There are those who play the game of baseball as if every game were their last. Then there is Jose Lima, whose act wore thin in Houston and is now wearing even thinner in Detroit. Perhaps if he were pitching well, Lima might qualify for the sympathy vote. As it is, with an ERA of 7.77 and a 4-6 record, perhaps Lima Time has reached it's allotted 15 minutes.
A frustrated Jose Lima ripped the Tigers before Monday's 11-1 loss to the Cleveland Indians, saying, "This place stinks -- from the front office right on down."
Lima was upset after being told rookie left-hander Andy Van Hekken was being promoted from Triple-A Toledo and would start tonight in place of Lima.
"If I can't pitch on this team -- the worst or second-worst team in baseball -- where am I going to pitch?" he said. "If I can't start on this ballclub, I must be the worst pitcher on earth."
Lima, 4-6 with a 7.77 ERA, has been in and out of the rotation this season. In his most recent start, he gave up 11 runs and nine hits in 2 2/3 innings in a loss to Oakland a week ago Saturday.
"What are they going to do -- release me?" Lima said. "Let them, I don't care. I don't figure in the plans for the rest of the year. I'll just go home. I haven't seen my son in three months.
"They're just going to stick me in the bullpen -- again. I can sit down there like an idiot and wait for the phone to ring when the score is 10-1, because they won't use me in a close game.
"It's the same old crap and it's not going to change. They can clean house, bring in 25 new guys, and it won't change because it starts right up there at the top."
Yo, Jose...you may not be the worst pitcher on earth, but you ARE the biggest whiner. Many would be in your position for NOTHING, and you're whining while making MILLIONS? In your case, Lima Time means it time to pitch, shut up, or go back to the Dominican Republic. You're a major league ballplayer- take a good look in the mirror and start acting like one.
(Thanks to Larry Simon)
