News came down today that the Detroit Tigers are going to skip Jarrod Washburn’s next scheduled start. Starting pitcher Armando Galarraga will be taking his spot will get the start Saturday at the Tampa Bay Rays. Apparently Washburn has some discomfort in his knee, and has had it for the past few months. The question then becomes did the Seattle Mariners hide this fact from the Tigers, or did the Tigers not ask the right questions before trading for him?
Let us look at the facts with Seattle Washburn was 8-6 with a 2.96 ERA. Since joining the Tigers Washburn is 1-2 with a 6.81 ERA. On top of that in his six Detroit starts he has only looked impressive in one or two. That is not a good for the Tigers who were counting on Washburn to contribute to the starting rotation down the stretch run to the playoffs.
Maybe just maybe Washburn will need sometime to adjust to his new city but, since he is a free agent after 2009 it doesn’t seem likely that he will work out this issue with the Tigers. All the Tigers can hope for now is that he gets himself right enough to contribute if the Tigers can make the playoffs. While they maintain a five game lead on the Minnesota Vikings there is still a chance the Tigers will fall short of the playoffs, especially if Washburn cannot contribute quality starts to the pitching rotation.
