Baseball Capsules: Jimenez comfortable with being ace for Rockies

TUCSON, Ariz. — Like a kid with boundless energy, the first thing Ubaldo Jimenez wants to do every morning is grab a ball and glove and go play catch.

The days in between starts are wrenching for the Colorado Rockies’ flamethrowing ace.

And the offseasons? They would be downright dreadful if he didn’t play winter ball back home in the Dominican Republic.

"I like to keep going and going," the soft-spoken Jimenez said. "I don’t like to be lazy."

No one will ever accuse him of that. Jimenez pitched at least six innings in a franchise-record 25 straight starts last season, helping the Rockies secure the NL wild card.

Once he receives the ball, he doesn’t like to give it back.

Jimenez has already been named the team’s starter for the opener on April 5 in Milwaukee, an honor that still makes him light up when it’s mentioned.

"But I have to keep working hard," the 26-year-old Jimenez said. "I can’t change anything."

Jimenez threw a staff-high 218 innings last season, his arm never seeming to wear down. He tossed 3,570 pitches in 2009, second-most in the NL behind St. Louis’ Adam Wainwright (3,614).

So, what did he do after that season?

Naturally, he went home and threw some more.

Give him the option to pitch and he won’t shy away, especially at home with his family and friends able to watch.

"They’ll probably never have a chance to come to (Coors Field) and see me pitch," Jimenez said. "I do it so they can see me."

Someday, though, Jimenez may have to curtail his trips to the mound in the Dominican. The Rockies awarded him a four-year, $10 million deal in 2009 and don’t want to put too much wear and tear on that robust right arm.

"He has to be careful. Let the body recuperate. ... The more he is one of the faces of our pitching staff, the more responsibility comes with that," pitching coach Bob Apodaca said.

He’s ready for all the responsibilities that come with being a top-line starter, making small adjustments each season since he broke into the majors in late September 2006.

His days of simply rearing back with his gangly windup and throwing are long gone.

Last season, he focused on maximizing each pitch and not relying on his blistering 95 mph fastball to bail him out of trouble.

That pitch had become both his friend and his foe.

"I’m trying to learn the tempo of the game, how to be a pitcher," said Jimenez, who was 15-12 in 2009 with a 3.47 ERA, the lowest mark by a starter in franchise history. "I want to know when to use pitches and not just be a thrower."

To help in that area, Jimenez turned to video, studying the way hurlers like Pedro Martinez, Johan Santana and Roger Clemens set up hitters and then deliver the knockout punch.

"They’re not afraid to go after a hitter," Jimenez said.

And neither is he. Never has been, not with that fastball.

However, he’s rethinking his approach, maybe mixing in more breaking pitches, along with a changeup and a nasty splitter. That way, his heater becomes less predictable.

"If it was up to me, I’d probably throw more breaking balls," Jimenez said.

Jimenez is an unassuming ace who’s well respected in the Rockies clubhouse. He’s even taken on a mentoring role with some of the younger pitchers this spring, offering tips to fellow Dominicans like Samuel Deduno and Esmil Rogers.

Not so much about baseball as life. He’s just paying the generosity forward after former Colorado reliever Jose Mesa once brought Jimenez along.

"It’s not easy over here, having to learn the language and the differences," Jimenez said. "It’s good when you have someone to help you. They get advice from me and I can get advice from them."

Now that he’s on his way to being a bona fide No. 1 starter, anything different?

"No, it’s pretty much the same," Jimenez said. "Just have to do my job, working on everything I need to work on."

That’s Jimenez’s humble side showing, a quality that Apodaca has come to appreciate.

"He doesn’t take his God-given talents for granted," Apodaca said. "He works at the areas that he knows he needs to improve on to be an elite pitcher. That’s because he doesn’t want to be a good pitcher — he wants to be the best pitcher."

Davis remembered during Dodger Stadium service

LOS ANGELES — Former Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Willie Davis was remembered as an electrifying on-field presence and a larger-than-life personality in a memorial service Tuesday at Dodger Stadium.

"I like to believe the president saw the news and felt a little sadness," his daughter, Kim, said in an hour-long service, "as did the mailman, the man at the doughnut shop, the drug addict downtown, and the 45-year-old who remembers the lightning speed of the 3 Dog."

Davis, 69, spent 14 of his 18 major-league seasons with the Dodgers, and was nicknamed "3 Dog" because of his greyhound-like speed, or his love of the dog track in spring training, depending on the telling.

He was part of two championship teams, won three Gold Gloves and remains the franchise leader in hits (2,091), extra-base hits (585), at-bats (7,495), runs (1,004), triples (110) and total bases (3,094). He was found dead in his Burbank home on March 9.

His service brought together several generations of former Dodgers, including current owner Frank McCourt and former owner Peter O’Malley. Former players in attendance included Maury Wills, Tommy Davis, Lou Johnson, Al Downing, Bill Russell, Ken Landreaux, Ron Cey, Reggie Smith and Lee Lacy.

"He was the only man I’ve ever seen who, when he hit a ball in the gap, the opposing team watched him run," Johnson recalled.

Tommy Davis — who was Willie Davis’ roommate on the road and neighbor at home — recalled first meeting his friend during a 60-yard dash staged in spring training.

"I realized he was fast," Davis said, "because (pitchers) Johnny Podres and Stan Williams were betting on him — and those guys knew how to bet."

Margie Myers Escandon, daughter of the scout who signed Davis, remembered her father Kenny actually "dancing in the living room," confident the player would become a star.

Davis left the Dodgers in 1973 and went on to play for the Montreal Expos, Texas Rangers, St. Louis Cardinals, San Diego Padres and California Angels. He retired after the 1979 season with a career .279 average and 398 stolen bases.

Beyond his on-field play, Davis was remembered for his deep voice, big laugh and exuberant personality.

"He was one of the most likable Dodgers," O’Malley said. "The fans liked him. Members of the press liked him and respected him. Management liked him. He was just a likable person. He was the best, and I’m going to miss him."

Davis’ son, Shonin Casey Davis, said his father once told him he had more fun in his years with the Dodgers "than most people have in a lifetime."

Dodgers’ Wade needs shoulder surgery, out 3 months

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Cory Wade will have surgery on his right shoulder and is expected to miss at least three months, another blow to the team’s bullpen plans.

The exploratory surgery will be done Wednesday in Los Angeles. Wade felt discomfort last week, and the 26-year-old righty was on the disabled list twice last year with shoulder trouble.

Wade pitched in 27 games for the Dodgers last year and had a 5.53 ERA. As a rookie in 2008, he led Dodgers relievers with 71 1-3 innings and became the team’s main setup man for a stretch.

Considered to be a strength of the team, the Dodgers’ bullpen has already experienced a number of issues this spring. Along with Wade’s injury, right-hander Ronald Belisario still has not resolved visa problems in his native Venezuela.

General manager Ned Colletti does not know when Belisario will be in camp and does not think the 27-year-old will be ready for opening day.

Left-hander Hong-Chih Kuo is dealing with elbow problems, while the long shot comeback of veteran Eric Gagne was stalled when the right-hander was sent to minor league camp Monday.

Left-handed setup man George Sherrill overcame a sore knee early in camp, but has struggled in exhibition games.

Wade initially was expected to be out for two weeks when his shoulder problems started. Two MRI exams showed that he doesn’t have labrum or rotator cuff damage.

Turnbow leaves with severe shoulder pain

VIERA, Fla. — Former All-Star closer Derrick Turnbow says his chances of making the Florida Marlins are "over" after he left Tuesday’s game with severe shoulder pain.

Turnbow said he was sure he would "be shutdown for while." He exited Florida’s 12-3 victory against the Nationals in the eighth inning.

Turnbow walked one batter and hit another before walking off the mound with the team trainer. He will undergo an MRI on Wednesday and said surgery was a possibility.

The hard-throwing right-hander had 39 saves in 2005 for the Brewers and pitched in the 2006 All-Star Game. He hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2008.

He threw 10 pitches Tuesday. As he threw a pitch that hit Danny Esponisa, Turnbow buckled on the mound.

Nationals 1B Dunn leaves game with back spasm

VIERA, Fla. — Washington Nationals first baseman Adam Dunn left Tuesday’s split-squad game against the Florida Marlins after two innings because of a spasm in his lower back.

Dunn made an error in the second inning when he bobbled a grounder in the hole by Logan Morrison. Dunn flied out in the bottom half of the inning and left the game.

A team spokesman said the slugger was day to day.

American League

Red Sox minor leaguer has brain surgery

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Highly regarded Boston Red Sox minor league prospect Ryan Westmoreland has had surgery in Arizona to remove a cavernous malformation in his brain.

The team made the announcement Tuesday night, saying a five-hour procedure was performed at the Barrow Neurological Institute at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix. The surgery was performed by Dr. Robert Spetzler.

A brief team statement said Westmoreland remains in the intensive care unit "but has come through the surgery well." It added that because of the complexity of the surgery, the 19-year-old outfielder will "face a difficult period initially before beginning his recovery."

"It sounds like very encouraging news," Red Sox manager Terry Francona said after Tuesday night’s split-squad game against the Tampa Bay Rays in Port Charlotte. "We’re obviously thrilled about that and thankful."

Westmoreland is one of Boston’s top prospects. He left minor league camp on March 4 and was diagnosed the following day at Massachusetts General Hospital.

A cavernous malformation of cavernoma is a cluster of abnormal or dilated blood vessels that affects the central nervous system. Symptoms can include bleeding in the brain, seizures and headaches.

Francona received an update on the surgery from general manager Theo Epstein.

Minor league first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who played in Tuesday night’s loss to Tampa Bay, said he received a text message from one of Westmoreland’s friends "saying surgery couldn’t have gone better."

Rizzo was treated for lymphoma in 2008, when he was 18.

"He’s a tough, strong kid and we’re all pulling for him," Rizzo said.

White Sox’s Mitchell to miss season

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Chicago White Sox outfielder Jared Mitchell will miss the 2010 season after surgery on his left ankle.

The team said Tuesday that the 21-year-old prospect is expected to make a complete recovery.

Mitchell was injured Friday while making a spectacular, against-the-wall catch on a drive off the bat of Juan Rivera in a split-squad win over the Los Angeles Angels.

The 21-year-old Mitchell is among the club’s top prospects despite minimal experience in the minor leagues so far after being drafted out of Louisiana State. He batted .296 with 12 doubles, two triples and 10 RBIs in 34 games last year for Class A Kannapolis of the South Atlantic League.

Mitchell was taken by Chicago 23rd overall in last June’s amateur draft. The surgery was to repair a tear of the tendon on the inside of his ankle.

Mariners send second overall pick Ackley to Double A

PEORIA, Ariz. — The Seattle Mariners have sent second overall draft choice Dustin Ackley to Double-A West Tennessee, where the impressive 22-year-old will likely begin his first full professional season.

Last August, the Mariners and Ackley agreed on a five-year major league contract worth $7.5 million. Seattle has since tried the sweet-swinging former first baseman and outfielder at North Carolina at second base.

He had three hits in 19 at-bats (a .158 batting average) with three RBIs and one error in 10 spring games.

The Mariners have said they expect Ackley to reach the major leagues soon, though he was expected to begin this season in the minors.

Seattle also optioned outfielder Ezequiel Carrera to Triple-A Tacoma on Tuesday.

Angels to attempt world record wearing blankets

ANAHEIM, Calif. — Taking a page from the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Los Angeles Angels will try to break the world record for most fans wearing fleece blankets.

Fans attending the April 6 game against the Minnesota Twins will receive a free Hideki Matsui blanket. The team said Tuesday it expects a sellout crowd of more than 40,000 for the second home game of the season.

During the game, the crowd will be asked to wear their red blankets featuring Matsui’s name and number for five consecutive minutes.

Afterward, a representative from Guinness World Records will certify the record.

The mark for such a stunt is 17,758 at a Cavaliers game on March 5.

Former Padres GM Towers hired as Yankees’ scout

TAMPA, Fla. — Former San Diego Padres general manager Kevin Towers has been hired as a special assignment scout by the New York Yankees.

Towers was fired by the Padres during the final weekend of the 2009 season after 14 years as their GM.

Towers will scout both professional leagues and amateur players, and evaluate the Yankees’ minor league system.

Elsewhere

Knoblauch pleads guilty in assault case

HOUSTON — Former major league infielder Chuck Knoblauch has pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault on his common-law wife.

According to court records, Knoblauch entered his plea Tuesday in exchange for deferred-adjudication probation. Successful completion of his one-year probation could mean the conviction on the assault of a family member would be expunged from the record.

Knoblauch also was fined $1,000. Knoblauch’s attorney didn’t return a telephone call Tuesday.

According to a criminal complaint, Knoblauch’s wife told police he hit her in the face and choked her at their Houston home in September.

The 41-year-old Houston native played for the Minnesota Twins, New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals from 1991-2002. In 12 seasons, the 1991 American League Rookie of the Year and four-time All-Star batted .289 with 98 home runs and 615 RBI.