Ubaldo Jimenez

While a no-hitter is always impressive, they are starting to become "routine" this year. With the All-Star break just around the corner there have already been four no-hitters (two perfect games) so far this season. If it weren't for the infamous call that cost Armando Galarraga his perfect game, 2010 would have five no-hitters and would be on its way towards the all-time record of seven in one season, which happened in 1990 and 1991.

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The Nationals offense scored 14 runs for Strasburg in his first two starts but have scored one run total over his last two starts. He has not walked a batter in three of his starts. His strikeouts to walks ratio in those three games is 31-0.

Last year's NL Cy Young competition was quite the horse race. Chris Carpenter, Tim Lincecum, and Adam Wainwright all received significant votes from the BBWAA as well as vocal and passionate support from fans.

While this year's race is far from unanimous, there is one obvious favorite who would win hands-down if a vote was held today.

Need proof?

It is always fun to speculate who will make the once-again expanded All-Star Game roster. Since each team has to have at least one All-Star, here are the 30 who are deserving.

This list includes many young stars of the game who should be showcased to the whole nation, as well as some veterans that you might not expect to see at an All-Star Game.

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In less than half the year we've had some amazing, and I mean amazing games by pitchers. Three no-hitters from Ubaldo Jimenez, Roy Halladay, and Dallas Braden, with the last two being perfect. Technically we've had three perfect games if you count Armando Galarraga's, which I think we should. Have the pitchers finally taken the lead in fantasy value over batters? Lets take a look…

2010
3 no-hitters (Jimenez, Halladay, Braden)
5 complete game one-hitters (Matt Cain, Johnny Cueto, Jon Niese, Mat Latos, Armando Galarraga)

Watching Ubaldo Jimenez is strange.

At times he looks like a power pitcher, inducing strikeouts one after the other. At other times, he seems like an efficiency pitcher, inducing ground ball double plays when his W is on the line. The type of pitcher he is though, doesn't seem to matter any more.

What does matter, is that he is helping to keep an average, if not below average at times, Rockies club in the NL West race. As a fellow Bleacher Reporter put it, the Rockies are the definition of "Meh" this year. They don't look good, but they don't look Mendoza either.

The story is the same one every fifth day, it seems. Ubaldo Jimenez once again dominates an opponent. On Thursday afternoon, the Rockies salvaged the final game of a three game series, winning 5-1.

On July 13, MLB's best players will take a break from their normal schedules to square off at Angel Stadium in the 81st Midsummer Classic.

Fans have been voting for their favorite position players for quite some time: Albert Pujols is the obvious pick for NL first baseman, and Joe Mauer is the overwhelming favorite for AL catcher.

Baseball worshipers hope to see their teams' leaders hit the long ball every time they enter the batter's box.

But who will pitch to these super sluggers?

That part of the whole shebang is up to All-Star managers Charlie Manuel and Joe Girardi.

The 1968 season pitched by St. Louis Cardinal's ace Bob Gibson (22-9 , 1.12 ERA, 268 strikeouts, 0.853 WHIP, Cy Young, and MVP)  is the standard of supremacy that every pitcher aspires to match. (Where was Gibson's run support that caused him to lose nine games with that earned run average?!?! )

How good has Ubaldo Jimenez been through 11 starts in 2010?  Almost unbelievably good.

Everyone knows, or should know, that Coors Field in mile-high Denver, is far and away the best place to hit in the major leagues.  Jimenez has a 1.29 home ERA this year, and only an 0.52 ERA on the road.  Based on that performance, I’d guestimate Jiminez’s current ERA (0.78 in fact) at 0.60 if he played his home games in a completely hitting/pitching neutral park.