The National League Elite

Today was nothing less than a monumental day in the National League. Any time you get a two-time Cy Young Award winner facing a 9-1, .88 ERA ace, you're in for a treat. As the apple of the National League's elite eye, Tim Lincecum could be considered the favorite in this duel. And through 1 inning, it seemed like Tim would control the game. He got the Rockies 1-2-3, bringing Ubaldo Jimenez to the mound. After giving up an early single to the Panda, Pablo Sandoval, Jimenez locked in. He would strike out 9 of his next 25, and let only 2 more reach base. Meanwhile, Lincecum would struggle. Well, struggle for an ace. He tied a season high with five walks, gave up 6 hits and three earned runs, and was pulled by manager Bruce Bochy in the 5th. Jimenez, on the other hand, completed all 9 innings, allowing just four hits- not a single run.

A game like this can certainly be debated. "Oh, Timmy just had an off day." Well, including today's ballgame, Lincecum has allowed 14 walks in his last three contests, while Ubaldo has pitched 3 straight shutouts. This got me thinking, 'is there anyone better than the Dominican in the National League right now?'

Yes, yes, I know. Roy Halladay, Tim Lincecum (obviously), and even Adam Wainwright have all made their presence known in the NL this year. But think about it, Ubaldo has them beat in nearly every statistic. His ERA is a staggering .77, nearly 1/3 that of Roy Halladay, who sits in 3rd in that category. He has a league-leading 10 wins, three more than anyone else in the NL. He pitched the first no-no in Rockies history this year. Simply, Jimenez has been the ace to defy all others. He plays with humility, and his presence on the mound shakes his weary opponents. His 100 mph fastball is the fastest in the NL. I'd say it's time we give Ubaldo Jimenez the credit he deserves.