Sad Times For Ubaldo

I do not think that it's necessary to wait until the end of this game to comment.  As it has been throughout the second half of last season and the first 2-1/2 months of this campaign, there should be sincere concern as to the health of Ubaldo Jimenez.  He says he's okay, he seems to be okay, manager Jim Tracy stands up for him.  We are all rooting for him, he is a very likeable, affable young man.  He's just not very good right now, and hasn't been for awhile.  I suspect that the real reason, or reasons, will surface soon.

The game today against the Dodgers began well enough.  Los Angeles went down in order, 1-2-3 in the first.  As he has for the last week or so, Carlos Gonzalez led off the game, and hit it hard, a double to deep centerfield.  Jonathan Herrera failed to execute a sacrifice bunt, popping it up to Dodger pitcher, Rubby De La Rosa.  Todd Helton flied out, and Troy Tulowitzki walked.  Seth Smith homered to the second deck in right, and the Rockies had staked Ubaldo to an early 3-run lead.

The Dodger third began with Jimenez giving up a single to his counterpart, pitcher De La Rosa.  Leadoff batter, Jamey Carroll bounced a tailor-made double play ball to 3B Ty Wigginton.  He booted it, runners on first and second, no outs, instead of bases empty and two outs.  Aaron Miles forced De La Rosa out at third for the first out.  Ubaldo pitched carefully to Matt Kemp, and walked the hottest batter in baseball in the month of June.  Bases loaded, James Loney bombs a grand slam into the Dodger bullpen.  Then three more singles and a stolen base plate another run for the Dodgers.  All the runs were unearned, because of the error to begin the inning, but the 5 runs are probably enough to sink the heartless and dejected Rockies.

Two more home runs in the Dodger 5th account for the present score of 7-3.  Jimenez is not pitching well, and his delivery is not fooling any Dodger hitters this time around, after shutting them down and shutting them out 11 days ago.  The final line for Jimenez:  5-1/3 innings, 11 hits, 7 runs (only 2 earned), a walk and only 2 strikeouts.  The three home runs surrendered were the most in one game ever for Ubaldo.  The two strikeouts are the fewest.  So, to me, it's evident, he's not 100%, and it's time that it's addressed.

If the Rockies come back to win this game, I'll write an addendum, and apologize for my harsh appraisal.  Three errors committed, poor plate appearances, a generally poor display of baseball, all around.  It seems that this franchise is turning the corner, and it's not in the right direction.