PEORIA, Ariz. — Major League Baseball officials moved quickly Monday, suspending Cleveland starter Ubaldo Jimenez five games and fining him an undisclosed amount for his role in Sunday’s bench-clearing incident vs. the Rockies.
No Rockies were disciplined. Jimenez will have the opportunity to appeal.
Jimenez hit Rockies’ all-star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki in the left elbow on the first pitch of the at-bat, emptying the benches. Tulowitzki screamed at Jimenez as the right-hander threw down his glove and aggressively moved toward the batter’s box, motioning with his hands for Tulo to come at him.
Jimenez said Sunday and repeated today that he didn’t intentionally throw at Tulowitzki, citing his poor command in the outing. The league clearly disagreed. Commissioner Bud Selig was in attendance Sunday, and was upset with what transpired. Jimenez has no plans to apologize to Tulowitzki.
“No, why?” Jimenez told MLB.com on Monday. “He was calling me [names]. I said already that I didn’t mean to hit him. It was a pitch that got away. I had five walks in the game. I was everywhere.”
Manager Jim Tracy didn’t buy his explanation, calling Jimenez’s dart at Tulowitzki a “gutless act.”
The inflammation in Tulo’s left elbow has subsided, leaving Tulo convinced that he will play on opening night Friday in Houston. Tulo and Jimenez traded barbs in the press recently, with the shortstop saying he stood by his comments.
Several Rockes remained upset with Jimenez, including veteran Todd Helton.
“I definitely didn’t see it coming. It’s disappointing,” said first baseman Todd Helton. “It shows you what he cares about. It’s Ubaldo.”
