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On April 17, 2010, the Colorado Rockies' Ubaldo Jimenez made history by becoming the first pitcher in franchise history to throw a no-hitter, the first of six no-no's in what was dubbed the Year of the Pitcher.

One year and two days later, the team's ace gave up four runs in five innings in what would be his second consecutive poor outing of the season, his first start after being placed on the 15-day DL for a cracked cuticle.

Up until Tuesday's start against the San Francisco Giants, in which Jimenez got a no-decision after giving up three runs in seven innings, the Rockies had lost every single one of his six starts. He had an 0-3 record with an ERA far north of 6.00, and in his last prior start, a home game against the Mets, he got booed off the mound in the fourth inning after giving up five runs and walking the opposing pitcher twice.

His latest start could be seen as a turning point for the 27-year-old right-hander—at least, that's what Rockies fans and management are hoping. They've been alternating between wringing their hands or using them to cover their eyes in the majority of his starts this season, a rude and unexpected turn-around from this time last year.

In 2010, Jimenez put together an impressive streak of six consecutive wins to start the season and held an ERA of 0.83 during that span. His first loss of the season didn't come until his seventh start, and what did he do after taking that L? Just earned a win in his next seven outings in a row, nailing down his 13^th victory with nearly a month to go before the All-Star Game (which he of course started for the National League). He would finish the season with a 19-8 record, a 2.88 ERA and the title of baseball's biggest break-out pitcher in a historic year for great performances on the mound.

It's hard to say what the cause of Ubaldo's slide has been. Spectators and experts alike have been placing their bets, and the guesses have ranged between this being a result of residual effects from his cuticle injury to some kind of problem between the ears, as the expression goes.

Rockies' management has sworn up and down that he's not hurt, however, and one would have to believe that they wouldn't be running Jimenez out there if there were any doubt in their mind to the contrary. His last outing should have silenced any conspiracy theorist Rockies fans out there, as despite a shaky third inning he settled down and lasted through the seventh.

Yes, he still gave up fat pitches to slumping guys like outfielder Pat Burrell, who hit a two-run double after going 2 for 23 with runners in scoring position prior to that at-bat. But he showed some signs of improvement after a rocky—sorry, couldn't help the pun—first six weeks of 2011. For the next four innings Jimenez looked more consistent and comfortable than he has in any start this year. He issued only one walk in the game after giving up six base on balls in his previous start and an average of 3.66 per game in his first six outings of 2010.

If there is any reasonable explanation that can be reached with Jimenez's 2011 slide, it could potentially be attributed to the pressure that Ubaldo likely felt going into this season after his stupendous success of 2010. Although Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki are arguably the co-captains of Coors Field, Jimenez controls the helm of the pitching rotation in a time in Major League Baseball in which a solid fab five of starters is becoming more highly valued than a good lineup. Furthermore, the Rockies didn't make the playoffs last year while their NL West counterparts captured the championship crown. Colorado brass then signed CarGo and Tulo to huge offseason extensions, signaling their hopes to build a dynasty around this trio of young stars. That's definitely a lot for a young athlete to take into perspective.

With Jimenez's stellar 2010 season and youth, Rockies fans should ease off the panic button and realize that is likely just a bad spell that Jimenez is mired in, not an indication of the downward spiral of the pitcher's young career.

Jimenez is one of the game's most talented young pitchers with a lineup highlighted by solid sluggers around him. A series of bad starts at the beginning of the season is discouraging, but doesn't change the prestige and buzz surrounding his name. It's not a matter of if Ubaldo goes back to being a dominant force on the mound—it's when.

Written by: Julia Reis

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