An early game thread, as I'm not sure how many of our authors are around on this long weekend, and my family is going to an Internet-free party. Regardless of the outcome of today's potential Pearson Cup-winning matchup, it's been a magnificent first half for the home team. Rookie RH Claudio Vargas, with a stingy 2.73 ERA and coming off a brilliant 3-hit shutout of the Pirates, takes on Doug Davis, who always makes me nervous. The Jays' bats (and their bullpen) will have to be good. It's a 4:05 start on TSN; I'll check in here late tonight to see what I missed.
Hopefully I get to watch the game, at leats some of it. I'm going out tonight, but not leaving until about 5:30 Atlantic time (so it's a 5:05 start). Hopefully I catch some more of the game in the evening. Will Sturtze be available for a couple of innings? Bridge the gap from Davis to the back end?
For some reason I think Davis might be alright tonite. He is showing some signs of getting himself straightened out. A couple seasons ago he had moderate success and shouldn't be a complete scrub.
That said he could could get bombed. I actually think though that he might get tagged early then pitch another 4 innings and hold the spos down while the Jays climb back into it. I'm actually going to predict he goes 61/3 give up 7 hits, 4 BB's, 2 K's and five runs and will leave the game losing 5-4. We will then watch the Jays finish the game 6-8.
Its morning here still and I'm having a caffiene vision ok. Right then.
Go Jays go
That said he could could get bombed. I actually think though that he might get tagged early then pitch another 4 innings and hold the spos down while the Jays climb back into it. I'm actually going to predict he goes 61/3 give up 7 hits, 4 BB's, 2 K's and five runs and will leave the game losing 5-4. We will then watch the Jays finish the game 6-8.
Its morning here still and I'm having a caffiene vision ok. Right then.
Go Jays go
If ever there's a guy whose peripherals are scary, it's Davis.
K/9: 3.9
BB/9: 4.9
HR/9: 1.5
Basically, he's been wild, hasn't kept the ball in the park and puts an awful lot of balls in play.
His career numbers are better, but he's definitely a man on the bubble, especially if Hendrickson goes to the bullpen (Sturtze's recent effort in long relief may be enough to trigger the flip-flop).
K/9: 3.9
BB/9: 4.9
HR/9: 1.5
Basically, he's been wild, hasn't kept the ball in the park and puts an awful lot of balls in play.
His career numbers are better, but he's definitely a man on the bubble, especially if Hendrickson goes to the bullpen (Sturtze's recent effort in long relief may be enough to trigger the flip-flop).
Hey Chuck, thanks for the Davis research. With the numbers I threw out this morning off the top of my head i was pretty close to accurate. Not bad for a guy who doesn't tuck in for a daily dose of statistic, but man I must watch to much baseball to soak that in.
The Jays will be alright today. Enjoy the game. I'm off to pick up my kids and head for English Bay to soak up the sun on the city beach.
Catch you all later.
The Jays will be alright today. Enjoy the game. I'm off to pick up my kids and head for English Bay to soak up the sun on the city beach.
Catch you all later.
This Davis kid has Cy Young written all over him. Halladay on the other hand...
I only caught the end of J.P in with the announcers. If anyone saw it - did he have anything interesting to say ?
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I just got home to see Cat completely baffled by a lefty. Why on earth does Tosca leave him in situations where he's clearly overmatched?
Mind you, I'm rooting for the Expos today, so I'm not complaining. :)
I just got home to see Cat completely baffled by a lefty. Why on earth does Tosca leave him in situations where he's clearly overmatched?
Mind you, I'm rooting for the Expos today, so I'm not complaining. :)
Regarding J.P.'s comments in the booth, he pretty much said what everyone's said here, that the story is without merit, much like Godfrey also stated before the game. Nothing suprising, he acted a lot more rationally than I would be able to given the circumstances, and was his calm and well-spoken self throughout.
One thing not related to the story that I found interesting was that he said that Jason Arnold would probably stay in the minors the entire season. I'm not sure if he meant that as literally as it sounded to me, but I would've thought he'd get at least a September callup, especially given the state of their rotation right now.
While Davis can't take the entire blame for the loss today, it is very frustrating watching him pitch, because it takes so long for him to suck- 12 runners on in 4 2/3 is bad, but the runners on were spread out evenly over his whole outing:
1st: walk
2nd: double, single, double
3rd: single
4th: double, single, single
5th: single, single, walk, walk
At least when Hendrickson threw his bomb the other day, he at least had his bad inning early and it was bad enough to get him yanked in time for the Jays to still be in the game. Granted Vargas is on fire right now and made very few mistakes, but the Spos ability to keep nibbling away like that early on had to have taken a toll on the Jays morale in the game.
One thing not related to the story that I found interesting was that he said that Jason Arnold would probably stay in the minors the entire season. I'm not sure if he meant that as literally as it sounded to me, but I would've thought he'd get at least a September callup, especially given the state of their rotation right now.
While Davis can't take the entire blame for the loss today, it is very frustrating watching him pitch, because it takes so long for him to suck- 12 runners on in 4 2/3 is bad, but the runners on were spread out evenly over his whole outing:
1st: walk
2nd: double, single, double
3rd: single
4th: double, single, single
5th: single, single, walk, walk
At least when Hendrickson threw his bomb the other day, he at least had his bad inning early and it was bad enough to get him yanked in time for the Jays to still be in the game. Granted Vargas is on fire right now and made very few mistakes, but the Spos ability to keep nibbling away like that early on had to have taken a toll on the Jays morale in the game.
I might have commented last night, but mine was one of the thousands of homes blacked out by an early-evening explosion and huge fire at the Dupont-Ossington Hydro substation. We went to bed early, and I'm quite surprised to have power this morning.
Davis' performance sounds pretty typical. Chuck, I think Plan B for Lurch would be the rotation in Syracuse, as he still has options. It would almost certainly be Davis going to the 'pen if they decide to try Sturtze as a starter again.
David, my guess all along has been that Arnold would finish his AAA season, then get called up, not necessarily to pitch, but to get used to the environment. Maybe that's what J.P. meant. Whether or not he gets a sip of big-league coffee in late September, I'm sure he's part of the 2004 rotation in Toronto.
Congratulations to Carlos Delgado for another new club record -- 33 RBI (and counting) in a single month. Free-swinging Vernon Wells has a 20-game hit streak. The box score suggests Service was very, very good, and Acevedo did his job efficiently. Nice pickups.
Davis' performance sounds pretty typical. Chuck, I think Plan B for Lurch would be the rotation in Syracuse, as he still has options. It would almost certainly be Davis going to the 'pen if they decide to try Sturtze as a starter again.
David, my guess all along has been that Arnold would finish his AAA season, then get called up, not necessarily to pitch, but to get used to the environment. Maybe that's what J.P. meant. Whether or not he gets a sip of big-league coffee in late September, I'm sure he's part of the 2004 rotation in Toronto.
Congratulations to Carlos Delgado for another new club record -- 33 RBI (and counting) in a single month. Free-swinging Vernon Wells has a 20-game hit streak. The box score suggests Service was very, very good, and Acevedo did his job efficiently. Nice pickups.
Davis's effort was typical of his work not only this season, but for the past few. The fact that he couldn't find a place in the Rangers' rotation should be a good warning sign towards not expecting too much from him.
I'm concerned that the Jays' house-of-cards pitching staff will soon come tumbling down. Halladay will be fine, and I believe Lidle can sustain some decent numbers. After that, there's the enigmatic Escobar, followed by some combination of Hendrickson/Davis/Sturtze or a callup like Thurman. I'd like to see them add a consistent 3rd-starter quality guy, but I think any trades we see will involve prospects.
I'm concerned that the Jays' house-of-cards pitching staff will soon come tumbling down. Halladay will be fine, and I believe Lidle can sustain some decent numbers. After that, there's the enigmatic Escobar, followed by some combination of Hendrickson/Davis/Sturtze or a callup like Thurman. I'd like to see them add a consistent 3rd-starter quality guy, but I think any trades we see will involve prospects.