The ugly and tense divorce between Ubaldo Jimenez and the Colorado Rockies became downright dangerous on Sunday afternoon.
Facing his former team for the first time since he was traded last season, the Cleveland Indians pitcher drilled shortstop Troy Tulowitzki in the elbow during the All-Star's first at-bat. He then charged Tulowitzki, causing the benches to clear.
Tulowitzki was sent to the hospital for X-rays (take a sigh of relief, fantasy owners, they turned out negative) while Jimenez was somehow allowed to remain in the game. The righthander was tagged for six runs over 4 1/3 innings of work and exited the game to a shower of boos from the pro-Rockies crowd at Salt River Fields.
Tulowitzki later said that he didn't know if the HBP was intentional or not. But Rockies manager Jim Tracy didn't hold back, saying it was "the most gutless act I've seen in 35 years in the game."
"Five days before opening day, you're going to take a pot shot like that? It's the worst I've ever seen. I've lost all respect for him, and that's a very difficult thing for me to say with all the players I've had to manage over the years," Tracy said. "I've lost all respect for him, every bit."