Before Mike Leake, I was nothing more than a casual baseball fan. I sat at home keeping score while watching Reds’ games, and yes, I pored over the box scores every sweltering summer morning. But that was always a product of my nerdiness not a true neurosis over the game.
Before Mike Leake, I lamented for the days of Ken Griffey Jr. and Adam Dunn while latching onto Bronson Arroyo and Brandon Phillips to fill the void. I never paid any attention to prospect boards or minor leaguers. They were problems for future me. My only forays into “advanced scouting” were replies left on comment boards that Jay Bruce struck out too much to be a solid everyday player for the Reds (I was wrong) and that Homer Bailey was overhyped and lacked a secondary pitch (0 for 2).