As Shane mentioned in last night's game thread, Doug Creek is on the 15-day DL with a strained elbow, and Josh Towers is your newest Toronto Blue Jay. The skinny righty, who relies on "sneaky" control, pitched well for the Orioles in 2001 before an absolutely disastrous 2002 season. Credit Team Ricciardi for the low-risk signing this winter, as the 26-year-old has bounced back nicely with a 3.29 ERA in nine AAA starts. Both his walks (8) and strikeouts (33) are low for 54.2 IP, but he's been getting people out consistently.
The more logical replacement for Creek was Jason Kershner, who has been untouchable in AAA, so something's up. Mark Hendrickson may have been just pitching on the side late in last night's game, or he could be Creek's temporary replacement in the bullpen. Lurch's next scheduled start is Monday, against the same righty-loaded White Sox lineup he faced last time. Perhaps the plan is to let Towers pitch that game (it's certainly a different look for the Chicago hitters) and keep the big lefty in the bullpen. Obviously, I'm just speculating, but it makes some sense. The Jays brain trust knows Mark has been effective in relief, and they're still evaluating Doug Davis as a starter.
This mystery is compounded by some recent comments about impending changes to the 25-man roster. Carlos Tosca has repeated that he would like to have an extra body on the bench, and just 11 pitchers, for the six games in NL parks June 3-8. Towers, unless he makes a very strong first impression, (i.e., "this guy's much better than Jeff Tam") would likely be returned to AAA, but who gets called up? Mike Colangelo has rebounded from a slow start; he's hitting .347 with a .398 OBP and carries a great glove. It could even be Ken Huckaby, giving Tom Wilson a break from the wear and tear behind the plate, while providing the extra utility man and valuable pinch-hitter the skipper covets. The team has days off before and after the road trip, so a four-man rotation would work.
In my scenario, when Toronto resumes its AL schedule, Hendrickson becomes a starter again. They need a second lefty in the 'pen at that point, so either Creek has miraculously recovered both his health and his talent, or Kershner takes the limo ride from Syracuse, and the 14th position player is sent back down. This is all rather insignificant, I admit; you know the Jays are on a roll when the ZLC has no concerns beyond guessing who the 25th man will be next week.
The more logical replacement for Creek was Jason Kershner, who has been untouchable in AAA, so something's up. Mark Hendrickson may have been just pitching on the side late in last night's game, or he could be Creek's temporary replacement in the bullpen. Lurch's next scheduled start is Monday, against the same righty-loaded White Sox lineup he faced last time. Perhaps the plan is to let Towers pitch that game (it's certainly a different look for the Chicago hitters) and keep the big lefty in the bullpen. Obviously, I'm just speculating, but it makes some sense. The Jays brain trust knows Mark has been effective in relief, and they're still evaluating Doug Davis as a starter.
This mystery is compounded by some recent comments about impending changes to the 25-man roster. Carlos Tosca has repeated that he would like to have an extra body on the bench, and just 11 pitchers, for the six games in NL parks June 3-8. Towers, unless he makes a very strong first impression, (i.e., "this guy's much better than Jeff Tam") would likely be returned to AAA, but who gets called up? Mike Colangelo has rebounded from a slow start; he's hitting .347 with a .398 OBP and carries a great glove. It could even be Ken Huckaby, giving Tom Wilson a break from the wear and tear behind the plate, while providing the extra utility man and valuable pinch-hitter the skipper covets. The team has days off before and after the road trip, so a four-man rotation would work.
In my scenario, when Toronto resumes its AL schedule, Hendrickson becomes a starter again. They need a second lefty in the 'pen at that point, so either Creek has miraculously recovered both his health and his talent, or Kershner takes the limo ride from Syracuse, and the 14th position player is sent back down. This is all rather insignificant, I admit; you know the Jays are on a roll when the ZLC has no concerns beyond guessing who the 25th man will be next week.
