A day later, there was no reason to hide the truth. The Rockies’ Ubaldo Jimenez wasn’t bad on opening day. He was hurt. A cut on his right thumb cuticle prevented him from properly gripping the ball, creating uncertainty over whether he will make Thursday’s start in Pittsburgh.
“I believe with the extra day of rest, I will be able to get it healed and pitch,” Jimenez told The Denver Post. “It’s good that it’s happening now because I can get it fixed.”
Jimenez had the Diamondbacks and scouts muttering Friday. He hit 95 mph once with his fastball, and his lack of command was alarming. The right-hander said he never considered not starting despite cutting his thumb Thursday while playing catch with Jorge De La Rosa.
“You prepare for so long for that moment, you want to be out there. And I had pitched through it before one or two times last season,” Jimenez said. “It’s disappointing more than anything.”
Manager Jim Tracy acknowledged that Jimenez might have to skip his next start. The Rockies have Greg Reynolds and John Maine available in Triple-A.
“I am not sitting here saying (Jimenez) won’t pitch (Thursday). There’s every reason in the world to believe he will if he gets this thing where it needs to be,” said Tracy, who then added, “I don’t want to see him go out there and try to pitch like he did, where he can’t cut loose. I am not going to send a guy out there who throws 97 (mph) if he’s throwing 92. Then we would be forced to back off.”
Jimenez treated the cut with moisturizing balm Saturday and planned to soak it in pickle juice. He missed a start March 3 when the same cuticle cut became infected. The baseball rubs on his thumb as he releases it on every pitch, particularly his slider and curve. It led to Jimenez adjusting mechanics.
“I used more of my arm than normal. Obviously, I don’t want to do that,” Jimenez said.
Daily Stew.
Ian Stewart started Saturday at third, wearing a compression sleeve to protect his left hamstring. He will be off today as a precaution. Said Tracy, “Hopefully by next week we won’t be in position of massaging the situation.”
Footnotes.
Arizona shortstop Stephen Drew (abdominal injury) did not start Saturday and may not play in this series. . . . With the Triple-A season not starting until next week, outfielder Willy Taveras and catcher Matt Pagnozzi continue to work out with the Rockies.
