The recent acquistion of Jarrod Washburn has led many people to ask who is Jarrod Washburn? Sure we know about what he has done on the field, but who is the man under the cap? Why does he have two r’s in his name? While I can’t give you the answer to the the r’s, I can provide some insight into the newest Tiger.
Jarrod Michael Washburn was born August 13, 1974 (making him 34 for those bad at math) in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He is following in the footsteps of famous MLB pitchers from La Crosse such as Chuck Hockenbery and Tom Klawitter. Huge shoes to fill. Hockenbery played one season for the California Angels going 0-5 with a 5.27 ERA. Klawitter had seven starts with the Minnesota Twins without recording a decision and had a 6.75 ERA.
After going to Wisconsin-Oskosh, not to be confused with Wisconsin-Oshkosh B’gosh (also located in the city of Oshkosh), and winning of the Division III National Championship he was drafted in the second round and broke the La Crosse curse and actually pitched for more than one year in the major leagues. After being a scrub in Anaheim/Los Angeles of Anaheim he signed a completely undeserved $37.5 million deal with Seattle. He rewarded Seattle by going 8-14 with a 4.67 ERA. HOWEVA, he has gone from Jarrod Washburn has gotten angry this year. He has changed into Jarrod MFing Washburn this year and it worked recording a 2.64 ERA.
He boasts are pretty good slider and a solid changeup to compliment his fastballs. Yeah fastballs, he throws a variety of them (or at least two) that range from the mid 80s to the mid 90s. The reason he tends to suck sometimes is that those fastballs come right down the middle and steroids era Alex Rodriguez hits it 700 ft.
Even if he looks like he is pitching to Barry Bonds in his steroids prime every batter it is not like Los Tigres (for all the spanish speakers in attendence) gave up the greatest player in franchise history when they let go of Luke “I’m extremely average” French, and minor league pitcher Mauricio Robles. Robles is 8-6 with a 4.24 ERA…in Single A. Single A! I could go into Single A and pitch some serviceable innings. He has some nice strikeout numbers over one an inning, but again it’s Single A. I’m a strikeout an inning guy in Single A.
Speaking of single digits, MFing Washburn is making $9.85 million dollars this year, as in single digits in the millions column. Jeremy Bonderman who should be the third starter instead of Washburn, makes $12.5 million this year and has started exactly one game with a 13.5 ERA. Bonderman is making $12.5 million a game this year! Compared to him Washburn is a steal. Even if Washburn pulls a Jeremy Bonderman and pitches one game this year the Tigers can kick him to the curb after this season. Bonderman has another year at $12.5 million before he can make the walk of shame out of Detroit. Don’t feel too bad for Bonderman though, he will make that walk of shame with $25 million dollars in his pocket.
Some of the nay-sayers may say nay to the fact that Washburn is 8-6 and based on his last three years is due for a c0llapse. I disagree, Washburn will finish over .500 this season guaran-Sheed. How do I know? Because unlike in Seattle, the Tigers have the bullpen to back him up. The Land God, Fu-Te Ni, gives all of his starting pitchers at least two extra wins. That’s how good he is.
Whether he turns into the solid third started Jarrod Washburn or the gopher ball Jarrod Washburn everytime he steps on the mound you will be saying “Jarrod MFing Washburn.”
