Ubaldo Jimenez presents hitting and running dilemma for the Colorado Rockies – MLB Update
If there’s one thing Ubaldo Jimenez is proving to be, it’s an All – Star pitcher. He however has a small problem that can translate into something big, once the 2011 Major League Baseball begins in April. The maestro has been impressive with the ball so
far, but his batting hiccups are keeping the Colorado Rockies from naming him the Opening Day pitcher.
The club’s manager, Jim Tracy wants the ball thrower to do well with his hitting and running and there is a reason for that.
The Rockies believe firmly in singles and one runs. That is an understanding that has yielded the club 19 wins in 2010 and that is something the management is not keen on losing. For Jimenez the lessons on running need to be firmly cemented. After winning
30 games with a run’s difference, singles count a lot.
Jimenez pitched a perfect 4 innings game against the San Diego Padres in a Cactus League game in Scottsdale, Arizona. However his batting cycle hit a bad note, as his hesitation on heading for third base from second base caught him out sliding.
"I was almost about to stop at third base and they told me to go," Jimenez said. "I was like, 'Oh.'"
Jimenez was on second base in the second innings when team-mate Jonathan Herrera pushed a pitch towards centre field for a single. The pitcher paid less attention to the hit and lost time in running towards third. That hesitation ultimately got him tagged
out in the game.
"He said to me, 'Trace, I think I was safe,'" Tracy said. "I said, 'You know what? I think you might've been also, but I'll guarantee you this: if you wouldn't have hesitated coming around third, I guarantee you would have been safe. He said, 'I thought
he was going to stop me.'"
Jimenez is learning to do well with the bat but his outing on the mound is ever improving as he had fun with the environment.
"I was playing with my velocity," he said. "Sometimes I'd just put it in there, then sometimes let it go."
The Rockies can get Jimenez ready for Opening Day. The pitcher will just have to improve his game overall, if he expects a starter’s role.
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