There wasn’t kryptonite in his locker. Nobody stepped on his cape. The reason Ubaldo Jimenez became human played on a TV screen in front of him.
“I went over the video with (pitching coach Bob) Apodaca and you could see I was flying open with my left shoulder a little bit,” Jimenez said. “I need to make an adjustment.”
Jimenez has been sabotaged by four-run sixth innings in his past two starts. His ERA in June was 4.41. Consider it a slight market correction. He never planned on going through the season with an ERA less than 1.00. But after watching his teammates pick him up against the Red Sox and Padres, the latter game which he won, the right-hander is ready to resume his dominance. He is attempting to become the first pitcher since David Wells in 2000 to win 15 games before the all-star break.
“I am not thinking about anything right now but helping the team,” said Jimenez when asked of his likely starting nod for the All-Star Game.
The effort required for Jimenez’s start tonight will influence his next assignment. If he doesn’t labor much, the 26-year- old will start Thursday against the Cardinals on regular rest, which would put him right on schedule for Tuesday’s All-Star Game. Jorge De La Rosa would then follow him on Friday.
If Jimenez shows signs of fatigue, De La Rosa, who starts today in Triple-A, could go Thursday followed by Jimenez on Friday.
“I would rather pitch Thursday on my normal schedule,” Jimenez said. “I feel like my command is better when I don’t have an extra day.”
MRI clean on Hawpe.
Brad Hawpe did not start for the sixth time in seven games because of bruised ribs. An MRI revealed no fracture, but Hawpe doesn’t expect to return to the lineup until Sunday. “When I woke up today, I felt a lot better. (Thursday), I had no explosiveness,” Hawpe said.
Footnotes.
Todd Helton was given a day to recover as he deals with back soreness. . . . First-round draft pick Kyle Parker watched batting practice Friday. Negotiations with the two-sport Clemson star are expected to pick up after this weekend. . . . Reliever Taylor Buchholz worked in back-to-back games in Triple-A, leaving him in position to be activated next week if a need arises. . . . The Rockies will continue wearing their red, white and blue “Stars and Stripes” caps this weekend. They are a popular seller among fans.
