right? So sue me!

All I can say, is that my life is pretty plain.