Ubaldo Jimenez Today, 2016

[OsEatAlEast]

It's his birthday.

Happy coincidence! He popped into my head today because I was at one of those Sunday games where he tied the record for most wild pitches in a game. I think it was against the Nationals.

[Nevermore]

Maybe they adjusted. But he had a simplified wind up last year. He probably didn't feel comfortable with that and we thought he earned doing it "his way". Well his way looks a lot like 2014 and even more like a DFA. We've known he was done since we 2014 and we just took a shot in the dark with his new wind up crap.

Doesn't completely reworking a pitcher's mechanics take an offseason and ST innings? I don't see how he turns it around this year. At best we're going to have to hide him in the pen all year and hope he has the offseason that he should have had coming into this year. That's at best. Is that really value?

Didn't he take a DL trip in 2014 and then we went on a run? I want to say he said he hurt his foot in a parking lot or something??? We need that again.

As for reworking Ubaldo's mechanics, you are most likely correct, especially with a veteran who has done his mechanics for several years. However, his fastball velocity has significantly lessened. So the mechanics that used to work aren't working any longer. This is a major adjustment for him. So yes, he'll have to be in the pen for the rest of the year, working with Ramon. And then during the off-season and during 2017 ST, he'll have to continue working. Ramon is also Dominican, so they can work there together. As for value, This would be better than running him out every 5th day to lose. Or else DFAing him and eating up 2 years of salary. If nothing else, the Orioles will have a good (though expensive) mop up man. Hopefully, for the 2017 season, Ubaldo will turn into a decent starter, or else a quality long or middle reliever.

[Going Underground]

Happy coincidence! He popped into my head today because I was at one of those Sunday games where he tied the record for most wild pitches in a game. I think it was against the Nationals.

I think I was at the game against Boston,where I think he broke the record for most walks to start a game. As for Jimenez Cricket, what has he has like two decent half seasons since 2010.Is that fixable ?

[OsEatAlEast]

I think I was at the game against Boston,where I think he broke the record for most walks to start a game. As for Jimenez Cricket, what has he has like two decent half seasons since 2010.Is that fixable ?

It was this game. http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BAL/BAL200606250.shtml To be clear though it was the Orioles record of 4. The AL record for WP in a game is 5 and 6 in the NL.

As to your question. No I don't think Jimenez is all that fixable. What apparently worked for him in one point of time doesn't anymore. I'm not quite sure if he gets that though.

[drjohnnyfeva]

When Jim Palmer called him "horrible" in his first year with us, I started worrying then.

Palmer is usually pretty candid, but that struck me. He based his judgement on his wild

motions, the stiffening or the arm prior to delivery... basically he said he has too much

going on for a major league pitcher. Other than spotty outings, I have seen little that

give me any confidence he or coaching can "fix" anything with him. I'm inclined to give

him some long relief duties, but if he fails at that, I can't see why we would consider

keeping a roster spot for him. I know he was a big signing, supposedly heralding a new

era in FA with the O's, but in retrospect this seems a foolhardy signing.

[Il BuonO]

When Jim Palmer called him "horrible" in his first year with us, I started worrying then.

Palmer is usually pretty candid, but that struck me. He based his judgement on his wild

motions, the stiffening or the arm prior to delivery... basically he said he has too much

going on for a major league pitcher. Other than spotty outings, I have seen little that

give me any confidence he or coaching can "fix" anything with him. I'm inclined to give

him some long relief duties, but if he fails at that, I can't see why we would consider

keeping a roster spot for him. I know he was a big signing, supposedly heralding a new

era in FA with the O's, but in retrospect this seems a foolhardy signing.

Welcome aboard! It sounds as if you're not a member of his fan club. Others will be disappointed but pay them no mind.

[Can_of_corn]

Who are those people? How big can his fan club be? There's Ubaldo, his family, and then who else?

I know of at least one person who has declared themselves the head of his fan club.

And another that spent all off season telling us what a bargain Ubaldo's contract was.

[Can_of_corn]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/orioles?src=hash">#orioles</a> listing Wilson, Gausman, Wright and Jimenez as starters vs. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/redsox?src=hash">#redsox</a> at OPACY beginning Monday.</p>— Roch Kubatko (@masnRoch) <a href="

">May 29, 2016</a></blockquote>

<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Looks like at least one more must not watch game.

[Rene88]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/orioles?src=hash">#orioles</a> listing Wilson, Gausman, Wright and Jimenez as starters vs. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/redsox?src=hash">#redsox</a> at OPACY beginning Monday.</p>? Roch Kubatko (@masnRoch) <a href="

">May 29, 2016</a></blockquote>

<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Looks like at least one more must not watch game.

Why? Just giving games away....

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[thezeroes]

Why? Just giving games away....

We are paying him to start. It may be his last one for awhile or he could get things corrected and remain an option. Gallardo and McFarland will have done a least one re-hab start before the next time (After Thursday) Ubaldo is to start and give the Orioles another option. As of now the "Options" are limited.

[Jagwar]

If the O's want to be a playoff team, Ubaldo can't get anymore starts. He will get 1 or 2 more, but Buck and Dan are smart enough to know the team can't afford a blowout every 5th game.

Aren't they?

[Rene88]

We are paying him to start. It may be his last one for awhile or he could get things corrected and remain an option. Gallardo and McFarland will have done a least one re-hab start before the next time (After Thursday) Ubaldo is to start and give the Orioles another option. As of now the "Options" are limited.

I get that. Worley could easily start over Ubaldo. Both pitched yesterday. Worley is not a long term solution but when Ubaldo starts, there isn't even a chance.

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[Nevermore]

I know of at least one person who has declared themselves the head of his fan club.

And another that spent all off season telling us what a bargain Ubaldo's contract was.

Yep, that was me. I am still the Grand Poobah of the Ubaldo Jimenez Fan Club.

So why is the Grand Poobah of his fan club posting repeatedly that he belongs in the bullpen, at least for now? Because. if Ubaldo is going to improve, it has become clear that some "tough love" is needed. It's not good either for him or the team that running him out there to lose every 5th game; this will not help him get better, and it certainly is not good for the Orioles. Ubaldo's velocity has lessened (as is common with 30-plus pitchers). He needs extensive work in low-pressure situations to help him with his mechanics and adjust to the lessening of his velocity.

So let him pitch mop-up for the rest of the year -- or if he improves a bit, let him come into the game from the pen in higher leverage situations. And at the same time, Ramon or Dom Chiti will work with him. I realize that this will make him into a very highly paid long reliever. But right now, he looks completely lost out there on the mound. Putting him out in the pen will at least give him a chance to help him get his mechanics fixed. And this will give him a chance to be able to help the team in 2017.

[Nevermore]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/orioles?src=hash">#orioles</a> listing Wilson, Gausman, Wright and Jimenez as starters vs. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/redsox?src=hash">#redsox</a> at OPACY beginning Monday.</p>— Roch Kubatko (@masnRoch) <a href="

">May 29, 2016</a></blockquote>

<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Looks like at least one more must not watch game.

I am going to that game. It is a part of my 29-game season plan.

[Can_of_corn]

I am going to that game. It is a part of my 29-game season plan.

I hope you have a swell time.