Sent to you by LATORRE.COM via Google Reader:
via Fanhouse MLB Blog by Tom Krasovic on 5/6/10
Filed under: Brewers, Giants, Padres, Phillies, Rockies
o. If Ubaldo Jimenez pitched for the Yankees or Red Sox, he'd be a baseball god. The Colorado Rockies' ace is 6-0 with an ERA of 0.87 and his countrymen in the Dominican Republic are whispering the name Pedro Martinez when they talk about the quiet 26-year-old from Maria Trinidad Sanchez. The no-hitter that Jimenez threw against the Braves last month will not be his last, the Rockies say.
Jimenez looks like a javelin thrower when he rears back, which only shows that not all pitchers need a "textbook" delivery. Monday against the Padres, the 6-foot-4 right-hander softened Miguel Olivo's mitt with fastballs clocked from 95-101 mph. His diabolical splitter reached 89-91 mph. The next morning, Jimenez ran six miles in downtown San Diego, and he sprinted around the outfield Tuesday afternoon, shagging flyballs.
"This guy is some human being," said Rockies manager Jim Tracy.
Assuming it knows where Colorado is, ESPN needs to change its schedule and get to Denver when Jimenez pitches. Who knows whether it'll last, but rarely will you find so much talent and work ethic in the same body.
"He's never satisifed," Tracy said. "He doesn't want to be good. He wants to be one of the best that's ever done it in the history of the game. That's where this kid's mentality is. He goes about it in such a humble manner that I guarantee you there isn't a person in this clubhouse who isn't on his toes and on the top of the game when he pitches."
Things you can do from here:
- Subscribe to Fanhouse MLB Blog using Google Reader
- Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites
