Colorado Rockies: Jimenez or Freeland? Who had the better season?

This subject has been discussed by Colorado Rockies fans over the last couple of months … but after Friday night’s 5-2 victory over the Washington Nationals, it is time to finally put the debate to rest.

Now that we have Colorado Rockies starter Kyle Freeland’s full body of work for the season, let’s take a look at how it compares to the greatest season by a Colorado starting pitcher, Ubaldo Jimenez’s 2010 season, and decide once and for all, who had the better season?

Let’s first look at the overall numbers and then I will break it down into some of the key splits that should make the decision much more clear.

Ubaldo’s 2010 Totals
Name	W	L	ERA	G	CG	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	WHIP	SO9	SO/W
Ubaldo Jimenez	19	8	2.88	33	4	221.2	164	73	71	92	214	1.155	8.7	2.33

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Freeland’s 2018 Totals
Name	W	L	ERA	G	CG	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	WHIP	SO9	SO/W
Kyle Freeland	17	7	2.85	33	0	202.1	182	64	64	17	70	173	1.245	7.7	2.47

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

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The 2010 season was a historic season for Jimenez and the franchise. He threw Colorado’s first and only no-hitter. He was the only Rockies starting pitcher to ever start an All-Star game. His 19 wins are still a franchise best and his 214 total strikeouts was a franchise record until German Marquez surpassed him this past Wednesday with 221. On top of all of that, Jimenez was third in Cy Young voting, which is also the highest any Rockies pitcher has ever placed.

Freeland, on the other hand, now holds the lowest ERA in a season, eclipsing Jimenez’s 2.88 with an even smaller 2.85 ERA this season. His 17 wins ties him with three others for second-most in franchise history. The Cy Young results won’t be announced until after the playoffs … but Freeland absolutely should not be lower than fourth when the votes are revealed.

Ubaldo’s ’10 at Coors Field
Name	W	L	ERA	G	CG	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	WHIP	SO9	SO/W
Ubaldo Jimenez	9	2	3.19	15	1	101.2	88	36	36	38	96	1.239	8.5	2.53

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Freeland’s ’18 at Coors Field
Name	W	L	ERA	G	CG	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	WHIP	SO9	SO/W
Kyle Freeland	10	2	2.40	15	0	93.2	79	25	25	11	31	86	1.174	8.3	2.77

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Not that Jimenez’s home numbers in ’10 were anything to be ashamed of, but Freeland has been miraculous in ’18. The Denver native has proven that Coors Field can be tamed with a 2.40 ERA and he deserves a ton of credit for it. If the hitters get discredited for playing half their games at Coors, then Freeland should get even more praise for what he has done. The double standard that he faces is mind-boggling.

Ubaldo’s ’10 2nd Half
Name	W	L	ERA	G	CG	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	WHIP	SO9	SO/W
Ubaldo Jimenez	4	7	3.80	15	1	94.2	77	42	40	46	101	1.299	9.6	2.20

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Freeland’s ’18 2nd Half
Name	W	L	ERA	G	CG	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	WHIP	SO9	SO/W
Kyle Freeland	9	1	2.49	14	0	86.2	80	24	24	4	32	81	1.292	8.4	2.53

Provided by Baseball-Reference.com: View Original Table

Colorado’s 2010 collapse in the final month is well known, when they dropped 13 of the final 14 games of the season to miss out on the playoffs. Jimenez was a key part of that as he was 0-2 in his three starts during that stretch with a 3.32 ERA.

On the other hand, Freeland has only gotten stronger as this season has gone along. His great second half of this season has been one of the main reasons the Rockies are on the verge of winning their first ever NL West title.

For as spectacular Ubaldo Jimenez was in 2010 and for all of the incredible moments he provided that season, it is difficult to not give the nod to Kyle Freeland. He has been consistent all season long, clutch down the stretch, and has tamed the beast that is Coors Field.

dark. Next. Comparing the ends of the 2010 and 2018 seasons for the Rockies

For that reason, I am a Kyle Freeland guy.

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