Yates then said, "It was worse than I could imagine. I thought I was being released. Pittsburgh? Why Pittsburgh? Who the <bleep> did I p*ss off that they are sending me to Pittsburgh?"

Yates' performance in 2007 was a tale of two seasons.

I want to start a petition that no sports writer may ever use that expression again. It's like hearing an idiot say "trials and tribulations"; my head just turns off.

At least he got the phrase right. It really bothers me when someone uses a pat cliche and butchers it.

"Far and few between"

"I'd just assume" (instead of "as soon")

Many others that I've thankfully forgotten.

As a Braves fan, I'm happy with this trade. They had too many relievers without options, so someone had to go. And a guy who has a shot at being a back-of-the-rotation guy is fair return on a middling middle reliever.

As a Pirates fan, I'm less happy with the trade. The team isn't going to win anything this season, so why give up anything for a middling middle reliever? If you can claim him off of waivers, that's fine. But Tyler Yates isn't going to make a difference in the Pirates season. And it's unlikely that they'll be able to flip him for anything better than Redmond at the deadline.

"For all intensive purposes ...."

As a Pirates fan, I'm less happy with the trade. The team isn't going to win anything this season, so why give up anything for a middling middle reliever?

How does the Pirates' bullpen look? After all, somebody has to pitch those innings. If the Pirates don't have a lot of good prospects to try out (ha ha), then I'd just as soon (see what I did there?) use Yates instead of some Lima Time guy.

"How does the Pirates' bullpen look? After all, somebody has to pitch those innings. If the Pirates don't have a lot of good prospects to try out (ha ha), then I'd just as soon (see what I did there?) use Yates instead of some Lima Time guy."

They have a bunch of guys who look like they'd be OK as middle/long relievers, but not too many guys with any real impact potential.

It's a mute point...

They have a bunch of guys who look like they'd be OK as middle/long relievers, but not too many guys with any real impact potential.
And Yates doesn't change that. I think his picture is in the dictionary next to "fungible reliever".

Dammit, and I'd already bought my tickets to take my family to see Todd Redmond pitch in Altoona.

And Yates doesn't change that. I think his picture is in the dictionary next to "fungible reliever".

C'mon now, be fair. His picture is also next to Fun Reliever! Go back and see which it is. You may be surprised.

C'mon now, be fair. His picture is also next to Fun Reliever! Go back and see which it is. You may be surprised.

I think you are confusing it with the book, A hitter's guide to baseball.

And Yates doesn't change that. I think his picture is in the dictionary next to "fungible reliever".

Guys with 98 mph fastballs don't exactly grow like fungus ...

But I'll agree with the first point ... wonder if there's a statue of limitations to punish writers who use such cliches?