AUSTIN, Texas — There were some days pitcher Zach Jackson didn't know if he was coming or going.

Cleveland or Columbus? Reliever or starter?

That uncertainty made 2009 a season of frustration for the Seneca Valley graduate.

"That's an understatement," said Jackson. "It was definitely a challenging year. There was not a lot of consistency and not just in my performance. I was jumping around."

Jackson, 26, was removed from the Indians' 40-man roster and sent outright to Class AAA Columbus (Ohio) Sept. 24.

When the season opened, he lost out on being the No. 5 starter but made the Indians' opening-day roster as a long reliever.

At the time, Jackson, who now resides in Austin, thought it would be a new role for him while keeping the door open to return as a starter.

As it turned out, he got both, with mixed results.

After two relief appearances, including a four-inning stint in which he allowed two runs but struck out six and walked one, the Indians sent Jackson back to the Clippers April 22.

In a seven-game stint at Columbus in which he had four starts, Jackson went 3-2 with a 3.09 ERA, including a three-game winning streak before, being recalled for a spot start May 27 against the Tampa Bay Rays.

He allowed six runs in four innings with four strikeouts and received a no-decision in Cleveland's 12-7 win.

Jackson was sent back down and never returned.

In 30 games at Columbus, he tallied a 4-8 record and a 6.05 ERA. He struck out 67 batters and walked 33 in 99 2/3 innings. Jackson was 4-6 in 14 starts with the Clippers.

In Cleveland, he finished 0-0 with a 9.35 ERA with 10 strikeouts and four walks over 8X\c innings.

In 2008, Jackson had nine starts for Cleveland and went 2-3 with a 5.55 ERA, picking up consecutive wins against the Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox to close out the campaign and allowing only two runs in each of those games.

"You compete for the job in spring training, then you don't hear your name," said Jackson. "Now, you're the long man.

"It was mentally challenging. You start relieving, then they send you down and you plan on being a long reliever all year, then you start. Then, you spot start. It wasn't great, but I didn't take advantage.

"I got sent back down and went back to starting and relieving again," Jackson added.

All that began to take its toll on Jackson and his numbers.

"The consistency was not there and I let it show in my results," Jackson said. "I have to push past that."

When the Clippers' season ended in early September, Jackson wasn't recalled to Cleveland.

"It was disappointing," said Jackson. "I didn't expect it. You have to be accountable and I didn't deserve it.

"It's actually a blessing in disguise. It gives me a chance to get my mind clear. I'm getting married (Nov. 9), so it was a much-needed break," Jackson added.

This offseason, Jackson is looking to get re-energized and come into spring training raring to go.

"I want to push myself and work hard in the offseason," said Jackson. "I'm going to try and get on the horn and get as many resources around here in Texas.

"I ended the season with a number of mechanical flaws. Sometimes holding a baseball seemed so foreign to me," he added.