Is Ubaldo Jimenez The Next Bob Gibson!?

To put the season Rockies starter Ubaldo Jimenez is having so far into perspective one name comes to mind, Bob Gibson. Through Jimenez's first 11 starts on the season, including throwing a 4 hitter most recently, Jiminez is the majors first 10 game winner with a 10-1 overall record. Despite those being absolutely fabulous numbers for a guy who before last season was never more then a back end of the rotation type of pitcher, he is having not just a great but historic season. The reason his season is historic is mostly because of his earned run average. Jimenez currently carries with him a astonishing 0.78 ERA. That means he is allowing less then 1 run per game on an average, in this day in age of booming power numbers that is almost unreal. On top of the eye popping low ERA, the rest of his stat line rounds out pretty nicely as well, 70 strikeouts, only 26 walks, and a 0.90 WHIP (walks + hits / per innings pitched), oh and I didn't even mention the no hitter he threw against Atlanta. This is coming from a Colorado pitcher who plays his home games in one of the best HITTERS ballparks in baseball history so much so the baseballs were place in a humidor several years ago in an attempt to even the playing field. There have been many legendary pitchers over the years but none have put together a season like this since the legend himself, Bob Gibson.

The St. Louis Cardinal franchise is one of the best ever, it has accumulated the most World Series titles in National League history, 10, along with 17 total NL pennants. When most fans think of the success of this franchise the powerful hitters such as Rogers Hornsby, Stan Musial, Mark Mcgwire, and Albert Pujols as well as the spectacular defensive gems like Ozzie Smith come to mind, however, the Cards have also been blessed with incredible pitching talent. Bob Gibson spent his entire 17 year hall of fame career as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals. He pitched from 1959 to 1975 compiling 251 wins, 174 losses, 255 complete games (pitchers actually went the distance back then without throwing a perfect game), 3,117 K's, a 1.188 WHIP, and a 2.91 ERA. Gibson was also apart of 3 NL pennant winners and 2 world champions in his illustrious career. His best season came in 1968 when he became one of the select few pitchers to not only win the Cy Young but also the MVP award. In the 68 season Gibson completed a stat line that looks like something out of a video game now a days, 22 wins, only 9 losses, a 0.853 WHIP, a league leading 268 strike outs, and a astonishing 1.12 ERA. 1968 the Cards did not win the Fall Classic, the Tigers were crowned that year, but it was the season that made Gibson more then just an ordinary hall of famer, he became a true legend. The players of that era including the great sluggers can often be heard trading war stories of how over powering Gibson was during his prime especially that wonderful season. It is important to note in the same time frame Gibson pitched notable legends who are now enshrined in the Hall of Fame including Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, Ernie Banks, Carl Yastrzemski, Johnny Bench, Reggie Jackson, Roberto Clemente, Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, and Willie McCovey just to name a few, all were in or near their prime and on opposing teams. 

While Jimenez has a long way away before he comes anything close to a career like the one Gibson put together over 30 years ago his 2010 season so far stacks right up with the best Gibson has to offer. It can be said, coming off the steroid era, that the baseball landscape has almost morphed to be completely  different than it was during Gibson's playing days but putting together the stat line Jimenez has compiled to this point in the season is certainly something to be praised no matter what side of the fence you are on of this current era in MLB. While Pujols, Howard, and Heyward may not be Aaron, Mays, and Clemente yet, they are great players having great seasons with the first 2 (Pujols & Howard) on pace to join Gibson in Cooperstown someday, so far this summer Ubaldo Jimenez has had no problem making them all look stupid. Can Jimenez keep this up and be able to put his season right next to Gibson's 1968 campaign as two of the best statistical years in baseball history or will he come back down to Earth? Time will tell, either way sit back, buckle up, and enjoy as Ubaldo Jimenez continues to make baseball history with every pitch!