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Game #95: Jimenez vs Martinez

Colorado @ New York



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Colorado Rockies
@ New York Mets

Saturday, Jul 12, 2008, 1:55 PM MDT
Shea Stadium

Ubaldo Jimenez vs Pedro Martinez

Partly cloudy. Winds blowing out to left field at 5-10 m.p.h. Game Time temperature: Around 85.

 

Complete Coverage >



While it's easy to think of Jimenez's season to date as somewhat disappointing after he helped lead the team to the World Series in 2007, there are several signs that not only is the disappointment theory unfounded, the opposite -that this season has actually been an encouraging step forward by U-ball is actually the case. Jimenez ranks #4 among all qualified MLB starters (Aaron Cook ranks #7) in GB % and his fastball velocity is tied for the top in the MLB with Tim Lincecum. While his walks are a little high, he's not showing nearly the wildness that he did in the minor leagues. In short, everything besides the hits and runs allowed says that Jimenez is on the cusp of being a top of the rotation pitcher. I expect the second half will only be better for him as part of the reason the hits and runs are so high is that there is some unluckiness with his BABIP, thus far. He gets to pitch against his idol growing up today, while any comparison to a future Hall of Famer is way beyond what we can know right now, let's hope that Jimenez shows some more signs today of at least being able to partially emulate Martinez's career.

Go Rockies!

 

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Are there people dissapointed in Jimenez?

I’m not trying to challenge you but am just curious. It seems to me that people look at Cook and Jimenez as the stalwarts to the rotation.

Personally, I’m thrilled with Jimenez’ growth this year, and with his increased focus on throwing the two seam instead of the 98-100 mph four seam has both increased his margin of error, but may have also made him harder to hit.

I just jinxed him didn’t I…

by David OhNo on Jul 12, 2008 12:56 PM MDT   0 recs

I say this

but thus far today he’s been 96-98 mph most of the game and still is getting 6” of sink on the pitch.

by David OhNo on Jul 12, 2008 2:45 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

A couple, for instance...

this article came out the day after his last start, and it focuses a little too much on the BB’s and ever so slightly above average ERA (at Coors Field, no less) so that it misses some of the broader advances he’s made.

by Rox Girl on Jul 12, 2008 3:00 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

I think

disappointed is the wrong word, but perhaps underwhelmed? He certainly has not been one of the reasons the Rockies have been so bad this year, but he hasn’t been a major part of the solution yet either. Whatever. I do think he and Cook are the only guys that don’t scare the hell out of me, so that’s something.

by Teekalong on Jul 12, 2008 3:33 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

Outside of the first month of the season

I’ve been thrilled with Jiminez. I really believe he can be a future ace. His mechanics are looking much more solid then they were earlier and the results are starting to prove that. I can honestly say I feel fairly comfortable in our ability to win a ballgame whenever Jiminez steps on the mound now.

by RyanBuff on Jul 12, 2008 1:00 PM MDT   0 recs

WHY DO I HAVE THE MLB PACKAGE WHEN......

Fox Baseball can ruins my Saturday Rox baseball?

by 91 wins in 08 on Jul 12, 2008 2:14 PM MDT   0 recs

Bringing

the infield in cost a routine out. Too early in the game IMO.

by DieHardRox on Jul 12, 2008 3:06 PM MDT   0 recs

I agree...

Also cost Ubaldo about 20 pitches.

by jlikesrockies on Jul 12, 2008 3:14 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

DOH

Reyes HR…2-0 And the way our guys score and hit on the road….this game might just be over

Thought Clint Hurdle should be fired before it was cool.

by Redhawk on Jul 12, 2008 3:26 PM MDT   0 recs

What's

the least number of road wins for the Rockies in a season? We may set a new low this season.

by DieHardRox on Jul 12, 2008 3:49 PM MDT   0 recs

Rockies are being EXECUTED by mediocre pitching/poor defense (again)

Hurdle just keeps sending them to the plate to do what they did last time: Make outs. No attempt at small-ball, bunting, changing up swings to slap-hit form. And he calls himself a hitting coach???? There’s just no surprise factor in this team. Without the Unexpected in your lineup, you’re just bowling pins getting knocked down. Dump Hurdle ASAP.

Robobubba has spoken!

by robobubba on Jul 12, 2008 3:59 PM MDT   0 recs

Hurdle

just said in the paper today that he’s never felt his job was in jeopardy. What does that say about this franchise. They won’t fire anybody but dumping players will start soon.

by DieHardRox on Jul 12, 2008 4:05 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

Wow

could we please get more than one hit?

Remembering Dustin Mohr's glory years!

by MohrPlease on Jul 12, 2008 4:02 PM MDT   0 recs

Rox Pitching Trivia

Can anyone name a pitcher to EVER pitch for the Rockies who had two good years in a row, as in winning record and finished both years healthy (no prolonged DL). I’m thinking during the O’Dowd era this has NEVER happened. A starter or bullpen dude with winning record two years in a row.

Robobubba has spoken!

by robobubba on Jul 12, 2008 4:38 PM MDT   0 recs

Francis

Had three years in a row (05-07) with winning records.

by jlikesrockies on Jul 12, 2008 5:00 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

cutting it close

14-12 in 2005
13-11 in 2006
17-11 in 2007

He’s perilously close to being a career .500 pitcher. He’s better than that. O’Dowd and his pitching coaches have no clue.

i like Jeff, but how can they let him get so cattywhampas??

He was getting shelled in Spring Training….Somebody should have taken a close look

At any rate, if that’s the pitching legacy of O’Dowd…I’m gonna be sick.

He is an awful evaluator of pitching talent.

Those guys he trolleys in and out of Colo Springs are a joke: Bowers, Spier, . Vizcaino is a stiff. I won’t root around in the Hampton/Naegle thing. Herges isn’t much without his “meds” this year.

Jury is out on Taylor Bucholtz. The league is littered with people who got ruined in Colorado.

Robobubba has spoken!

by robobubba on Jul 12, 2008 5:55 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

His career record is 50-41

I wouldn’t describe that as perilously close to .500, especially since he pitched for a team with a losing record over that period.

I’m not trying to suggest that O’Dowd is a superior evaluator of pitching talent. The record and the team ERA’s over the years speak for themselves. But the pitching was good enough last year to help us to the World Series. Of course, that was just a late season fluke and had nothing to do with talent or the ablility of management to put a winning team together.

It seems to me that a lot of people think that last season’s success is just further evidence of how inept the front office and ownership are, which to me is ridiculous. Good fortune, good health, good management, and good players mostly playing at the top of their capablities all must happen for a team to be successful. Likewise, think this year has been a perfect storm of poor play, injuries, bad bounces, untimely ball/strike calls by umpires, and some poor management decisions. But I think there’s reason to believe that management will do the things that are necessary to bring the team back into contention next year (except maybe signing another expensive over-the-hill reliever).

I think we forget sometimes that 29 other teams are also trying to win championships each year, and that most teams fall far short most of the time.

What we experienced as Rockies fans last year is rare indeed, and we should cherish it rather than mock it. And maybe we should wait and see what management does to fix things for next year before condemning them as incompetent idiots.

by jlikesrockies on Jul 12, 2008 7:52 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

Amen -jlikesrockies

I am starting to think the Rox should make a few moves yet this summer (Fuentes, Taveras, maybe even Herges and Barmes ) to try to get another solid option or two for the rotation, then hang onto the core through next year at least and see if they can make a run in 09.

by Fos on Jul 12, 2008 8:11 PM MDT to parent up   0 recs

Let

the trading begin.

by DieHardRox on Jul 12, 2008 4:41 PM MDT   0 recs

wow

im so glad i went to todays game….NOTTT…geez what a joke this team has given up…

this team is utter rubbish...

by TuLoRocks2008 on Jul 12, 2008 7:41 PM MDT   0 recs

I'd rather

this game have been a no-hitter. Find out tomorrow morning about my encounter with two Padres fans and the abuse I received from Mets fans (though the two Phillies fans in my section received more than I did throughout the game). Because the actual game had nothing going on.

"Keep your head down, and inch toward daylight." - Blade of Tyshalle

Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!

by Russ on Jul 12, 2008 10:40 PM MDT   0 recs

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