MLB Capsules: Rockies ace Jimenez hits some speed bumps
DENVER — Ubaldo has taken a U-turn.
Colorado ace Ubaldo Jimenez is off to the best start in this “Year of the Pitcher,” with a 14-1 record and a 2.27 ERA. He’s the odds-on favorite to get the ball for the NL in the All-Star game, and with one more start this week, he could become the first pitcher in a decade to win 15 games by the break.
His nasty repertoire includes a ridiculous six different pitches — and variations of each — that he regularly throws for strikes on any given count, and some hitters swear they’ve never seen a fastball dip and dive like his is doing this year. He even threw a no-hitter against Atlanta in April.
But Jimenez has allowed 17 runs and 19 hits over his last 17 2-3 innings for an astonishing 8.66 ERA over his last three starts.
“We like to talk about this under the assumption that this guy is just a machine,” Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. “But he’s not. He’s human.”
Before this bad stretch, Jimenez’s ERA was a minuscule 1.16, in striking distance of Bob Gibson’s modern day record of 1.12 set in 1968, the original “Year of the Pitcher,” when Denny McClain won 31 times and hitters were so overmatched that the mound was lowered the next year from 15 inches to 10 to even the playing field.
Jimenez is having such a great year that it’s not preposterous to talk about 31 wins even though he pitches every five days, not every four like McClain did.
To have any shot, though, Jimenez can’t waste any time rediscovering his magic. He’ll face St. Louis’ Chris Carpenter (9-2, 3.16 ERA) on Thursday at Coors Field in a marquee matchup of All-Stars.
All it takes is one bad inning to ruin things, and Jimenez has had one in each of his last three starts.
He was sabotaged by four-run sixth innings against Boston and San Diego — the Padres were without a hit through five — and the San Francisco Giants trounced him for seven runs in the third inning of his last start, five of them after an umpire’s questionable safe call on what would have been an inning-ending double play.
Jimenez usually brushes off bad breaks, but he admittedly starting overthrowing after the close call went against him and he served up his first grand slam in 100 major league starts. Travis Ishikawa, making his first start since May 19, drove an off-speed offering into the right-field seats for his first career slam.
This rough stretch has led to a series of questions about Jimenez’s durability and mindset, and measured responses from the 26-year-old right-hander and the Rockies.
No, his arm is fine. The spotlight doesn’t bother him, and he hasn’t hit a wall.
“I saw a bad third inning and then I saw five others where they didn’t come close to running a run across the plate,” Tracy said after Jimenez’s last start, on Saturday. “He had a lapse. It happens. I think he’s still 14-1 and his ERA is in the low 2s. He’s still a pretty good pitcher in my mind.”
Despite giving up four or more earned runs in each of his last three games, Jimenez has a win and two no-decisions in that span thanks to an offense that finally has his back after providing little support while he was lights-out for nearly three months. His only loss was against the Dodgers, when he allowed one run and two hits in seven innings.
Jimenez attributed the first two starts of his slump to a mechanical flaw. He was occasionally opening up his left shoulder a split-second too soon on his delivery, which ruined his fastball command.
The same thing happened last time out, only it was his emotions that got to him, the first time that’s happened all season.
“I overthrew a couple balls, trying to do too much after (the umpire’s call),” Jimenez said. “That’s the reason why I was flying open and my ball was staying up. I thought I was out of the inning and I had to get back on the mound. ... I was trying to overdo it after that, trying to strike everybody out.”
This perhaps was most disconcerting of all to Jimenez, the humble ace who walks to and from the ballpark every day. He has learned to harness his emotions as well as his fastball this season, the primary reasons he’s become one of the game’s best pitchers.
“I have to find a way to get better,” Jimenez said. “I have to learn from my mistakes.”
His pitching coach, Bob Apodaca, had no doubt he will.
After all, Jimenez has come a long way.
In years past, he had the same unhittable stuff he does now but he often was forced to hand the ball over to his manager in the seventh inning because he couldn’t escape a jam when he started to tire or his pitch count would balloon trying to get out of a mess.
During an evaluation at the end of last season, Apodaca sat down with Jimenez and said the one thing that would put him over the top was controlling his fearsome fastball.
“Not to add another pitch or this or that or throw his slider better. It was to improve his fastball command,” Apodaca said. “I mean, that word ‘command,’ it really has a certain connotation to it. He still hasn’t mastered the fastball. He’s commanding the fastball. When he starts mastering the fastball, then you’re going to see another rung that he’s reached.”
For now, Jimenez will concentrate on regaining his fastball command in those innings where it begins to escape him. And while his recent numbers aren’t pretty, he has faith he’ll figure it out.
“I have learned to become a better pitcher,” he said. “Before, I used to only throw hard and right now I have a pretty good idea of what I want to do out there.”
Strasburg says he wasn’t deserving of All-Star nod
WASHINGTON — Stephen Strausburg says he’s not feeling snubbed.
The Washington Nationals rookie pitcher said Tuesday he understands why he was left off the All-Star team and that he isn’t ready for the midsummer classic yet.
“You look at the guys who are going to the All-Star Game and the years that they’ve had — and they’ve done that since opening day,” Strasburg said in his first comments since the All-Star selections were announced Sunday. “I haven’t been here since opening day. They deserve it. Hopefully, someday I’ll deserve it, too.”
Strasburg said he didn’t expect to make the NL squad and that it’s far more important for him to help build the Nationals into a contender.
“I never felt like it was really going to happen, so I didn’t put that much thought into it,” he said. “Right now, you know, I’d rather take this team to a World Series rather than making an All-Star team.”
The 21-year-old Strasburg, the first overall pick in last June’s amateur draft who signed a record $15.1 million contract, is 2-2 with a 2.45 ERA in six starts. He has struck out 53 and walked eight in 36 2-3 innings.
Philadelphia Phillies manager Charlie Manuel, who will skipper the NL stars in next Tuesday’s game in Anaheim, Calif., would have had to pick Strasburg for the team.
But such a small body of work made it tough for Manuel to make that choice.
“Obviously, only having six starts over here, it really didn’t matter what I was going to do,” Strasburg said. “I really didn’t feel like I was qualified to make the team, No. 1, based on how much experience I have. I’m sure I’ll have opportunities somewhere down the road. Right now, it was never a goal of mine.”
That’s not to say that he wouldn’t have relished the opportunity to participate in the All-Star Game.
“It’s going to be nice to have a little break. But if it were taking a break or going to the All-Star Game, it obviously would have been a lot better to go (to Anaheim) and pitch. But I’m just not ready for it this year,” Strasburg said.
Phillies send Happ to minors
PHILADELPHIA — J.A. Happ has to earn back his spot in the rotation.
The Philadelphia Phillies activated the left-hander from the disabled list and sent him to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday.
“I was honest with him. I think he just wasn’t pitching well enough to be in our rotation right now,” general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said. “I think he will soon. But just from the way we evaluated him and the way he threw, he’s making progress, but not well enough to break into our rotation at this time.”
Happ, a 12-game winner as a rookie last year, had been sidelined with a left forearm strain since April. He made six rehab starts in the minors, going 1-1 with a 6.93 ERA. Happ said Monday that he was ready to rejoin the team, but the Phillies want him to get more work in the minors.
“He should get down there and work to get back up as soon as possible,” pitching coach Rich Dubee said. “We’ve seen progress. It just didn’t come fast enough.”
Happ finished 12-4 with a 2.93 ERA in 35 games, including 23 starts, last season. He was second to Florida’s Chris Coghlan in voting for the NL Rookie of the Year award.
Happ most likely would replace Kyle Kendrick in the rotation at some point. Kendrick is 5-3 with a 4.70 ERA.
The two-time NL champion Phillies entered Tuesday night’s game against Atlanta four games behind the first-place Braves. Injuries have been a problem. Five-time All-Star Chase Utley and Placido Polanco, the team’s leading hitter, are currently sidelined. So are catcher Carlos Ruiz and key relievers Ryan Madson and Chad Durbin.
Amaro said he’s exploring help through trades, focusing more on helping the pitching staff rather than adding an infielder to replace Utley or Polanco.
“I’m always more concerned about the pitching,” Amaro said. “At the end of the day, our team should be able to handle the loss of a couple of these guys offensively. It’s difficult, but with the talent that we have offensively we should be able to absorb that. But you can never have enough pitching.”
-- Rob Maaddi
Mets’ Reyes returns to lineup after missing week
NEW YORK — Jose Reyes returned to the New York Mets’ lineup Tuesday night and said he plans to play in next week’s All-Star game.
The speedy shortstop was batting leadoff against left-hander Matt Maloney and the Cincinnati Reds. The switch hitter said he will bat from the right side throughout the game to protect his balky back.
“It’s no problem with me,” Reyes said of batting right-handed. “I just want to be in the lineup.”
Reyes, who earned his third All-Star selection on Sunday, had been out since he was scratched from last Wednesday’s game against the Florida Marlins in Puerto Rico due to tightness in his lower back. He entered the game against the Reds with a .277 batting average, six homers and 32 RBIs.
Mets manager Jerry Manuel said he had no problems letting Reyes play with a nagging injury.
“He’s a natural right-handed hitter,” Manuel said. “I know he has more power there, and I know he’s anxious to play.”
-- Zina Zumok
Reds’ Harang goes on DL, Maloney promoted to start
NEW YORK — The Cincinnati Reds have put right-hander Aaron Harang on the 15-day disabled list and promoted lefty Matt Maloney to start against the New York Mets.
Harang is out with lower back spasms. He was scratched from his start Monday night in New York and, after a chiropractor worked on him, the Reds decided to put him on the DL on Tuesday, retroactive to July 1.
Harang is 6-7 with a 5.02 ERA in 17 starts.
Maloney, who went 2-4 with Cincinnati last year, was recalled from Triple-A Louisville. He was 6-5 with a 3.50 ERA this season in the minors. He was set to start Tuesday night at Citi Field.
American League
LaPorta gets a day off after head injury
ARLINGTON, Texas — Indians first baseman Matt LaPorta was given Tuesday night off after taking an accidental elbow to the head from the Texas Rangers’ Elvis Andrus.
The Indians said that LaPorta did not sustain a concussion when he was hit covering first base during Monday night’s 9-3 victory over the Rangers. Still, manager Manny Acta wasn’t taking any chances and kept LaPorta out of the lineup.
The incident happened in the third inning when Andrus ran past first base trying to beat out a slow grounder. LaPorta backed into the basepath to attempt to short-hop the throw, and Andrus accidentally clipped him across the head with his elbow.
LaPorta fell onto his back with his eyes closed, and was down for several minutes before remaining in the game. He eventually was replaced in the fourth by Andy Marte.
LaPorta was sent to a hospital for a CT scan on Monday night, which was negative. But he has a bruise on his head and his neck is sore.
“I feel a lot better today,” LaPorta said Tuesday. “I don’t know if I got knocked out, but for a couple of seconds there I wasn’t normal. To say I really got knocked out, I don’t know.”
LaPorta sustained a concussion when he was struck in the head by a pitch while playing for Team USA in the 2008 Olympics, and the Indians wanted to make sure LaPorta was OK.
“That’s a delicate thing and we’re just being cautious with him,” Acta said.
Of the 2008 concussion, LaPorta said, “That was a little worse. I had that for a couple of weeks. I got hit in the head with a (pitched ball). It kind of missed my helmet and hit right underneath in the back.”
The Indians also got a positive medical report on right fielder Shin-Soo Choo, who’s on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained right thumb.
Choo’s thumb was examined on Tuesday morning in Cleveland by Dr. Thomas Graham, a hand specialist, and he won’t need surgery. Choo will wear a brace and will be evaluated again after the All-Star break, and could be back sooner than the projected 6 to 8 weeks.
“It’s good news, but we’re still going to have to wait ... and see where that takes us,” Acta said. “But that will be a great boost for us if he doesn’t need to have that surgery and we can have him back a lot shorter than we were anticipating. A lot quicker.”
A-Rod to appear at anti-steroids fundraiser
NEW YORK — Alex Rodriguez is scheduled to attend a fundraiser for a foundation that educates youth about the dangers of performance-enhancing drugs.
Rodriguez has worked with the Taylor Hooton Foundation since he admitted to steroid use last year. The organization honors the memory of a 17-year-old baseball player who committed suicide in 2003. Doctors believe Taylor Hooton became depressed after he stopped using steroids.
“Don Hooton is just a guy who has tremendous passion for what he’s done,” Rodriguez said before the Yankees played in Oakland on Tuesday night. “There’s no secret we’ve been working together, hopefully quietly, for a while now. I’d rather not talk about it too much.”
The foundation announced Tuesday that Rodriguez and some of his teammates will attend a reception after the Aug. 19 game against the Tigers as part of the fundraiser at Yankee Stadium.
Rodriguez and pitcher Andy Pettitte, who has admitted taking human growth hormone, are providing signed items for sponsors.
Spectator hurt after fall from second deck
ARLINGTON, Texas — A male spectator fell from the second deck onto the field level seats while leaning to catch a foul ball at Rangers Ballpark during the fifth inning of Tuesday night’s game between the Cleveland Indians and Texas Rangers.
Rangers executive vice president/communications John Blake said the spectator was “able to move all his extremities and was responsive to paramedics.”
Texas’ Nelson Cruz fouled a ball into the first row of seats in the club level along the first-base line, and the fan attempted to snag the ball before losing his balance and tumbling about 30 feet onto the seats below.
Paramedics were on the scene quickly to attend to the fan, who was strapped to a stretcher and taken by ambulance to John Peter Smith Hospital.
The game was stopped for 16 minutes and several players on the field looked shaken.
Four people in the lower deck were struck when the spectator fell and were treated at the ballpark for minor injuries.
Owner says Rays will do what’s needed to contend
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Tampa Bay Rays owner Stuart Sternberg says this could be a special year for his team and that the budget-minded club will not shy away from spending money to improve its chances of making the playoffs.
Sternberg said before Tuesday night’s game against the Boston Red Sox that “money won’t be an object” when it comes to considering moves to bolster the roster.
Asked if that means the Rays could make a significant addition, Sternberg said: “By any means necessary.” At the same time, he acknowledged money is an “impediment” for a team stretched thin by a payroll of about $72 million.
Sternberg said the budget remains “well beyond stretched” but that he is committed to doing whatever is necessary to give the Rays a chance to stay in the playoff race.
White Sox’s Peavy leaves start with back strain
CHICAGO — White Sox right-hander Jake Peavy left Tuesday night’s start against the Los Angeles Angels in the second inning with a strained right back muscle.
The White Sox were leading 1-0 with two outs in the inning when Peavy delivered a 2-2 pitch to the Angels’ Mike Napoli. Peavy jumped off the mound and raised his right arm, then walked straight to the dugout with team trainer Herm Schneider.
The White Sox considered skipping Peavy’s turn June 17 at Pittsburgh because of a sore right shoulder, but he insisted on pitching two days later against the Washington Nationals. Peavy responded by tossing a three-hitter for his fourth career shutout.
Peavy began the day 7-6 with a 4.70 ERA. He was 3-1 with a 1.55 ERA his past four starts.
Kerry urges supporters to vote for Youkilis
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Senator John Kerry is throwing his support behind the bid of Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis to become an AL All-Star, again.
The Massachusetts Democrat has sent an e-mail to supporters urging them to cast a ballot for Youkilis in MLB’s fan vote to fill the final All-Star roster spot.
Youkilis, before Tuesday night’s game against Tampa Bay, said Kerry’s e-mail was “a pretty nice gesture” and that it’s “cool” that there are so many people that love the Red Sox.
Youkilis was an All-Star in 2008 and ‘09.
Also up for consideration for the final spot are Michael Young (Texas), Paul Konerko (Chicago White Sox), Delmon Young (Minnesota) and Nick Swisher (New York Yankees). Voting ends on Thursday.
O’s activate Pie, place Millwood on DL
DETROIT — The Baltimore Orioles placed starting pitcher Kevin Millwood on the 15-day disabled list with forearm soreness Tuesday and activated outfielder Felix Pie.
Millwood started Monday against Detroit, allowing five runs in his only inning of work. He has allowed at least two runs in the first inning of eight of his last nine starts.
Orioles manager Juan Samuel said that Millwood “didn’t want to do this — he is the kind of pitcher who just wants to keep taking the ball no matter what problem he’s dealing with.”
Pie played eight games this season before going on the disabled list April 16 with a strained upper back. He was in the starting lineup Tuesday against the Tigers, batting seventh and playing left field.
Youkilis leaves game against Rays
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Boston’s Kevin Youkilis was removed from Tuesday night’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays because of pain in his right ankle.
Youkilis was ready to go to the plate to lead off the fourth inning, when he stepped away from the batter’s box and leaned over and clutched his foot. He sat on the ground while a trainer, later joined by manager Terry Francona, examined his right foot and ankle and talked to the Red Sox first baseman.
Youkilis was replaced by Niuman Romero, who pinch-hit for him and remained in the game.
Mariano Rivera pulls out of All-Star game
OAKLAND, Calif. — New York Yankees closer Mariano Rivera says he won’t pitch in the All-Star game next week because of nagging injuries.
Rivera told reporters before Tuesday night’s game in Oakland that he had been “pitching hurt” with a sore left side and an injured right knee. He says he would rather have the time off than pitch in the game. Rivera expects to be available to pitch this week leading up to next Tuesday’s game in Anaheim.
Rivera was picked for his 11th All-Star team on Sunday. He is 2-1 with a 1.08 ERA this season. He has converted 19 of 21 save opportunities.
White Sox’s Quentin out of lineup vs Angels
CHICAGO — White Sox right fielder Carlos Quentin was out of Tuesday night’s starting lineup against the Los Angeles Angels with a sore left knee.
One night after hitting two home runs and making a spectacular diving catch on the warning track to rob Torii Hunter of extra bases, Quentin was scratched from the White Sox lineup.
Manager Ozzie Guillen said that Quentin could have been the designated hitter, but he didn’t want to take any chances. Quentin might DH on Wednesdasy.
He’s hitting .234 with 15 home runs and 53 RBIs this season.
Alex Rodriguez hits 21st career slam
OAKLAND, Calif. — Alex Rodriguez has tied Manny Ramirez for second place on the career list with his 21st grand slam.
Rodriguez connected in the third inning against Oakland All-Star Trevor Cahill on Tuesday night. It was Rodriguez’s third slam of the season. He needs two more to tie Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig for the most ever.
The slam was the major league-leading ninth of the season for the Yankees. That’s one shy of the franchise record set in 1987.
The home run was also the 596th of Rodriguez’s career.
Tigers’ Damon gets 2500th hit
DETROIT — Johnny Damon became the 92nd major league player to reach 2,500 hits with a third-inning single Tuesday night.
The Detroit Tigers outfielder singled to center field off Baltimore Orioles starter Jake Arrieta, drawing a lengthy standing ovation from the Comerica Park crowd.
Damon is one of four active players with 2,500 hits, 1,500 runs and 1,000 RBIs, joining three former teammates: Manny Ramirez, Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter.
