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To the shock and dismay of virtually every single Rockies fan, Ubaldo Jimenez was traded yesterday to the Cleveland Indians. When the news first broke I was devastated because he was the Rockies best pitcher, a fan favorite, and a seemingly genuine, down to earth guy. As upset as I was that he had been traded, I was and am more upset with how the Rockies handled the situation. For whatever reason, the Rockies organization decided to have him pitch, even though they knew the deal was done. The poor guy couldn't find the strike zone! He even had his mom in San Diego to help him deal with the emotions surrounding the trade talks.
The shock has finally worn off so here are a few thoughts about the deal:
1. This season, Ubaldo had very poor run support so was it fair to trade him for the entire team underachieving? Probably not, but that's the nature of the game.
2. Ubaldo hasn't been the same player he was during the 1st half of last season. His velocity dropped about 3 mph, which makes the ball easier to read for the opposition. This could possibly be a continuing trend due to his mechanics, and also making him prone to a serious injury.
3. This season, Ubaldo was much better on the road, which could be attributed to the "Coors Field factor," and not getting enough movement at this high altitude.
4. The Indians gave up some of their top prospects for Ubaldo. I am upset that we don't get an immediate return for U since the Rockies are basically conceding this season. However, these guys could be great additions to the Rockies organization in the future. Only time will tell.
Ultimately, I am very sad to see Ubaldo go because he was a great player, but seemed like an even greater person. I'll miss seeing his smile; he always seemed like he was having the best time playing baseball. I wish him nothing but the best in Cleveland, and hope the Rockies know what they're doing.
Feel free to vent in the comment section!
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