Trade Deadline

    The MLB trade deadline has come and gone without too many big names switching teams.  Ubaldo Jimenez was the biggest name dealt, being sent from the Colorado Rockies to the Cleveland Indians.  Yes, you just read that correctly.  The city of Cleveland actually acquired a big name player instead of trading one away.  The past two years, the Indians (along with other teams) have inexplicably traded Cliff Lee, and C.C. Sabathia.  Both pitchers have brought their teams to World Series and have been two of the games top arms.  The sad part is that Ubaldo Jimenez isn't as good as C.C. or Cliff Lee and they gave up some great young talent to acquire a 6 win 9 loss pitcher.
    There is no question that Ubaldo Jimenez has talent.  Whether he is a premier playoff dominating pitcher remains to be seen.  Starting the 2010 season, Jimenez went 15-1, including a no hitter, pitching in a hitter friendly park in Coors Field.  Since then, he has been a .500 pitcher, and hasn't shown the same command he did in early 2010.
    The Indians may have landed the biggest name before the deadline for two reasons.  The first being that they are in a playoff race, being only 2.5 games back of the Central Division leading Detroit Tigers. It is almost guaranteed that the Wild Card will come out of the AL east, whoever finishes in 2nd place between the Yankees and Red Sox.  That being said, the Indians must win their division if they have any chance to return to the playoffs in seek of their first World Series title since 1948.
    The second reason the Indians may have made this trade is to regain the faith of their fan base.  The Cleveland Indians once held the record for most consecutive sell out crowds until Red Sox Nation took over Fenway Park.  Indians fans are passionate and love baseball.  Anyone who has seen the movie Major League can attest to that.  But with the recent trades of C.C. Sabathia and Cliff Lee, as well as the infamous Lebron James bringing his talents to South Beach, the city of Cleveland needed a reminder that their GM and owners care about the team as much as they do.  They may have overpaid for Ubaldo Jimenez, but by acquiring a big name pitcher they will draw more attention to the team and finally give the fans of Cleveland something to cheer about.  After all, what is there to cheer about it Cleveland as this "hastily made video" depicts. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysmLA5TqbIY