Indians Improve Their Starting Pitching by Shelving Jimenez

At the trade deadline in 2011, the Cleveland Indians were desperately trying to hang on in the AL Central race. They dealt away two of their best prospects (in a very thin system) to Colorado for Ubaldo Jimenez. Jimenez didn’t match expectations last season and he certainly hasn’t done so this year, either.

To say Jimenez has been disappointing would be a massive understatement. Image: Rick Osentoski-US PRESSWIRE

On Wednesday, the Indians announced that due to a sprained ankle, which they say has been bothering him for the past few starts, Jimenez’s season is over.

I guess he must have sprained the ankle in Spring Training, because he’s been terrible all year long.

For the season, Jimenez had a career-worst 5.55 ERA and a league-leading 17 losses. Since coming to the American League, Jimenez has an ERA nearly two full runs higher than he posted through six National League campaigns (5.43 vs 3.66).

The Chicago White Sox, who face the Indians four more times this season, were certainly upset by this news. In addition to Jimenez, Cleveland is also without the services of Fausto Carmona Roberto Hernandez, who is also suffering from a sprained ankle.

Or perhaps “sprained ankle” is just Cleveland code for right handed sinkerballers who stopped being effective years ago.