by Ken Rosenthal

Sabathia threw 18 pitches in the ninth inning Monday -- and his team had a 9-2 lead. (Lenny Ignelzi / Associated Press)

"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.

Also keep in mind that Melvin says, "Our game plan all year has been to push our starters a little bit more to stay away from overusing our bullpen."

The plan has worked: In the National League, only the Diamondbacks are using their bullpen less than the Brewers. The Milwaukee rotation, meanwhile, is holding up well; the only Brewers starter to miss a turn was right-hander Jeff Suppan, whose 15-day stint on the DL spanned the All-Star break, creating minimal impact.

All legitimate points, but there was zero upside to Sabathia pitching the ninth on Monday night. Discretion is the better part of valor, particularly when it comes to the handling of pitchers. Yost took an unnecessary, and potentially self-defeating, risk.

Cubs' Dempster: Going nowhere

Cubs right-hander Ryan Dempster is putting together a monster season heading into free agency, but the chances of him leaving Chicago are minimal, even with the Cubs in the process of being sold.

Dempster, much like Cubs closer Kerry Wood, enjoys a close relationship with general manager Jim Hendry. At some point, Hendry will be asked to detail his offseason plans for the competing ownership groups. Re-signing Dempster almost certainly will be his No. 1 priority.

Dempster, sixth in the NL with a 2.92 ERA, is starting regularly for the first time since 2003, but showing no signs of wearing down. His monthly ERAs, from April to August: 3.16, 2.35, 4.55, 1.99, 3.06.

Angels' Anderson: A pro's pro

Angels third baseman Chone Figgins says teammate Garret Anderson merits Hall of Fame consideration. Anderson's career numbers — 2,330 hits, 270 homers — are not good enough, but his current 21-game hitting streak offers new reason to appreciate him for what he is: An outstanding player.

Anderson, 36, batted .231 in April and .188 in June, but those struggles were the prelude to his usual second-half revival. He initially bristled at increased time as a designated hitter, but adjusted nicely to the role, recognizing that manager Mike Scioscia had no other way to find at-bats for all of his outfielders.

"My personality is a laid-back personality," Anderson says. "It's not killing me to DH. I'm not bouncing off the walls between at-bats. I remember talking to Paul Molitor about it when he started DH-ing. He said that he watched the game. I watch the game. I watch the other pitcher, watch situations. I stay in the game that way."

As for the future, Anderson says, "I know for sure that I want to play next year," but he will not set a limit beyond that; doing so, he says, would amount to taking the first step toward retirement. The Angels can exercise his $14 million option or buy him out for $3 million, but Anderson says, "That's actually the least of my concerns. My main concern is producing on the field."

Someone will take 'em

The surprising performances of two Orioles veterans, infielder/DH Aubrey Huff and third baseman Melvin Mora, should leave the team in decent position to trade both this offseason, if not sooner.

Both Huff and Mora have cleared waivers, but are unlikely to be dealt in August — in part, perhaps, because of the money left on their contracts. Huff, 31, is guaranteed $8 million next season. Mora, 36, is due $9 million.

Huff, seventh in the AL in OPS, is also a difficult fit for most clubs, though the Twins, for one, would benefit from his addition.

Teams in need of power should find Huff attractive on a one-year deal this winter. At his present pace, he will finish with 35 homers and 114 RBIs.

Mora, meanwhile, holds a full no-trade clause, but he could be in even more demand than Huff, considering that Joe Crede is the top free agent in an extremely thin market at third base — and that Mora is on pace for 27 homers and 121 RBIs.

The Orioles also will look to trade catcher Ramon Hernandez, who is signed for $8 million next season with a $1 million buyout for 2010 but not having nearly as good a year as Huff and Mora. Catcher Matt Wieters, the team's top position prospect, could be ready midway through next season.

Indians: Ready to pursue closers

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 135 2/3 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 . . .

At least in one respect, the Marlins' remaining schedule is easier than the Phillies' and Mets'. The Phillies have eight games left against the Cubs and Brewers, the Mets seven, the Marlins none. Then again, the Mets play 15 of their final 22 games at home, the Phillies 13 of their final 19. The Marlins end their season with a seven-game trip to Cincinnati, Washington and New York . . .

A scout who saw Astros right-hander Roy Oswalt allow the Diamondbacks one hit in eight shutout innings Sunday says, "He was magnificent, as good as I've seen him in three or four years. He was up to 95 mph. He commanded both sides of the plate. He had slider command away to right-handed hitters, and that Bugs Bunny curveball." Another scout who attended the game also had praise for the D-Backs' Randy Johnson, whose velocity was 89 to 94 mph, up from 86 to 90 earlier in the season . . .

So far, so good for Pirates Class AA outfielder Jose Tabata, whose questionable makeup has not been an issue since he arrived in a trade from the Yankees. "Everyone says he's a dog, but he played well for me," one scout says. "He ran every ball out, played well defensively. He can flat hit. But if the power is there, it's going to be late coming." Tabata just turned 20, and the Pirates envision him as a hitter who can produce 65 extra-base hits per season while playing quality defense . . .

Don't be surprised if the Brewers exercise center fielder Mike Cameron's $10 million club option or extend him for another year rather than buy him out for $750,000. Cameron, 35, ranks seventh among major-league center fielders in OPS and 11th in Bill James Online's plus-minus defensive rankings. Quality center fielders are in short supply, and the Brewers probably could not find a comparable replacement for $10 million or replace Cameron internally. Tony Gwynn Jr. has only 10 extra-base hits in 328 at-bats at Class AAA . . .

The Angels' offseason will be further complicated if outfielder Gary Matthews Jr. requires some type of medical procedure on his left knee. Matthews, who turns 34 on Monday, already will be difficult to move — he has full no-trade protection through next season, and is owed $33 million over the next three years. Surgery would require 3-6 months of rehabilitation, eliminating any chance that the Angels could clear Matthews' salary . . .

In addition to producing his usual stellar numbers, the Indians' Grady Sizemore is becoming more of a leader. "He's letting more of his personality come through, being more vocal, taking charge more," Indians manager Eric Wedge says. "You hear him more in the clubhouse and in the dugout. He's even doing some teaching." Sizemore, forever assuming, says he leads more by example, but at age 26, he's filling a necessary role, considering that the Indians have lost Victor Martinez and Travis Hafner to injuries and CC Sabathia, Casey Blake and Paul Byrd in trades . . .

A friend of Rafael Palmeiro's who recently saw the former slugger reports that Palmeiro is in excellent condition as he approaches his 44th birthday on Sept. 24. Palmeiro's son, third baseman Patrick Palmeiro, was the Pirates' 22nd-round pick out of Heritage H.S. in Colleyville, Tex. Rafael's younger son, Preston, 13, also plays baseball, and could have a bright future.