Jimenez: "This is no time to be selfish or to be putting your head down"
By Roch Kubatko
CHICAGO - Ubaldo Jimenez said he doesn't expect to get many opportunities to pitch out of the bullpen following news yesterday that he's been removed from the starting rotation.
Manager Buck Showalter informed Jimenez yesterday that the right-hander would have to transition into a relief role.
"They're doing whatever is best for the team," said Jimenez, who's 4-9 with a 4.83 ERA in 20 starts and leads the American League in walks with 66.
"The guys have been pitching really good in the rotation and definitely we all want to do the same thing and that's making the playoffs and putting the team in the best position."
Jimenez expected to stay in the rotation yesterday before meeting with Showalter.
"The first time I heard it from him," Jimenez said when asked whether the news surprised him, "but definitely some of you guys gave me a couple questions about it."
The Orioles signed Jimenez to a four-year, $50 million contract in spring training, the largest in franchise history for a free-agent pitcher outside the organization. He's now relegated to mop-up duty as the club builds a sizable division lead.
"It's been a tough one, but it's part of baseball," he said. "Baseball is hard. There is nothing easy about it. You have to find a way to keep going and be ready for whenever the team needs me."
Jimenez, who missed about a month of the season with an ankle injury, hasn't pitched in relief since his major league debut on Sept. 26, 2006. He worked one inning for the Rockies.
"I guess it's pretty much the same thing," he said. "You have to be pitching to hitters. Probably the first time I've been doing it, but it's never too late. I have to find a way to go with it."
He also needs to find a way to fix his command issues without getting many chances to pitch in games.
"It's my understanding that there probably won't be a lot of opportunities, so I have to do anything possible to get ready, like probably when I play catch, after the games to throw a little bit to the catchers so I can be ready," he said.
Asked whether the role chance could prove beneficial, Jimenez replied, "That's a tough one because, like I say, I don't think I'm going to have a lot of opportunities to get into the games. If you're talking about getting my work in, it's going to be a little bit harder. But I have to do whatever it takes."
Perhaps he will get an opportunity to contribute down the stretch if the Orioles are satisfied with his side work. They're not giving up on him, especially with three years remaining on his contract. They just can't start him with the team trying to secure a playoff spot and gain home field advantage.
"Yeah, hopefully whenever there's a chance I have to try to do my best," he said. "That's why we're here. That's why we're all here, to help the team make the playoffs.
"It's a little bit disappointing, it's a little bit hard, but like I say, we're all here for the same thing and that's hopefully getting us into the World Series. This is no time to be selfish or to be putting your head down like this is the end of the world. You have to keep going for the team."
The Orioles signed Jimenez to a four-year, $50 million contract in spring training, the largest in franchise history for a free-agent pitcher outside the organization. He's now relegated to mop-up duty as the club builds a sizable division lead.
"It's been a tough one, but it's part of baseball," he said. "Baseball is hard. There is nothing easy about it. You have to find a way to keep going and be ready for whenever the team needs me."
Jimenez, who missed about a month of the season with an ankle injury, hasn't pitched in relief since his major league debut on Sept. 26, 2006. He worked one inning for the Rockies.
"I guess it's pretty much the same thing," he said. "You have to be pitching to hitters. Probably the first time I've been doing it, but it's never too late. I have to find a way to go with it."
He also needs to find a way to fix his command issues without getting many chances to pitch in games.
"It's my understanding that there probably won't be a lot of opportunities, so I have to do anything possible to get ready, like probably when I play catch, after the games to throw a little bit to the catchers so I can be ready," he said.
Asked whether the role chance could prove beneficial, Jimenez replied, "That's a tough one because, like I say, I don't think I'm going to have a lot of opportunities to get into the games. If you're talking about getting my work in, it's going to be a little bit harder. But I have to do whatever it takes."
Perhaps he will get an opportunity to contribute down the stretch if the Orioles are satisfied with his side work. They're not giving up on him, especially with three years remaining on his contract. They just can't start him with the team trying to secure a playoff spot and gain home field advantage.
"Yeah, hopefully whenever there's a chance I have to try to do my best," he said. "That's why we're here. That's why we're all here, to help the team make the playoffs.
"It's a little bit disappointing, it's a little bit hard, but like I say, we're all here for the same thing and that's hopefully getting us into the World Series. This is no time to be selfish or to be putting your head down like this is the end of the world. You have to keep going for the team."
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