Rockies' Jimenez moving night before big start

PHILADELPHIA -- Ubaldo Jimenez is in for a stressful Saturday night at work. Yet, his two-month lease is up, he has no new place lined up, and he's going to have to move on Friday. Many folks have been in his position.

But the difference is Jimenez actually welcomes having to pack his bags and move to a hotel.

Jimenez, 23, will be the Rockies starting pitcher in Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the Phillies on Saturday night, before what promises to be an ear-splitting crowd at Coors Field. A Rockies victory would give them a sweep of the best-of-5 series, and put them in the NL Championship Series for the first time in their 15-year history.

The Rockies will work out on Friday afternoon at Coors Field, which will not be open to fans -- they'll pack the place when the time comes.

But Jimenez, a right-hander who went 4-4 with a 4.28 ERA for the Rockies after being called up from Triple-A Colorado Springs, will spend the morning doing chores with his roommate, who happens to be his father, Ubaldo Sr.

"I'm not going to think a lot about it," Jimenez said of his start. "I have a lot of bags to pack. And I don't have furniture, since my apartment was furnished.

"Tomorrow, I want to do the most things possible."

With Denver having turned deep purple with Rockies fever, you'd expect Jimenez's landlord would cut him a break and not enforce the lease.

"That's OK," Jimenez said. "I want to move, do anything to take my mind away."