tireball.com

It’s not every season there is a guy who is 10-1 with a 0.78 ERA after 11 starts. That’s 11 quality starts, a no hitter and hasn’t allowed two runs in 9 of those starts. Then again it’s not like you couldnt have seen this coming. Jimenez was a big time prospect in the Colorado Rockies system and despite his big time numbers on the radar is a pitcher perfectly fine with pitching to contact. Since his eventual promotion to the majors Jimenez has been in a class of his own. Even in Jimenez’s lone loss this year he allowed just two runs.

In 94 career games Jimenez is 40-29 with a 3.44 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and a .228 BAA. But you probably knew that about the 26-year-old Dominican.

On Memorial Day he was at it again. This time outdueling two time NL Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum giving the Rockies a 4-0 win over the San Fransisco Giants. Jimenez threw 128 pitches in the contest striking out 9 just five days after throwing 101 pitches in an eight inning performance in a win against Arizona. Jimenez has went seven or more innings in his last six outings and of his three outings in which he went just six innings two came in his first two starts of the season.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Last night as I turned on the Braves/Rockies game I told my wife “we’re in for a treat tonight”. Of course the reason I made that comment was because I originally thought the pitching match-up was Ubaldo Jimenez and Jair Jurrjens. I then found myself a little bummed I was watching the Rockies feed but it wasn’t long before the treat turned into a nightmare for my Braves.

That’s because Ubaldo Jimenez pitched the first no-hitter in the majors for the 2010 season. Jimenez threw a major league high 128 pitches in the contest and was still hitting the high 90’s as the eighth and ninth inning came around.

I’ve never been a big one for no-hitters because I’ve always found them to be a little cheap. My reasoning has always been the same no matter who was pitching. “So the pitcher didn’t give up a hit but he walked how many?”

True enough. Jimenez walked six in this contest and one could argue it may not have even been the best pitched game of the day as the Mets and Cardinals raced to a 0-0 tie before the top of the 19th.

But it is a no hitter none-the-less. Troy Tulowitzki provided the Rockies with a run in the top of the first and Jimenez singled in the fourth to drive in a run of his own while Carlos Gonzalez doubled in two as the next batter.

Perhaps the biggest break for Jiminez in his run at a no-hitter was the costly base-running mistake of Kenshin Kawakami in the bottom of the third. After reaching base following bunting into a force out Kawakami was advanced to second on a Martin Prado walk. That brought Chipper Jones to the plate and following the second fastball for a ball Rockies catcher Miguel Olivo threw down to second to catch Kawakami off base.

Those thrill seekers hoping for some heroic defensive play can feel a little left out in this one. The only play even close to a dramatic defensive play to save the day was that of Dexter Fowler who chased down a Troy Glaus line drive in the seventh. Never-the-less it’s being highlighted on MLB.com and other places.

I’ll admit I missed parts of the game. We went out to get some ice cream, I had turned on the computer to compete in a on-line NASCAR 2003 event and didn’t realize the game had no hits until a well after 9.

Not the best game ever pitched. It probably will be beat out by a few others in my opinion this year but still it’s a no-hitter and I can’t change that.

Popularity: 6% [?]

The Colorado Rockies brought back Juan Rincon, 31, despite the fact the reliever wasn’t very good for the team last season. In fact Rincon hasn’t been useful since 2006.

I suppose that’s what happens when you are off the PED’s.

Really it was hard to choose between Rincon or Tim

Redding here as both figure to appear on the Rockies roster way too long this season.

I don’t have anything nice to say about either so this post is over.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Earlier today I took the time to write a piece about current Colorado Rockies reliever Matt Belisle.

Belisle as you may recall was originally drafted by the Braves and after showing early promise of being yet another home grown talent a bad back and eventually a trade to Cincinnati altered his career course.

You can read the full article over at Fan Huddle.

In 17 outings in the regular season he 1-1 with a 6.85 ERA in 22.1 innings of work. Frankly that the Rockies had no other options for their post season roster speaks volumes here.If it seemed like I missed a few parts of his career I apologize. I don’t want to offend anyone but to sum up Belisle’s career it’s been a mixture of minor league dominance, back injuries and major league struggles.

To put Belisle in with the lead was a gutsy move by Jim Tracy. In the end he managed to pitch a 1-2-3 inning per serving the lead and what turned out to a 5-4 win by the Rockies.

Popularity: 26% [?]

Cliff Lee was brought to the Philadelphia Phillies for moments like today. Last years Cy Young Award Winner in the American League barely worked up a sweat pitching a complete game against Colorado in the opening game of the NLDS.

Lee tossed 113 pitches in the contest, 79 of them found the strike zone. The Phillies ace allowed just six hits on the day, and the Rockies mustered just a lone run in the ninth in what ended up being a 5-1 victory for the Phillies.

The Phillies offense scored five runs against Colorado starter Ubaldo Jimenez. Jimenez who pitched quite well in the first four innings fell victim to a buzzsaw like Phillies offense who was aided by some miscues by the Colorado outfield.

Game two of the series will be tomorrow with Aaron Cook and Cole Hamels slated to start.

Popularity: 28% [?]

When your team is out of the playoffs it’s hard to watch too much baseball or get behind another team. One reason is the idea of being a band-wagoner, the other is well how do I root for either team?

A few years ago when the New England Patriots were in the Super Bowl going for a perfect season I had a tough time rooting against them. The main reason is their opponents were the New York Giants. Now being a Dallas Cowboys fan, how in the world could I root for the Giants to win the Super Bowl? The same Giants team that couldn’t even beat us for the division. Though if I didn’t want them to win I was in-essence rooting for the New England Patriots. Yikes.

The same can be said about the first round series between the Philadelphia Phillies and the Colorado Rockies. As a fan of the Atlanta Braves it’s impossiable to root for the Phillies to win anything, though this is the same Rockies team that beat us out for the Wild Card spot.

Anyway after seeing how disrespectful the Rockies outfielders were to the idea of actually playing defense I have to say I can not wait for this team to be eliminated. I havn’t watched many Rockie games this season but the way the Phillie batters were allowed to just run around the bases like it was a go-kart track really left me scratching my head. It was so bad I had to turn off my tv.

I have to admit last nigh I was puling for Detroit to beat Minnesota and after they failed to I said “I hope they get swept by the Yankees”. I didn’t really mean it that much I guess. I really don’t like the Yankees either and really just wanted to see the Metrodome closed down with a loss.

I would also like to say at this time that I am pulling for the Los Angeles Angels to win it all. It would be nice to win Nick a ring.

Popularity: 24% [?]