MLB 2011 Season Thread

**Damian Rey** · 08-02-2011, 02:53 PM

I understand no prospect is a guarantee, but the Indians are not a guarantee to compete in what has otherwise been a division dominated by three better teams. Two of those teams have tanked, but even then, the ChiSox are right on Detroit and Cleveland's ass.

My issue with Cleveland is that they're going "all in", when they're scraping to play .500 ball. They're not a playoff team, and going against powerhouses like Texas, Boston and New York, they have no chance. Ubaldo, even if he's on fire, is not going to change that, much like Sabathia didn't change a thing for the Brewers.

I understand Cleveland trying to get better, but when your franchise is in rebuilding mode, you don't trade away two guys, one of which was already starting in the big leagues, for a 3 year rental when you can't guarantee your window of opportunity will last past this season.

Even if they somehow pull the division title out of all this, the Ubaldo trade will still be a bad decision. Trading for a player like that, where you have to give up a lot to get him, is a "win now" move that teams like Texas (see Mike Adams and Koji Uehara) can afford to make because their core talent gives them a legitimate opportunity to win a title for the forseeable future.

The Indians are no longer in that position. They blew their shot in 2007. 4 years later, they have still yet to recover with little hope in sight, and trading away very valuable pitching options for one fluke season, in my opinion, was not the right move, regardless of how the season plays out.

Vitters has plate discipline issues, which is why he's dropped of the prospect lists. He's still only 21 years old, so there's hope. Even if he doesn't improve his plate discipline, he could still be a solid regular me thinks.

And I have ESPN Insider. I bought it primarily for Keith Law. I don't really care for anyone else on there.

08-02-2011, 02:53 PM	#11
Damian Rey Posts: 3,755	I understand no prospect is a guarantee, but the Indians are not a guarantee to compete in what has otherwise been a division dominated by three better teams. Two of those teams have tanked, but even then, the ChiSox are right on Detroit and Cleveland's ass. My issue with Cleveland is that they're going "all in", when they're scraping to play .500 ball. They're not a playoff team, and going against powerhouses like Texas, Boston and New York, they have no chance. Ubaldo, even if he's on fire, is not going to change that, much like Sabathia didn't change a thing for the Brewers. I understand Cleveland trying to get better, but when your franchise is in rebuilding mode, you don't trade away two guys, one of which was already starting in the big leagues, for a 3 year rental when you can't guarantee your window of opportunity will last past this season. Even if they somehow pull the division title out of all this, the Ubaldo trade will still be a bad decision. Trading for a player like that, where you have to give up a lot to get him, is a "win now" move that teams like Texas (see Mike Adams and Koji Uehara) can afford to make because their core talent gives them a legitimate opportunity to win a title for the forseeable future. The Indians are no longer in that position. They blew their shot in 2007. 4 years later, they have still yet to recover with little hope in sight, and trading away very valuable pitching options for one fluke season, in my opinion, was not the right move, regardless of how the season plays out. Vitters has plate discipline issues, which is why he's dropped of the prospect lists. He's still only 21 years old, so there's hope. Even if he doesn't improve his plate discipline, he could still be a solid regular me thinks. And I have ESPN Insider. I bought it primarily for Keith Law. I don't really care for anyone else on there.