Over the last few years, I've regarded Corey Kluber as a nothing minor-leaguer who got occasional looks in the Indians starting rotation simply because he was all they had. But having watched him pitch a handful of innings this season, my eyes have determined something different: This guy looks good.
He throws hard and gets plenty of movement with his secondary arsenal -- which he uses more than you'd expect for a pitcher with his limited experience. Each of those times I saw him in early May, I wondered how anyone could hit him, but when I checked the box score the next day, I came away unimpressed.
So here's the question: What do my eyes know? I'm no scout. Never claimed to be one. If their eyes have kept quiet about Kluber, then mine -- which also once tried to convince me Luke Hochevar was pretty good -- should just fall in line, right?
Probably. But when Kluber goes and strikes out 18 batters in 13 innings, as he has over his last two starts, my eyes just keep believing, even if my brain and my mouse have yet to catch up.