Published: April 17, 2009 11:40 am      

Laffey delivers birthday return on tax day

What in the world could be better than pitching in a big-league baseball game on your birthday? OK, pitching and winning a big-league game on your birthday, but the Cleveland Indians’ Aaron Laffey did all he could do there two days ago, Wednesday, April 15, in Kansas City, making his first big-league start of the year after starting the season in Triple A Columbus.

When Laffey left the game with one out in the sixth, and a runner on third, he left the Tribe bullpen with a 2-1 lead, having given up just three hits on the day. But after Joe Smith struck out John Buck, Jensen Lewis had trouble with his control and walked three straight Royals hitters to force in the tie run, which was charged to Laffey.

Cleveland came right back to post a three-spot in the top of the seventh and went on to preserve the 5-4 victory, just its second win of the young season. Oddly enough, it was Lewis, who walked in the tie run that was charged to Laffey, then gave up two more runs on the day, who was credited with the win; not Laffey, who was nothing short of masterful, but had to live with the no-decision.

That didn’t appear to bother the former Allegany southpaw too much. It was, after all, his birthday, and he was pitching in the big leagues again. And, according to Cleveland manager Eric Wedge, he will again soon as Scott Lewis (disabled list, strained forearm), who was awarded the spot in the rotation in spring training, will miss at least one more start and maybe three more.

Wedge said he would “re-evaluate” things after Laffey’s birthday performance, “But obviously, (Laffey) pitched well enough to earn it (another start).”

As Laffey is the type that tends to keep his mouth sealed and things to himself when things aren’t going the way he would like, it was Wednesday after the game that many of us learned he was not so understanding in having been sent down last month. Being the competitor that he is, we naturally expect that, but after the game, Wedge told reporters there was not much hiding the lefty’s displeasure when he received his itinerary for the Columbus trip.

“Laffey wasn’t particularly pleased when we sent him down,” the Indians manager said. “Now he has a chance to pitch, so let’s go.”

“I don't think (not making the rotation) affected me,” Laffey told reporters. “Everyone is going to be bitter, especially having had some success up here.

“I do think there was a little more incentive for me this time. The other times I was up here, I was young and figured I’ll have other opportunities. This time, I felt it was my spot. I came back to prove it should be my spot, and I’m going to do everything I can do to show it is my spot. And I think I made a good case for myself.”

Yes, if that caught you by surprise to discover Aaron Laffey used to be young, you’re not alone; but his point is well taken. While this being-in-the-bigs thing never gets old, it’s not as though Laffey is Rebecca, fresh off the crop duster from Sunnybrook. Two years ago, he did help the Indians to their late-season run to the American League Central title, and to the decisive game of the League Championship Series, having helped celebrate the Tribe’s advance after the final postseason game in the history of Yankee Stadium.

That’s right, Yankee fans, not only did your boys not win the World Series again last year as you feel they have every season, they didn’t even make the postseason for the first time since 1994. You must have been thinking of Joe Torre’s Dodgers.

After a season in which he won five games before being shut down for the final month due to an uncomfortable elbow, Laffey, who grew up one of those blasted Yankee fans, yesterday afternoon found himself taking in the first official game at the new Yankee Stadium, which just goes to show you what a cyclical game of fate baseball can be. Hopefully, he didn’t get stuck with one of those obstructed-view seats, of which there are 1,048 in the billion-dollar tribute to the Fall of the Roman Empire (and that’s 954,198 dollars, 47 cents per obstructed-view seat in case you were wondering).

If all of that’s not being around the block several times in a short period of time, then how about Laffey answering the bell with a gem after being recalled to the big leagues with his team owning the worst record in the American League and in dire need for an effective performance to help pick up a rotation that has been dreadful since the season began?

“It’s weird,” Laffey told reporters. “I’m only 24, but I feel old. I feel like I’ve been in pro ball a very long time.”

Given what he showed again on Wednesday, it would appear Aaron Laffey has every intention of growing even older by spending more of his coming birthdays in a big-league uniform for an even longer time.

Mike Burke is sports editor of the Cumberland Times-News. Write to him at mburke@times-news.com