No one questions that the Detroit Tigers’ bullpen could use some help. But it troubles me that so much seems to ride on the successful returns of Joel Zumaya and Fernando Rodney.
Are Zumaya and Rodney truly what Detroit needs? Are either one really that talented?
I, for one, do not think so. Let’s start with Zumaya. I have said from the beginning that he’s too stupid to stay in the big leagues for any extended period of time. Sure he can throw 100+ mph, but the way he throws (all arm, no legs) makes him vulnerable to injuries. Toss in the fact that he’s a goofball off the field, and he’s got about a 2 percent chance of making a professional baseball career for himself. Zumaya is a guy I wrote off long ago.
Last night’s disastrous performance by Rodney brought back a lot of painful memories. Other than a short stretch of the 2006 season, was this guy ever really that great of a pitcher? Seems to me that he is a wild fireballer at best. Watching Rodney pitch, most of the time, isn’t much better than watching a Jason Grilli performance. Well, maybe it only requires downing one martini instead of two. But the point is, Rodney isn’t anything to get too excited about.
I am wrong about this? Is last night’s blown lead stressing me out to the point where I can’t think straight? Unless someone can prove to me otherwise, I am sticking to my guns: Zumaya and Rodney are two players the Tigers would be better off forgetting about altogether.
