Tom Verducci On Ubaldo Jimenez: 'It's A Sunk Cost

[LookitsPuck]

If he can't control his command in the rotation, he certainly can't control it in the bullpen.

[Nevermore]

If he can't control his command in the rotation, he certainly can't control it in the bullpen.

He can sometimes control his command, at least for a few innings. He's going to start Tuesday night. If he only lasts 1-4 innings, then try him in the pen. He's pitched from the pen before (in 2014) and actually wasn't too bad. Better the pen than eating up his huge contract.

[UpstateNYfan]

The cost of UJ will pale in comparison to Davis IMO. He is totally lost at the plate at the present time. Cut the swing down, go off field for a bit. He is K'ing at an alarming rate against some unremarkable pitchers.

[Can_of_corn]

The cost of UJ will pale in comparison to Davis IMO. He is totally lost at the plate at the present time. Cut the swing down, go off field for a bit. He is K'ing at an alarming rate against some unremarkable pitchers.

He gets in these funks.

Even in his good years.

One day he will come up to the plate and suddenly be locked in.

Just have to hope the hot stretches outnumber the cold.

[LookitsPuck]

He can sometimes control his command, at least for a few innings. He's going to start Tuesday night. If he only lasts 1-4 innings, then try him in the pen. He's pitched from the pen before (in 2014) and actually wasn't too bad. Better the pen than eating up his huge contract.

I'm not sure you can rely on him coming into a game and keeping it close. His ERA by inning is all over the place.

1st: 4.09

2nd: 2.53

3rd: 8.10

4th: 4.50

5th: 12.00

6th: 19.64

7th: 0.00

8th: 0.00

1-3: 4.83

4-6: 9.93

7-9: 0.00

I worry about his control coming in out of the bullpen, personally. Especially if it's *ever* a high leverage situation for him...or a close game.

[Nevermore]

I'm not sure you can rely on him coming into a game and keeping it close. His ERA by inning is all over the place.

1st: 4.09

2nd: 2.53

3rd: 8.10

4th: 4.50

5th: 12.00

6th: 19.64

7th: 0.00

8th: 0.00

1-3: 4.83

4-6: 9.93

7-9: 0.00

I worry about his control coming in out of the bullpen, personally. Especially if it's *ever* a high leverage situation for him...or a close game.

So you'd rather just cut him and eat up the rest of his contract? I'd try him in the pen first. That's what they did with Bud Norris in 2015. Tried him in the pen. As it turned out, Bud pitching from the pen didn't work so they released him. However he was in his walk year and what they had to eat was a lot smaller. With Ubaldo, try him in low-leverage situations at first. Let him get more used to the idea of pitching in relief. Better that than eating 1 1/2 years of his contract, which is a lot bigger than Norris's was. After all, we have some players to sign, mainly Mark Trumbo, possibly Matt Wieters, and especially Manny.

Last year, the O's carried far too much dead money into the off-season after they DFA'd so many players. Yes, some they never should have signed. Perhaps they never should have signed Ubaldo, but that's now water over the dam.

And who knows -- maybe Ubaldo will pitch a no-hitter tonight. That would be great!

[Tx Oriole]

Tom Verducci says he doesn't see things getting better with Ubaldo Jimenez, and at some point, the Orioles may need to just move on.

https://www.pressboxonline.com/2016/06/06/tom-verducci-on-orioles-and-ubaldo-jimenez-its-a-sunk-cost

I feel for Jimenez. I know he is not pitching well. And for some reason it seems

like he just can't get it together. Maybe he could pitch out of the BP.

[weams]

I feel for Jimenez. I know he is not pitching well. And for some reason it seems

like he just can't get it together. Maybe he could pitch out of the BP.

No runs, one run. What will Wilson do?

[backwardsk]

No runs, one run. What will Wilson do?

Wilson doesn't get a chance to pitch against this AAAA team.

[Nevermore]

I was at the game. Believe me, Ubaldo was trying, he was doing his best. But the fastball command was simply eluding him. Sometimes he'd get it together for a few pitches, and get a clutch strikeout. But on the other hand, it says something when the only run scored off of him was from a bases-loaded walk.

I truly believe that eating the rest of his large contract is not a feasible idea for a team that wants to perhaps extend Trumbo, Wieters, and especially Manny. So Ubaldo might have to be a rather expensive long reliever. Who knows, maybe during this time doing long relief will help him finally get it together so that he can rejoin the rotation. Or he might turn into a top long reliever. Who knows?

[justice98]

He showed a little something last time. If he can do it again, he could save his job. If he does it enough, he could stay in the rotation for quite some time. It's not like we have great alternatives. Verducci doesn't see things getting better but they got better after a terrible 2014. He's the same guy who put up a 2.81 ERA in the first half last year. I can't stand watching him pitch but he could put it together again. If he does, I'd trade him in the offseason which is something I advocated after last year. Not saying there was a team out there willing to bite.

He's had 2 good halfs in 6 years. Not a good ratio. He's just not a good pitcher.