Baltimore Orioles: 2014 Season Grades – Starting Pitchers
Sep 23, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez (31) pitches against the New York Yankees during the first inning at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
C-. . Pitcher. Baltimore Orioles. UBALDO JIMENEZ
I was not a part of the euphoria that broke out when Dan Duquette signed Ubaldo Jimenez. I was hopeful it would work out, but even at his best, he was not what was alleged to have been wanted, needed, and purchased by the Orioles.
All of the talk was that the O’s needed “innings eaters” starting pitching – which is great, but not the “end-all” of pitching it is sometimes presented to be. In any event, at his best, Jimenez was not one of those guys. His average starts were shorter than several of the O’s about whom there was concern that they could not habitually get deep into games.
The issue of course, painfully seen in 2014, is the lack of control. He runs deep counts, strikes out a lot, but walks even more.
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Everyone knows the story, and since you’ve been no nice as to read all of the way through this article and to this page, I’ll not repeat the account or print the numbers. Who wants to see them?
I actually do, however, think that Ubaldo will put it together for significantly positive stretches of time over the next three seasons. He seems like a high-caliber fine fellow, so I covet that success for him. The talent is huge, but like a wild mustang, it must be harnessed to be of use.
“And that’s all I got to say about that.”
Ubaldo Jimenez should take this “C-” from The Baltimore Wire and run with it. If the grades were weighted with dollars attached, he would have an “F” whereas Miguel Gonzalez would have an “A+”.