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The .500 Jays try for a fourth straight win at home, which last occurred against the Pirates and Cubs in June. Halama-Walker doesn't deserve the same kind of buildup as Zito-Halladay, but it's going to draw a bigger crowd; the Molitor bobblehead giveaway guarantees that. As expected, Brian Bowles was sent down to make room for Walker, who hasn't pitched since June 3 and hasn't pitched well since April. I like Pete, and admire his tenacity. I hope he is finally healthy and has some success, but I'd rather he was in the bullpen and Towers stayed in the rotation. The relievers may decide this one, as neither starter can be expected to go more than five innings.

Remember when the Jays didn't match up well against southpaws? Now it's an embarrassment of riches. Mike Bordick is 8-for-17 off Halama, but Chris Woodward is 1-for-2, with a homer. Good call by Tosca to give O-Dog the day off and play Bordick at second. RF Bobby Kielty is just 1-for-6 (a 3-run homer) off the 6'5" lefty, but he's walked three times (an interesting 167/444/667) and he's 313/431/646 from the right side for the season. Carlos Delgado has a 417/529/750 line in 12 AB, and Vernon Wells doubled his only time up. DH Josh Phelps (remember him?) has never faced Halama, so he deserves a chance. With Hinske (0-for-2) at third, there's no room in the lineup for Dave Berg and his 308/368/577 split against lefties this year.
Game 129: Spot Starters | 18 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
Coach - Saturday, August 23 2003 @ 04:34 PM EDT (#93751) #
Walker is getting hit hard in the second. He served up a fat pitch to Adam Melhuse for a 3-run HR, to go with two doubles and a walk, and won't be around long at this rate.
Coach - Saturday, August 23 2003 @ 05:13 PM EDT (#93752) #
A 2-run double by Kielty tied it up in the third. Almost immediately, Rod Black said he should bat right-handed all the time. A pretty fair switch-hitter, Tony Fernandez, was visiting in the booth to explain the basics of the game to the play-by-play man.
Coach - Saturday, August 23 2003 @ 05:34 PM EDT (#93753) #
Walker survived the fourth, but is almost certainly done, having exceeded his 80-pitch limit by two. He gave up four hits, walked three and struck out three. Tanyon Sturtze will probably be asked for two or three innings.

Halama required 73 pitches to get through the first three innings, and is also headed for an early shower. This one may be a four-hour affair.

Tomorrow, early arrivals at the Dome get a 1993 commemorative bat, plus there's a fascinating Hudson-Escobar matchup. Following the game, you can stay for the alumni exhibition. Heckuva deal.
_Dr B - Saturday, August 23 2003 @ 07:20 PM EDT (#93754) #
Whoa! After lulling us into a false sense of security with a few solid outings, Sturtze comes up with this little gem.

1IP, 6ER

Oh dear.

Coach, aren't you glad he *wasn't* asked for two or three innings...:-)
_Shane - Saturday, August 23 2003 @ 09:01 PM EDT (#93756) #
If you missed todays A's/Jays telecast on TSN, here's what you missed...

- Rod Black said Adam Melhuse was once in the Blue Jays organization approximately 32 times in nine innings
- Tanyon Sturtze's "stuff" still wouldn't get good Triple-A hitting out
- Cliff Politte wasn't laughing with Carlos Tosca when he came out to lift him after a catcher interference call, he was laughing at him
- Oakland won 11-5
_Shane - Saturday, August 23 2003 @ 09:13 PM EDT (#93757) #
While Gabe Gross is showing good power and seemingly walking twice per game since arriving in Syracuse, Jason Arnold is...things continue to not go well.

Through five innings vs. Scranton, Arnold has given up five runs, and is losing 5-1. Not that we care about W-L records, but, he will be 4-8 if the score continues as it's going.
_BJ Birdy - Saturday, August 23 2003 @ 09:13 PM EDT (#93758) #
Could you expand on Politte laughing? I was at the game, pretty close to the field, and I guess I missed that. They didn't mention it on the radio, either.
_Shane - Saturday, August 23 2003 @ 09:39 PM EDT (#93759) #
Actually, Mike Wilner mentioned it on his post-game wrap show. As it was occuring and TSN was getting ready to go to commercial, Black and Tabler wouldn't address it or didn't notice it. I flipped over to the radio broadcast and Cheek was detailing the Auburn team with Tommy Craig, yes?

The TSN camera's were pointed directly at Politte as Tosca was off camera walking towards the mound. Politte had his head up looking directly at the manager as he was walking towards him. We've all seen Politte's distressed expressions before and this wasn't one of them. He was clearly smiling, (though I don't believe he was shaking his head or anything) and as he kept on smiling/smirking he was obviously aware of how it appeared, because he put his mit over his mouth as began to depart the mound. A few steps away from the mound, he looked back and had a few words with those that were now on the mound.

I'm sure it would all be down-played post-game as it's a healthy clubhouse etc etc, but it was what it was.
Pistol - Saturday, August 23 2003 @ 09:48 PM EDT (#93760) #
McGowan and Bush both put up impressive starts the last 2 nights, both in their 3rd consectutive start against Norwich.

McGowan - 8 innings, 8 Ks, 1 walk, 5 hits, 0 runs
Bush - 8 innings, 12 Ks, 0 walks, 4 hits, 2 runs
_Shane - Saturday, August 23 2003 @ 09:57 PM EDT (#93761) #
Arnold's night ain't lookin' so purdy. Through seven innings, Jason's given up seven runs - not sure of the number of earned runs/unearned? Scranton 7 Syracuse 2

Meanwhile, in New Haven, after hitting his ninth homer last night, Alexis Rios hit his tenth tonight, going 2for4. And 7-2 Dave Bush won, going 8 innings, allowing 4 hits, walking zero as per usual, and striking out 12. Jason who?
_Shane - Saturday, August 23 2003 @ 09:59 PM EDT (#93762) #
Ahh, you stop to scroll some other stats/scores and Pistol beats you to the punch.
robertdudek - Saturday, August 23 2003 @ 10:33 PM EDT (#93763) #
I wonder if the Jays are keeping Tanyon around because they have to pay him and would otherwise have to spend the prorated league minimum on another pitcher.

That's the only reason I can think of right now to explain why he's still on this club.

I was at the game today, and my reaction to Sturtze's performance today was (to paraphrase Newman) "Oh the humanity!"
_Shane - Saturday, August 23 2003 @ 10:56 PM EDT (#93764) #
You could be right, Robert.

It's mid-August, rosters expand soon so you'll have lots of opportunities to fill in starts with minor leaguer's in the case of injuries or trades to Halladay, Escobar, Lidle, and Hendrickson, so why is Tanyon Sturtze still 'here' when there's nothing left to see and only more damage to be done? (Today case in point)

A) They carried his ass this long, what's another five weeks?
B) His relationship/friendship to J.P.
C) Ricciardi sees the signing as a necessary risk, the media looking for blood will/do call it a failure. If you released him during the season it brings the 'We told you he was sh*t and you sold us he was shinola' barage, where if you hide him in mop-up jobs and don't offer him a contract post-season, it gets somewhat lost in the roster flurry come November.
or
D) I'm out to lunch
_Shane - Saturday, August 23 2003 @ 11:09 PM EDT (#93765) #
Syracuse loses 12-2
Arnold's line: 5 Innings, 9 hits, 5 runs (3 earned), 1 BB, 5 K's
_David Bush Fan - Sunday, August 24 2003 @ 12:56 AM EDT (#93766) #
http://www.sasesportssigs.com/DavidBush.htm
Will a Bush eventually be werth two Jay-birds in hand?

A+/AA 2003 (including tonight)
G 27 W-L 14-5 ERA 2.49 IP 155.2 H 120 R 49 ER 43 K/BB 145/27 HR 10
_susdajaysfan - Sunday, August 24 2003 @ 12:42 PM EDT (#93767) #
Very interesting pieces of news comin out of the Jays today. First being that Pete Walker has been moved to the bullpen. So the Jays are using 4 starters till Sept 5-7. And Bob Elliot reporting today in the Sun that he made a mistake before when he said that Esco had been put on waivers on Aug 9th. But on Thursday the Jays had requested that Esco be put on waivers and they will find out if he cleared it or not on Monday. He also said with the Jays budget constraints it would not make sense to throw a lot of money at Esco since they also need to sign Halladay. So if he clears waivers we might still see a deal to Oakland since the A's are desperate now after losing Mulder. So as of this Sunday we might not see Esco or Lidle on the Jays. Very interesting.....
_David - Monday, August 25 2003 @ 09:15 AM EDT (#93768) #
Neat. The Alley Cats' Sandy Nin and Felix Romero no-hit Greensboro last night.
Game 129: Spot Starters | 18 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.