Indians Send McDowell to Bullpen

Former AL Cy Young Award winner Jack McDowell, who has a 12.51 earned-run average and has not pitched well since coming off the disabled list last season, has been sent to the bullpen to work out his problems.

McDowell, who has yet to make a relief appearance in his eight-year major league career, will stay in the Cleveland Indians’ bullpen indefinitely, Manager Mike Hargrove said after Saturday’s 11-6 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers.

“I think he understands the move,” Hargrove said. “I don’t expect him to like it. I don’t like having to do it.”

McDowell, the AL’s winningest pitcher in the ‘90s and the Cy Young winner in 1993 with the Chicago White Sox, wasn’t ready to talk about his demotion yet.

“I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” a dejected McDowell told reporters.

Since coming off his first career stint on the disabled list last Aug. 9, McDowell has given up 93 hits in 63 2/3 innings with an 8.06 ERA.

“Jack has been struggling, and it’s accumulated since the second half of last year,” Hargrove said. “We felt at this point in time that we don’t have the luxury of allowing him to work out his problems in the rotation.”

McDowell, known for his nasty split-fingered fastball, has been reluctant to throw his curveball since straining his forearm last season. The Indians decided McDowell will have a better chance of regaining his form--and confidence--with work in the bullpen and in brief relief outings.

Albie Lopez will take McDowell’s spot in the rotation April 23, Hargrove said. After that, it’s not clear what will happen.

Hargrove did make it clear that, ideally, McDowell will not be a reliever permanently.

“We want him back in the rotation,” Hargrove said.