Meet Ubaldo Jimenez

Ladies and gentlemen, the newest Cleveland Indian is right handed fireballer Ubaldo Jimenez. For all the skeptics, let’s look past the 6-9 record and 4.46 ERA of 2011. There are more important numbers, much more important.

Ubaldo (we’re on a first name basis) is 27 years old, throws in the high 90s and is in his fifth full season as a starting pitcher. Sounds to me like a guy about to enter his prime. He has a career ERA of 3.62 and a 1.28 WHIP. Acceptable, but that still doesn’t tell the story. The guy pitched in Coors Field, remember.

His career road splits show a 3.58 ERA with 430 strikeouts in 430.1 innings. That looks pretty good to me. Even better, since the start of last year those numbers drop to 2.70 and 183 whiffs in 180.1 innings. I like that. This is a guy who is getting better each year leading to this season. He obviously hasn’t lived up to the dynamite year he had last year, but again if you look at his splits is shows that he’s been awful at home (5.55 ERA) where he will no longer be pitching and dominant on the road (2.83). He also has a no-hitter to his credit, which he threw last year.

A pitcher who is coming into his prime, throws in the triple digits and now has something to prove? Yeah, I’ll take that. Hold on to your hats, Tribe fans.