By CHRIS RASMUSSEN
This week, the Royals placed Jimmy Gobble on the disabled list. This comes even though the only visible pain he's been pitching with is that which he inflicts on those rooting for him.
According to the Royals, he “admitted to back pain,” which I suspect was not a product of a Gitmo interrogation or an examination by Dr. Christian Szell. He also admitted to having a 20.77ERA over the last 10 games – more than two runs for each inning pitched.
“Back pain” is a better description in the disabled list ledger than the following potential entry: Jimmy Gobble, 15-day DL on July 21, ineffectiveness.”
I don't know whether Gobble is actually injured. In the past, but certainly not this year, he has shown the ability to be a left-handed pitcher with a good fastball. This ensures him employment until he qualifies for AARP, when the back pain he currently feels is also known as “waking up and moving.”
According to Mr. Gobble, he first felt this back pain in Tampa at the All-Star Break. Before that, he was not a model of effectiveness, coming into that series touting a 7.40 ERA, as well as a misleading 0-2 record (misleading, as he hadn’t pitched in a game where either team was within six runs of one another for two months).
Only in baseball will a worker be given paid disability leave due to what appears to be nothing more than ineffectiveness.
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You have to hand it to Trey Hillman for his outstanding use of his situational lefty. Gobble's numbers vs. LHB are respectable, arguably good, save the elevated ERA. An idiot, (but apparently not a manager who thinks he is still in Japan) can see that Gobble cannot pitch to even one righty. I imagine that Gobble will be let go soon, to be picked up by a contender where he will be properly used.
MM
What this situation needs is a good three team deal. There may still be time when he comes off the DL to send Gobble to Boston for a reunion with Allard Baird; a future Hall of Famer currenly playing for the Sox rookie team to the Braves; and to the Royals, a 28 year-old "swing man" who "never put all together" in 5 seasons in Richmond.
Royals Fever - Catch It!
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