Great news, Rockies fans. Ubaldo Jimenez’s mother, a nurse who once wanted him to go to medical school, has seen the light. She’s convinced he made the right career choice.
“I want to make it clear that he’s not thinking about going to medical school,” Ramona Garcia de Jimenez said. “He’s in baseball and he’s there to stay.”
Throwing a no-hitter has a way of doing that.
Jimenez is scheduled to take the mound today in Washington in his first outing since throwing the first no-hitter in Rockies history. Jimenez already was considered a rising star, but his gem against Atlanta on Saturday night elevated his stature throughout the game.
Let the record show that, as teammates were mobbing him on the mound, Jimenez’s mind was in a loft in LoDo, where his mother watched the game with a handful of family members, uncle Juan Dionicio, niece Crisley Vivieca and brother-in-law Cristian Vivieca.
“He called and said, ‘When they were all hugging me, I was thinking of you,’ ” Garcia de Jimenez said through an interpreter. ” ‘I know you expect a lot of me, so I was thinking of you.’ “
Much has changed in the lives of the Jimenez family the past few days. For one thing, their cell phones have been in constant buzz mode, including six calls from reporters in their homeland, the Dominican Republic. Also on the list of those calling to express congratulations: the two greatest Dominican pitchers ever, Hall of Famer Juan Marichal and Hall of Famer-in-waiting Pedro Martinez, Ubaldo’s longtime idol. Martinez’s message?
“He said, “Congratulations. We have high expectations of you, so keep working hard,” Garcia de Jimenez said.
As for Ubaldo, now 3-0 this season, he’s taking it all in stride. If his life has changed, he sure isn’t showing it.
“It don’t feel any different, said Jimenez, who spent Wednesday afternoon listening to remixed hip-hop tunes in Spanish. “I have been going about my work like I normally would. I slept 14 hours on Sunday night. So I feel rested and ready.”
Rockies manager Jim Tracy expects another strong effort today.
“He’s continued to go about his business this week. I haven’t had to say anything to him,” Tracy said. “He’s going to pitch (today) and pitch to win. That’s what he does.”
And, pitches to make his family proud. Ramona is a devoutly religious woman who puts the lives of herself and her family in God’s hands. While she admits to being excited watching her son throw a no-hitter, she held in her emotions.
“I don’t cry,” she said. “I expect him to do well, and if he doesn’t, amen. If it’s God’s will, it will happen. That’s why I don’t cry. I go with God’s will.
“What does every mother want for her son? The best. Every day I want things to get better and better for him. He wasn’t happy about the six walks (Saturday). He wants to have a perfect game.”
Jimenez is getting national-hero treatment in the Dominican, where the media is painting him as one of three favorites to win the National League Cy Young award, along with San Francisco’s Tim Lincecum, who has won the past two, and Philadelphia’s Roy Halladay.
Yes, Jimenez gets mobbed at the airport when he returns to the Dominican Republic, which has produced 86 current major-leaguers, more than any other country outside the United States. But a national hero? His mother, who lives with him in lower downtown throughout the baseball season, won’t go there.
“I love him very much, but I don’t want to call him that,” she said. “As a mother, you don’t want to say your son is the best. As a mother, you should tell him, ‘Just keep playing and you’ll get there.’ “
The Rockies will return home from their road trip in the early morning Friday, hours after Jimenez’s latest outing. The team has not yet announced plans to honor him at Coors Field during the upcoming homestand, but make no doubt, it will be a special moment when he and his mother embrace.
So what kind of a hug will it be?
“It will be strong,” she said.
Jim Armstrong: 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com
Facts and figures
Here’s a few things to chew on as Ubaldo Jimenez takes the mound today in his first start since his no-hitter:
• Jimenez is the fourth pitcher from the Dominican Republic to throw a no-no, joining Juan Marichal, Ramon Martinez and Jose Jimenez.
• Jimenez’s idol, Pedro Martinez, has never thrown a no-hitter. But he did throw nine perfect innings vs. the Padres before allowing a hit in the 10th.
• Former Pirates right-hander Doc Ellis no-hit the Padres on June 12, 1970 while under the influence of LSD. His catcher, Jerry May, wore reflective tape on his fingers so Ellis could see the signs.
• The Mets, Padres and Rays are the only current teams never to throw one. Amazingly, Mets pitchers have thrown 33 one-hitters, five by Hall of Famer Tom Seaver.
• Four pitchers — Allie Reynolds (Yankees, 1951), Virgil Trucks (Tigers, 1952), Nolan Ryan (Angels (1973) and Johnny Vander Meer (Reds, 1938) — have thrown two no-hitters in the same season. Vander Meer is the only pitcher ever to do it in back-to-back starts.
• Mark Buehrle of the White Sox is the active leader with two no-hitters.
• The all-time no-hit leader is Nolan Ryan with seven.
Source: Baseball Almanac
