Tuesday, August 2, 2011

MLB.com hires writers who embrace controversy

Skip Bayless ain't got shit on Mike Bauman. Brace yourselves, America. It's about to get real in here. This is the kind of incendiary stance that usually follows a false qualifier like "I understand that the US government did not stage the 9/11 attacks, but all I'm saying is..." or "Listen, I'm the least racist person in the world, but..." Have I adequately prepared you? Here goes:

Only future will tell for impact of Jimenez trade

Deep breaths, people. He's know that's preposterous. He's just trying to bait you.

In all of the non-waiver Trade Deadline activity, the one individual case that was most compelling was that of Ubaldo Jimenez.

The one single sentence in this article that was most poorly written was that of the first sentence that started the article.

However briefly, he achieved greatness. Now, moving from the Colorado Rockies to the Cleveland Indians, will he again find greatness, or will he never again be the pitcher that he was in the first half of 2010?

Well those are great questions, and I'm pretty sure both Colorado GM Dan O'Dowd and Cleveland GM Chris Antonetti have the answer to both: yes. Maybe. But if stuff happens, then definitely not.

The range of possible performances from him would seem to be somewhere between large and immense.

Which makes Jimenez different than most pitchers- their range of potential performances is usually somewhere in between medium and average-sized. And I take back what I said about that opening sentence being the most poorly written in the article.

On the side of his acquisition, Jimenez's injuries earlier this season were not arm injuries and most of his recent work was trending in a positive direction, with five quality starts in six outings at one point, including victories over heavy-hitting clubs such as the Yankees and the Brewers.

On the side of trading him, since the All-Star break in 2010, Jimenez has gone 10-16 with an ERA of 4.19.

A complete list of things you just learned about Jimenez and Colorado's decision to trade him that you couldn't have learned in 30 seconds on baseball-reference:

The contrasts are stark, and so are the views about what might be next for Jimenez. He is only 27, but that cuts both ways, too. In theory, a return to dominance is more than possible. But the Rockies weren't counting on that happening, or they wouldn't have traded a 27-year-old with a manageable contract and with one great half-season on his resume.

A complete list of valuable insights regarding Colorado's decision to trade Jimenez and Cleveland's decision to obtain him that you just gained from those two sentences:

This trade by the Indians is neither a screaming-in-the-night gamble

What kind of gamble? The imagery that phrase conjures up doesn't really make me think about taking on risk and hoping to be rewarded for it.

nor a lock.

If only it were a lock!

There is evidence to suggest that Jimenez can pitch competently for them.

OK.

But they could use something substantially better than that.

Right, but-

In that significant area between all right and great is where the questions will be asked and answered.

Jeebus, are you Joe Morgan? Are you Peter King? What are you getting paid for again? Take a stance on something you dunce.

In conclusion: Ubaldo Jimenez is a pitcher. But that could change, largely or immensely, at any time in the future, depending on what happens.

1 comment:

Chris W said...

Next article: "the Phillies could very well win the world series, but they will have to make the playoffs and then play well in the playoffs to do it"