Ubaldo Jimenez May Drop Appeal Of 5-Game Supsension After Start On Saturday

Former Colorado Rockies pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez faces a five-game suspension for intentionally throwing a pitch at Rockies SS Troy Tulowitzki in a March 1 Spring Training game, and had requested an appeal of the MLB's decision, but now it seems Jimenez may drop his appeal. He will start for the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field on Saturday against the Toronto Blue Jays, but Jordan Bastian, MLB.com's Cleveland Indians reporter, tweeted that Indians manager Manny Acta expects Jimenez will drop his appeal after his start against the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday:

Acta: Ubaldo will likely drop appeal after start today. Would miss 5 games, but Tribe won't need to call up another starter due to off day.

- Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) April 7, 2012

Jimenez initially denied any malicious intent in interviews after the incident.

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Troy Tulowitzki-Ubaldo Jimenez Incident: Indians Pitcher Appeals 5-Game Suspension

The former Colorado Rockies pitcher, SP Ubaldo Jimenez, is appealing the five-game suspension for hitting Rockies SS Troy Tulowitzki in the March 1 Spring Training game.

Ubaldo Jimenez is appealing his five-game suspension #Indians

— Rafael Rojas C (@rafaelrojasc) April 3, 2012

Jimenez, who now pitches for the Cleveland Indians, denied that the errant throw was intentionally aimed at the Rockies' shortstop, but the difficult history between the two players -- as well as Ubaldo's immediate reaction after hitting Tulowitzki -- appears to have swayed the league against Jimenez.

The former Rockies pitcher enters his 28-year-old season and sports a 3.76 ERA and 3.60 FIP through 916 and 1/3 career innings pitched. The Rockies traded Jimenez to the Indians midway through the 2011 season.

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Ubaldo Jimenez Receives 5-Game Suspension For Throwing At Troy Tulowitzki

Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez plunked Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki during a game on Sunday, and the two began to approach each other and exchange words, which prompted both benches to clear. The incident was reviewed by Major League Baseball, and on Monday they announced that Jimenez has been suspended for five games and will have to pay a fine.

BREAKING: @Indians RHP Ubaldo Jimenez receives 5-game suspension & fine for intentionally throwing pitch at @Rockies SS Troy Tulowitzki.

— MLB (@MLB) April 2, 2012

Related: VIDEO: Ubaldo Jimenez Throws At Troy Tulowitzki

Jimenez, formerly a pitcher with the Rockies, denied any malicious intent in interviews with media members afterward, but clearly MLB disagreed.

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Ubaldo Jimenez Denies Intentional Wrong-Doing

Cleveland Indians SP Ubaldo Jimenez says his plunking of SS Troy Tulowitzki was not on purpose and that he would not apologize to the bruised shortstop, according to the Chicago Sun-Times:

"I shouldn’t be suspended," Jimenez said Monday before Cleveland’s final Cactus League game against Cincinnati. "Players are hit by pitches every day. With a guy like him, you have to go inside. I can’t get the ball to go where I want every time."

Jimenez and Tulowitzki have reportedly had an ongoing feud since Jimenez's days in Colorado, but the 28-year-old righty claims that had nothing to do with the incident:

"He was calling me names," Jimenez said. "I already said I didn’t want to hit him. I had five walks. It’s not the first time somebody (was) hit."

The Indians pitcher may receive a suspension if the MLB deems the pitch was intentionally thrown at Tulo.

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Ubaldo Jimenez Could Receive Suspension For Throwing At Troy Tulowitzki

Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki appears all right after Ubaldo Jimenez threw at him during Sunday's game against the pitcher's Cleveland Indians (video). Precautionary x-rays showed that Tulowitzki's left elbow is OK, but we'll need to see what happens when he attempts to swing a bat. But for Jimenez, the consequences of his action could be swift from Commissioner Bud Selig:

MLB is investigating Ubaldo-Tulo incident. Commish Bud Selig was in attendance & Rockies provided MLB with video. Suspension possible.

— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) April 2, 2012

Of course, suspending a starting pitcher for, say, five games doesn't impact the team too much. The pitcher would miss one start, which could easily be a horrible start gone missing. But based on the video evidence, Jimenez certainly looks like he wanted a showdown with Tulowitzki after drilling him (sort of) with a pitch. The speed with which he dropped his glove and went toward home plate seem to indicate that Jimenez was looking for something.

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VIDEO: Ubaldo Jimenez Throws At Troy Tulowitzki

Troy Tulowitzki Leaves Game After Ubaldo Jimenez Plunks Him

Troy Tulowitzki left Sunday's game against the Cleveland Indians on Sunday afternoon after former Rockies pitchers Ubaldo Jimenez intentionally threw at him during the first inning. By all accounts, Jimenez then went toward home plate and gestured for Tulowitzki to come at him. Marco Scutaro was able to keep Jimenez from going any further while the bases cleared. Tulowitzki left the game with what was described as a ball to the back, but the team announced that he went to the hospital for x-rays on his left elbow.

#Rockies SS Troy Tulowitzki has been take to a local hospital for precautionary x-rays on his left elbow. More updates later.

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) April 1, 2012

Jimenez stayed in the game and both sides were issued warnings.

UPDATE

X-rays on #Rockies SS Troy Tulowitzki's left elbow came back negative.

— Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) April 1, 2012

For more coverage of all things Denver sports, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more in-depth coverage of the Rockies, visit Purple Row. For more updates throughout Spring Training, check out Baseball Nation and MLB Daily Dish.