"It's the pitches per inning that breaks guys down," Melvin says.

In Melvin's view, CC Sabathia's 130-pitch complete game against the Astros on Monday night was not as outrageous as it appeared — and it appeared borderline criminal, considering that Sabathia went back out for the ninth with a 9-2 lead.

Melvin found it necessary Tuesday to defend manager Ned Yost's usage of Sabathia, who A) leads the majors with 195 1/3 innings pitched this season; B) appeared to tire in last year's American League Championship Series; and C) is a free agent at the end of the season.

Melvin offers a detailed, rational explanation for Yost's decision, and he met with Yost and pitching coach Mike Maddux after Monday's game to make sure they were comfortable and consistent in their approach.

Sabathia, Melvin points out, has averaged only 13.9 pitches per inning in his nine starts with the Brewers — close to Greg Maddux's major league-low average of 13.5.

What's more, Sabathia did not labor in the late innings Monday night, throwing a combined 20 pitches in the seventh and eighth, giving him 112 entering the ninth.

"The risk is greater when guys are throwing 20, 22, even 25 pitches in an inning," Melvin says. "They're laboring. They're up to 100 pitches in the fifth inning."

Keep in mind that Sabathia, thanks to breaks in the Brewers' schedule, will get an extra day of rest before his next start and two extra days in his start after that.

Francisco Rodriguez will be out of the Indians' price range. Kerry Wood likely will stay with the Cubs. But look for the Indians to make runs at virtually every other closer on the market this offseason, from Brian Fuentes to Brandon Lyon to Rafael Soriano.

Class AAA right-hander Adam Miller almost certainly will open the season in the Indians' bullpen if he is healthy, but the Tribe will need to add at least one veteran reliever and maybe more. They also will need to use an internal option such as left-hander Zach Jackson or righty Anthony Reyes in their rotation until right-hander Jake Westbrook returns in the second half from Tommy John surgery.

Class AAA left-hander David Huff is another pitcher who could figure into the Indians' plans. The Yankees planned to take Huff ahead of Joba Chamberlain in the sandwich round of the 2006 draft, but the Indians grabbed the lefty first. Huff is a combined 10-5 with a 2.39 ERA at Class AA and AAA, with 135 strikeouts and just 27 walks in 1352/3 innings.

Around the horn

The Rockies are preparing to place closer Brian Fuentes on waivers and they could also make a more concerted effort to trade center fielder Willy Taveras, who leads the majors with 58 stolen bases. Injuries to Ryan Spilborghs and Scott Podsednik left the Rockies reluctant to trade Taveras at the non-waiver deadline, but the team has since fallen out of contention and Podsednik is close to beginning a rehabilitation assignment . . .