# Ubaldo Jimenez (Rockies) no-hits Atlanta **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [April 18, 2010, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ubaldo-jimenez-rockies-no-hits-atlanta/536504 "2010-04-18T01:57:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2010, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ubaldo-jimenez-rockies-no-hits-atlanta/536504/1 "2010-04-18T01:57:52Z")
For the first no-hitter in Rockies history. Jimenez is one of the best pitchers in baseball, and few even know who he is. He is, IMO, the one pitcher in baseball most likely to throw a perfect game. He has a 100 mph fastball, a 90+ slider, and a wicked changeup. The movement on his pitches is incredible. On the season he is 3-0, a 1.4 ERA, 20 K’s and only 10 BB’s. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2010, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ubaldo-jimenez-rockies-no-hits-atlanta/536504/2 "2010-04-18T02:08:19Z")
Oddly enough, most of those walks came today. Go Rockies! I wish I could have seen it. I’m watching a game in which Tony LaRussa just put an infielder in to pitch the top of the 18th. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2010, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ubaldo-jimenez-rockies-no-hits-atlanta/536504/3 "2010-04-18T02:10:48Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > I’m watching a game in which Tony LaRussa just put an infielder in to pitch the top of the 18th. Lopez is now pitching against the pitcher who gave up his grand slam yesterday. Funny. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2010, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ubaldo-jimenez-rockies-no-hits-atlanta/536504/4 "2010-04-18T02:11:27Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > I’m watching a game in which Tony LaRussa just put an infielder in to pitch the top of the 18th. In a 0-0 game no less! ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2010, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ubaldo-jimenez-rockies-no-hits-atlanta/536504/5 "2010-04-18T02:46:49Z")
On the other hand the Mets are beating the Cardinals 1 to 0 in the btm of the 19th. That is not the kind of game you want to take your young kids to. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2010, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ubaldo-jimenez-rockies-no-hits-atlanta/536504/6 "2010-04-18T04:00:44Z")
I just got home so I am going to watch. Right now, [MLB.TV](http://MLB.TV) is allowing me to watch the Rockes broadcast of the game. ---
**Author:** ![koufax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7ea924/32.png) [@koufax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koufax)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ubaldo-jimenez-rockies-no-hits-atlanta/536504/7 "2010-04-21T15:02:02Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > For the first no-hitter in Rockies history. Jimenez is one of the best pitchers in baseball, and few even know who he is. He is, IMO, the one pitcher in baseball most likely to throw a perfect game. He has a 100 mph fastball, a 90+ slider, and a wicked changeup. The movement on his pitches is incredible. > > On the season he is 3-0, a 1.4 ERA, 20 K’s and only 10 BB’s. I’m too lazy to look, but didn’t he walk SIX? So he allowed six men to reach base. Whats the difference if each one of those guys singled off him or he walked them? Many no hitters are over rated and I think this is one of them. ---
**Author:** ![ReticulatingSplines](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ubaldo-jimenez-rockies-no-hits-atlanta/536504/8 "2010-04-21T15:16:31Z")
> [@koufax](#): > > I’m too lazy to look, but didn’t he walk SIX? > > So he allowed six men to reach base. Whats the difference if each one of those guys singled off him or he walked them? > > Many no hitters are over rated and I think this is one of them. Agreed. Kind of an ugly one, as no-hitters go. I’m also surprised that the OP thinks that Ubaldo is the most likely pitcher to throw a perfect game, given his career walk rate. No-hitter, sure, but perfect game? I don’t think in this lifetime. ---
**Author:** ![pricciar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@pricciar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pricciar)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ubaldo-jimenez-rockies-no-hits-atlanta/536504/9 "2010-04-21T15:23:54Z")
> [@koufax](#): > > I’m too lazy to look, but didn’t he walk SIX? > > So he allowed six men to reach base. Whats the difference if each one of those guys singled off him or he walked them? > > Many no hitters are over rated and I think this is one of them. Is your namesake’s first one overrated? He did have 5 walks, and all. I don’t think it is. I don’t think this one is overrated either. Sure, I agree that a perfect game is far better than a no hitter. And, each extra base runner takes the luster off a bit. But, getting 27 outs without allowing anyone to reach base on a hit an entire game is an impressive feat, even if it is accompanied by a bunch of walks. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ubaldo-jimenez-rockies-no-hits-atlanta/536504/10 "2010-04-21T15:35:25Z")
Most walks in a no hitter-[10](http://www.baseball-reference.com/play-index/shareit/ESrS) 1956-2008 ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ubaldo-jimenez-rockies-no-hits-atlanta/536504/11 "2010-04-21T16:07:40Z")
My husband has been in Denver since Saturday. That night he went out to a sort of upscale diner-type place, and the bartender said he had two tickets but had decided to come into work instead, and was trying to give them away. He didn’t take them. ---
**Author:** ![koufax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7ea924/32.png) [@koufax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koufax)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ubaldo-jimenez-rockies-no-hits-atlanta/536504/12 "2010-04-21T17:11:08Z")
> [@pricciar](#): > > Is your namesake’s first one overrated? He did have 5 walks, and all. I don’t think it is. I don’t think this one is overrated either. Sure, I agree that a perfect game is far better than a no hitter. And, each extra base runner takes the luster off a bit. But, getting 27 outs without allowing anyone to reach base on a hit an entire game is an impressive feat, even if it is accompanied by a bunch of walks. yes, it was. So his next one had only 2, still no good, then the next one had one walk, still not good enough, so he got smart and pitched a perfect game. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ubaldo-jimenez-rockies-no-hits-atlanta/536504/13 "2010-04-21T18:46:57Z")
> [@ReticulatingSplines](#): > > Agreed. Kind of an ugly one, as no-hitters go. > > I’m also surprised that the OP thinks that Ubaldo is the most likely pitcher to throw a perfect game, given his career walk rate. No-hitter, sure, but perfect game? I don’t think in this lifetime. His career walk rate isn’t bad, and it keeps improving. He gave up all six BB’s in the first five innings, but his pitching coach noticed that he gave up all of them while pitching from a full windup. He pitched the last four innings from the stretch and didn’t give up a walk. His control is fine. > [@Drain\_Bead](#): > > My husband has been in Denver since Saturday. That night he went out to a sort of upscale diner-type place, and the bartender said he had two tickets but had decided to come into work instead, and was trying to give them away. He didn’t take them. That would have been a tough game to catch, since it was played in Atlanta. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![ReticulatingSplines](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ubaldo-jimenez-rockies-no-hits-atlanta/536504/14 "2010-04-21T21:03:59Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > His career walk rate isn’t bad It depends on what you consider “bad,” but 4.06 BB per 9 innings is not “good” by any stretch of the imagination. And in 2008 he walked more guys than anyone in the league except for Oliver Perez. I would say that was pretty bad. > [@](#): > > and it keeps improving. He has only improved from 2008-2009, and the early return this year is regression, though time will tell for sure. > [@](#): > > He gave up all six BB’s in the first five innings, but his pitching coach noticed that he gave up all of them while pitching from a full windup. He pitched the last four innings from the stretch and didn’t give up a walk. His control is fine. Actually, Jimenez has been better throughout his career from the windup. “Far more effective,” if you believe [mlb.com](http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100418&content_id=9399088&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb). If it takes 6 walks next time to realize it’s time to switch, the damage has probably already been done. I don’t deny that he’s got electric stuff, but I don’t see how you can make an argument that he’s not extremely erratic. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2010, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ubaldo-jimenez-rockies-no-hits-atlanta/536504/15 "2010-04-21T22:46:52Z")
> [@ReticulatingSplines](#): > > It depends on what you consider “bad,” but 4.06 BB per 9 innings is not “good” by any stretch of the imagination. And in 2008 he walked more guys than anyone in the league except for Oliver Perez. I would say that was pretty bad. > > He has only improved from 2008-2009, and the early return this year is regression, though time will tell for sure. > > Actually, Jimenez has been better throughout his career from the windup. “Far more effective,” if you believe [mlb.com](http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20100418&content_id=9399088&vkey=news_mlb&fext=.jsp&c_id=mlb). If it takes 6 walks next time to realize it’s time to switch, the damage has probably already been done. I don’t deny that he’s got electric stuff, but I don’t see how you can make an argument that he’s not extremely erratic. His walks per 9 innings went from 4.7 in 2008 (his rookie year) to 3.5 last year. That’s a massive improvement. I don’t think you can base much on his numbers for the three games this year, but if you do, you’re looking at a Cy Young/MVP season. Winning every game and maintaining a 1.29 ERA will get you that. Do that and nobody will be worrying about his walks. ---
**Author:** ![ReticulatingSplines](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2010, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ubaldo-jimenez-rockies-no-hits-atlanta/536504/16 "2010-04-22T00:45:19Z")
> [@Lamar\_Mundane](#): > > His walks per 9 innings went from 4.7 in 2008 (his rookie year) to 3.5 last year. That’s a massive improvement. I don’t think you can base much on his numbers for the three games this year, but if you do, you’re looking at a Cy Young/MVP season. Winning every game and maintaining a 1.29 ERA will get you that. Do that and nobody will be worrying about his walks. His rookie season was 2007. He pitched 82 innings and walked 4.06/9, then 4.7 to 3.5 and then back up to 4.29 this year, so you really have no idea if he’s improving yet. And I did add the caveat that this year’s sample size is too small and that time would tell for sure. All I said was his control is too crappy to pitch a perfect game, I don’t care if he wins a Cy Young or not. Are you like his mother or something?