Updated: February 2, 2007, 2:46 PM ET

Magic number for hurlers is 30 starts

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Gammons By Peter Gammons
ESPN
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Five Indians pitchers made 159 starts in 2005, and Cleveland won more games than any team in the three-division era that didn't make the playoffs. On 2006 opening night, C.C. Sabathia got hurt, the Indians ended up having to use nine starters over the season, and their pitching never quite got in sync.

Tony La Russa is known for his juggling of bullpens, but his success in Oakland and St. Louis has come, first and foremost, from his starters.

"The game," Ozzie Guillen likes to stay, "belongs to starting pitchers."

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