Ubaldo Jimenez: "I know I can do better"

SARASOTA, Fla. - We've arrived at Day 2 of the Orioles' spring training workouts. And with the physicals done, they return to a normal schedule that gets players on and off the field earlier than yesterday.

The highlight remains the bullpen sessions. Nothing against pitchers fielding practice, but ... the highlight remains the bullpen sessions.

Ubaldo Jimenez will throw today while continuing to focus on repeating his delivery. It's a daily battle for a guy whose arms and legs tend to fly in all directions.

Lower the hands and raise the expectations.

"I'm just trying to get better with the whole package, not only one thing," he said. "Just trying to be consistent. That's one of the main things in order to get deep into the game."

Jimenez doubled his win total from six to 12 last season, lowered his ERA from 4.81 to 4.11 and reduced his WHIP from 1.516 to 1.359. His walks per nine innings dropped from 5.5 to 3.3.

Jimenez also gave the Orioles more innings, increasing his total from 125 1/3 in his first season to 184, but he wasn't as effective after the All-Star break. He was 7-4 with a 2.81 ERA and 1.268 WHIP in the first half and 5-6 with a 5.63 ERA and 1.465 WHIP in the second half.

"I think it could have been better," he said. "I improved compared to the year before, but I know I can do better. I'm excited for this year. It's a new beginning. Every year is a new beginning. I have to work hard to get ready for the season."

He's got two remaining on his contract worth a guaranteed $26.5 million. His importance grows with Wei-Yin Chen's departure. Chris Tillman and Miguel Gonzalez need bounceback seasons. Kevin Gausman needs to take the next step, and Jimenez needs to put together two good halves.

Does the rotation need to step up?

Even Captain Obvious rolls his eyes at that question.

"Yeah, especially with what they've been able to do the years before," Jimenez said. "This is baseball. It's tough. You're going to have a (down) year, but they have a lot of time. And I bet they are really hungry to show what they are capable of doing."

Meanwhile, manager Buck Showalter has enjoyed watching the continued maturation of his young pitchers as they become leaders in camp. More examples came this week.

"It's kind of funny watching a lot of the guys go through some things and lead stuff that was the other way around in years past," Showalter said. "Watching Zach (Britton) and Chris (Tillman) and Miguel (Gonzalez) walk some of our guys through it, new guys. It was kind of cool to watch."