The Local newsletter is your free, daily guide to life in Colorado. For locals, by locals. Sign up today!
The Colorado Rockies are a team of ups and downs, and it’s hard to tell which way things will swing on any given day. First, the good. Rockies pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez is on fire this season, posting his fifth win, as he dominated the Arizona Diamondbacks last night at Coors Field. It didn’t hurt that the Rockies shelled Arizona pitcher Edwin Jackson for 11 hits and 10 runs in less than three innings–eventually winning the game 12-1—but Arizona couldn’t figure out Jimenez all night. The Denver Post brings up the subject of Jimenez potentially winning the Cy Young Award as the National League’s best pitcher, noting that he’s the first Rockies pitcher to win five games in April, but let’s pump the brakes. There is a lot of baseball left in the season. Another bright spot is the continued excellent play of outfielder Carlos Gonzalez, who is living up to the hype as a potential star. After a 2-18 stretch over the last week, he’s busted out over the last couple of games. Last night he was a home run short of hitting for the cycle, but he’s proven to be an offensive spark. He’s hitting .342, with two home runs and a team-leading 14 RBIs, according to MLB.com. But things aren’t all good for the Rockies. Purple Row breaks down the fact that 60 percent of the Rockies’ starting pitching rotation is dealing with injuries. The latest victim is Jorge De La Rosa, who was sent to the disabled list with a finger injury. Pitcher Jason Hammel has been struggling this season, and now he’ll have to deal with a strained groin. And then there’s catcher Chris Ianetta, who was sent down to the minor leagues Monday so he could work out whatever’s wrong with his swing. He tells The Denver Post that the move surprised him. Purple Row speculates Ianetta was sent down just so he’d have ample at-bats to get things worked out, not because the team has given up on him. Catcher Miguel Olivo has been on fire, so Ianetta wouldn’t get much time to work things out here. The move isn’t surprising considering Ianetta’s numbers, which stand at hitting .133, two home runs and a woeful 0-13 slump, but it is considering Ianetta signed a three-year $8.5 million deal in the off season.