In 2003 and 2004, Esteban Loaiza‘s career seemed to be at a high. The former White Sox pitcher had just made his second All-Star appearance and – when midseason came – he got the opportunity to play on a first-place contender when he was traded to the New York Yankees.
Though New York would infamously blow a 3-0 lead in the best of seven ALCS to lose to the Boston, Loaiza seemed to be riding a tidal wave of success. Now, that tidal wave of a high seems very distant.
Yet, Loaiza’s fall from grace is not so much a tragedy for him.