LOS ANGELES — The very notion is delicious: the Rockies’ Ubaldo Jimenez opposite the Giants’ Matt Cain next Sunday at Coors Field, potential sellout crowd with the National League West lead hanging in the balance.
Alas, it won’t happen. Manager Jim Tracy said it makes no sense to bring Jimenez back on short rest following his Wednesday road start against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
“It’s not something we are even considering,” Tracy said. “He’s a huge part of our future. You don’t want to put that at risk.”
Tracy said Jimenez is better off staying on schedule given the workload he has carried this season and the grind of his previous starts. In his last three games, the right-handed ace has allowed nine runs in 18 1/3 innings. His 19 wins are the most by a Dominican pitcher in the National League since Jose Lima in 1999.
But Jimenez had 15 wins at the all-star break. He labored through six innings in Friday’s victory over the Dodgers, unable to command his sinker. He had to rely on a four-seam fastball because his sinker was moving so much out of Denver’s thin air.
“That happens a lot,” Jimenez said.
Still, Jimenez said he would be open to working on short rest.
“I know I have never done it. But you never know how you will do until you try it, you know?” Jimenez said.
Pitching coach Bob Apodaca recognizes that the numbers would not be in Jimenez’s favor. Over the last decade, pitchers working on short rest, particularly in the playoffs, have fared poorly.
“History says not to do it,” Apodaca said.
The Rockies’ rotation calls for Jhoulys Chacin, Jason Hammel and Jorge De La Rosa to face Tim Lincecum, Barry Zito and Cain.
Jimenez is 2-1 with a 3.00 ERA against the Giants this season, striking out 33 in 30 innings, while holding them to a .168 average.
“I would be fine with going on short rest,” Jimenez said. “Whatever they want me to do, I will be ready.”
