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Rafael Betancourt #63 | Pitcher | Cleveland Indians
Height: 6-2    Weight: 200    Throws: R    Bats: R
Born: Apr 29, 1975, Cumana,
Contract: Signed through 2009, club option for 2010
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2008 Statistics
PeriodGGSCGSHOWLSVBSIPHBBERHRKERAWHIP
Yesterday00000000.0000000.000.00
Last 7 Days200000002.1401013.861.71
Last 14 Days600000016.0854056.002.17
Last 21 Days900000019.01456066.002.11
200869000344471.076254011645.071.42
Career Stats
YearTeamGGSCGWLSVIPHBBERHRKERAK/9BB/9H/9WHIP
2003CLE330022138.0271395362.138.533.086.391.05
2004CLE680056466.27118297763.9210.262.439.581.34
2005CLE540043167.25717215732.799.712.267.581.09
2006CLE500034356.25211247483.817.621.758.261.11
2007CLE680051379.1519134801.479.081.025.790.76
2008CLE690034471.076254011645.078.113.179.631.42
Career34200222016379.133493136393773.238.942.217.921.13
Player Notes
July 30, 2008
Rafael Betancourt continues to struggle to find the form that made him one of the most dominant relievers in baseball, but the team is still hopeful that he will rebound down the stretch, according to MLB.com. "You look at the depth of his breaking ball and the arm action on his changeup, and it's better," manager Eric Wedge said. "Where he struggles is in regard to how to use it."

Our View:Betancourt could still figure into the mix for saves if things were to suddenly click for him cause the team doesn't appear to have much confidence in Masa Kobayashi in the role, though Betancourt has shown little sign of returning to last year's dominance.
July 16, 2008
Rafael Betancourt has been a huge disappointment for the Indians in the first half as he has failed to remotely approach his production of last season, according to The Plain Dealer.

Our View:Betancourt has failed to live up to expectations including allowing right handers to bat .315 leading to a 6.00 ERA, while permitting seven of 14 inherited runners to score. The "stuff" is still there for an extended run of success, but there has been little consistency to speak of this season.
May 16, 2008
Updating a previous report, Rafael Betancourt has indeed been removed from the closers role in Cleveland and the spot will now be filled by four pitchers, according to the Associated Press. “I look at it like we have four guys I feel comfortable using in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings, depending on the matchup and availability,” manager Eric Wedge said. “That’s how I’m goring to play it out. I’m not going to say somebody is or somebody isn’t (a closer). I feel we can be comfortable using all four of those guys.”

Our View:The four pitchers are Jensen Lewis, Rafael Perez, Masa Kobayashi and Bentacourt, and it sure looks like Kobayashi is the top option with Betancourt most likely to slide back into his setup role since most managers like to keep their top lefty (Perez) for tough matchups.
May 16, 2008
Rafael Betancourt, who has struggled for most of the past two weeks, may have lost his hold on the closing job in Cleveland to Masa Kobayashi, according to MLB.com. "I've got to reflect upon everything and go from there," manager Eric Wedge said when asked about the fate of Bentancourt. "I haven't had time to think about it just yet."

Our View:What is clear in all of this is that Kobayashi appears to be a must pick up in deep mixed leagues as the potential for him to pick up saves moving forward appears to be very real given that he has two in his last two appearances.
May 15, 2008
Rafael Betancourt just isn't getting it done right now, he has allowed runs in five of his last seven appearances after allowing another run on Thursday.

Our View:Masa Kobayashi picked up his second save in as many appearances on Thursday for the Tribe and is certainly is worth a pickup in AL Only leagues, and he may have worked his way into mixed league consideration as well. As for Betancourt, keep an eye on his role, it might be changing.