Was it simply an accident, residual hard feelings over time their Colorado or "the most gutless act," Rockies manager Jim Tracy has "seen in 35 years in the game?"
The first pitch from Cleveland Indians pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez drilled his former Rockies teammate Troy Tulowitzki smack in the elbow on Sunday, triggering a bench-clearing Standoff in spring training game in Scottsdale, ariz.
Given the Commission Bud Selig was in the stands, Major League Baseball likely will get to the bottom of things.
The first pitch from Cleveland Indians pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez drilled his former Rockies teammate Troy Tulowitzki smack in the elbow on Sunday, triggering a bench-clearing Standoff in spring training game in Scottsdale, ariz.
Given the Commission Bud Selig was in the stands, Major League Baseball likely will get to the bottom of things.
"You guys need to talk to him and see if it was intentional or unintentional," Tulowitzki said. "I did not expect anything and emotions took over. A couple of words were exchanged but no more than that."
X-rays revealed no injury, but it is not clear whether the All Star short stop, the swollen elbow was wrapped after the game, would be ready for the opener.
"From my take, as soon as he hit me it just seemed like he wanted a little more. It is the conflict began," Tulowitzki said. "I was definitely not happy with being hit. I do not think you ever ... so it was back and forth. Not to say that it was just him or me."
Tracy was much more emotional in a profanity-laced tirade.
"It is the most gutless act I've seen in 35 years of professional baseball," Tracy said the Denver Post. "I've lost all respect for him. He should be suspended. I'm going to be very disappointed if he does not stop. Are you kidding? Five days before opening day and you're going to take a potshot like that? I lost all respect for him. "
There have been cases where the Rockies gave Tulowitzki, not Jimenez, a contract extension. Earlier in spring training, Jimenez said playing for the Indians was "heaven" compared to playing in Colorado. But residual unhappiness with the Rockies, Denver recently detailed records Mark Kiszla, was not behind the plunking, Jimenez said.
"I was surprised [when Tulowitzki moved to him]," Jimenez told the Plain Dealer. "I've never had any problems with it. He was calling me that.
"I am a man. I try to relax all the time, but if someone calls me out, I've got to go. He was calling me names. He was calling me a chicken. Well, not chicken, but otherwise very aggressive words I can not say now.
"I am not seeking trouble, but if you call me out, I'll be there."
Jimenez was bothered last season after injury to a finger on throwing hand and believe suggestions that he came to spring training unprepared to pitch, Kiszla writes.
Among others, Tulowitzki doubt his commitment. "If someone does not want to be here," Tulowitzki said the Denver Post, "we always say," Please go up to the manager and tell him you want to go or you do not think this is the best place for you. "It was a good case with him."
Jimenez admitted that "Last year was a roller coaster because I knew what I had before I installed the game. I did not know what I did physically. I know I was not 100 percent. Sometimes I felt good, sometimes not. So it was hard, "Jimenez said Kiszla at the end of March.
"There were too many things last year. People were saying I was probably not ready for the agreement .... But I know what I did. I know how hard I worked to get ready every day."
On Sunday, Tracy flashed back to the comments for Jimenez Kiszla.
"Knowing what I know, to know what happened last year, and since this team was going into the second month of the season and do what we did [in April] and he was nowhere to be found. I have lost all respect for him, "Tracy said.
"Look at where we were last spring. What went into the 2010 season and what we did in the beginning of the 2011 season without him. Waiting for him. Take a shot for him. All the different parts. And to pull that [expletive] . As I have said, the most unprofessional I've seen since I started in professional baseball. "
