Notice of Concern: Ubaldo Jimenez

The Tribe might have been better off letting
Ubaldo Jimenez stay in a Rockies uniform
last season.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.

When the Indians traded three of their top ten prospects in reliever Joe Gardener, then starter-now reliever Alex White and flamethrower Drew Pomeranz to the Rockies last summer, I said I was conflicted.

I said that I wanted starting pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez, but I wasn't sure about trading Pomeranz for him—especially because Pomeranz had done nothing but exceed everyone's expectations in his first professional season.

And now that Pomeranz has made the Rockies rotation out of Spring Training, White has made the Rockies bullpen, and Gardener is expected to be at the major league level at some point this season, I can't help but think the Indians made a very bad deal.

Just so we're clear, I would be saying this even if Ubaldo hadn't gotten himself suspended five games for beaning Troy Tulowitzki on Sunday afternoon. (Ubaldo's appealing the suspension, so he most likely won't miss his first start on Saturday versus the Blue Jays.)

In any case, yes, it's true that Ubaldo could regain his form and be an effective top of the rotation starter again. Yes, Spring Training does not count. But how can it not be a concern that his velocity is down to 93-94 MPH, from about 96 MPH in his heyday with the Rockies?

And how can it not be a concern that he's so immature that he felt like throwing at Troy Tulowitzki in the first inning instead of trying to make Tulo look foolish by striking him out?

And how can it not be a concern that overall this spring, Ubaldo compiled a 1-4 record with a 7.43 ERA with 15 strikeouts and 15 walks in 23 innings?

And how can it not be a concern that even when Ubaldo had his best start of the spring—a five inning outing against the White Sox—he still made 90 pitches and was behind in the count way too often, which didn't allow him to go his scheduled six innings?

Drew Pomeranz, on the other hand, had a stellar spring—and I may be selling him short by just saying "stellar," because he was truly outstanding. He went 3-0 with a 0.53 ERA in 17 innings. That's right, folks, he gave up just one earned run in 17 spring innings. He gave up 11 hits, walked just four, and struck out 11 this spring as well.

You see the problem here?

Yes, it's just Spring Training, but Pomeranz has a chance to be better than Ubaldo this season, already! It's positively absurd that the Indians former top prospect could be better than the pitcher we traded him for this year, but it's well within the realm of possibility.

This trade stung when it happend all those months ago, but it could sting even more if Ubaldo doesn't get his you-know-what together and start pitching like an ace. I'm sorry, but when you trade a prospect who you figure is going to be great for a pitcher who you believe can regain his form, you need it to work out.

And nobody needs this trade to work out better for the Indians than GM Chris Antonetti. This was his first big move as GM, and so far it's the biggest stinker—it's definitely worse than the Grady Sizemore signing mess and the OF situation that's come out of it.

But don't get me wrong—I'm rooting for Ubaldo, and you should be too. This is Major League Baseball. There's no givesies-backsies. So right now, all of us Tribe fans better be hoping, wishing, and praying for Ubaldo to pitch like the 2010 Ubaldo Jimenez that amazed everyone in the league.

Otherwise, the Indians may have made one of the worst trades in the history of baseball.