This offseason Ubaldo Jimenez was one of the most sought after free agent pitchers. He had a superb year after a couple of bumpy seasons upon leaving the Rockies for Cleveland. In three starts so far this season he has been something beyond awful in Baltimore.
Ricky Nolasco defined upper middle class pitching for the last six seasons, but his first two starts this season were terrible. His third start was much better, but his current ERA is in the neighborhood of awful.
Francisco Liriano was the NL Comeback Player of the Year last season, and so far he’s 0-3 — though he pitched well in his third start as well.
On the other side of that, oft-injured Kyle Gibson of the Minnesota Twins looked like a failed prospect who was never going to reach his potential, but through three starts Gibson has been almost unhittable. His ERA is just under a run, and he’s 3-0.
Speaking of the Twins last season as a team they scored 10 runs in a game six times. In the first 12 games of the season in 2014 they have already accomplished this feat three times. They are also drawing a lot of walks as a team which they’ve not done since the Chuck Knoblauch era.
I’m not saying sell all or buy any of this as anything more than the small sample it is, but it shows just how impressive those players are who can maintain consistency from one year to the next.
I’m thrilled and shocked at the same time for Gibson, I worried he might have been done after last year. Only a matter of time until Andy zeroes in on what he’s doing right and tells him to get rid of it. Hate to see Liriano struggle, as I hope the Pirates can prove me wrong and be a factor in the NL Central race again after an awful offseason.
Gibson pitched like it’s 2013 tonight in Tampa. 3 innings 10 hits 7 runs all earned, but Dozier seems to be channeling his inner Ryne Sandberg and Cowbell Colabello seems to be making the most of his opportunity leading the AL in RBI