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Josh Towers doesn't like the Baltimore Orioles. The Jays righty resents the way he was cast aside, and appreciates his chance for revenge tonight. How do I know? Mike Wilner said so on The FAN 590. The most reliable and entertaining source of Blue Jays information in the "real" media, Wilner will be stepping into Da Box in an upcoming interview.

In his last two starts, Towers has a seven-inning, 4-hit shutout against the Tigers and a complete game 6-hitter vs. the Mariners. With a similar effort tonight, he'll solidify his claim on a 2004 rotation spot; he's already shown enough to make the team as a swing man. He's throwing a much harder fastball than I remember in 2001, and challenging hitters with a lot of strikes. It's been fun to watch; I was right behind the plate for the adrenalin-charged ninth inning against Seattle.

With Eric DuBose on the mound for the O's, Carlos Tosca employs what Wilner called his "lefty-proof" lineup: Dave Berg's bat is at 2B instead of the O-Dawg's glove. Eric Hinske drops to seventh in the order; SS Mike Bordick hits second. Kevin Cash, Towers' personal receiver, is behind the plate, but his great arm and footwork don't justify a .136 average. Bobby Kielty, more of a masher from the right side, is in the 6-hole behind Josh Phelps.
Game 147: This Time It's Personal | 25 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
_Jacko - Friday, September 12 2003 @ 07:15 PM EDT (#92113) #

Eric Hinske drops to seventh in the order


For someone who pays so much attention to matchups, I find it really surprising Tosca hasn't noticed that Hinske has been _better_ against lefties than righties in 2003...

I've got no issues with giving Cash tons of PT over the last month of the season. Wilson and Myers are not going to be around in 2 years time, but Cash will. Now is the time to give him some MLB exposure.
_StephenT - Friday, September 12 2003 @ 07:28 PM EDT (#92114) #
Game time pressure 102.06 kPa, relative humidity 57%, wind E 24 km/h, temperature 22C, (7pm at Pearson Airport according to the Weather Network). I've no idea if this is a factor in the home runs tonight.
Coach - Friday, September 12 2003 @ 07:37 PM EDT (#92115) #
I've no idea if this is a factor in the home runs tonight.

Stephen, you stats guys aren't supposed to admit you don't know what the data mean, you're supposed to perform some calculation to enlighten the rest of us, who can only say, "Boy, the ball sure is carrying tonight."

2-2 after two. Hinske keeps hittin' the lefties.
_Meatloaf - Friday, September 12 2003 @ 07:40 PM EDT (#92116) #
2 for 3 ain't bad.
_EddieZosky - Friday, September 12 2003 @ 08:18 PM EDT (#92117) #
Frig, these games ARE in Toronto?! My desktop schedule was wrong! Just to be sure, is Saturday a night game and Sunday 1:35?

I'm in town this weekend, might as well take in one last game.
_EddieZosky - Friday, September 12 2003 @ 08:18 PM EDT (#92118) #
Frig, these games ARE in Toronto?! My desktop schedule was wrong! Just to be sure, is Saturday a night game and Sunday 1:35?

I'm in town this weekend, might as well take in one last game.
Coach - Friday, September 12 2003 @ 08:22 PM EDT (#92119) #
That's good baserunning!

Reed Johnson, going from third on contact, would have been dead at the plate, but avoided the double play by getting caught in a rundown. Then he stayed alive until Bordick arrived at third.

Tough third strike call on Phelps with the bases loaded; that ball was six inches inside. 4-2 Jays after five.

I'm in town this weekend, might as well take in one last game.

Eddie, it's a 4:05 start tomorrow. If you (or anyone else in the neighbourhood) want to get together at the game, e-mail me.
_EddieZosky - Friday, September 12 2003 @ 08:28 PM EDT (#92120) #
Thanks coach. Either I completely misread the official schedule, or the schedule was wrong.

Will you have email at the game coach?
_EddieZosky - Friday, September 12 2003 @ 08:28 PM EDT (#92121) #
Thanks coach. Either I completely misread the official schedule, or the schedule was wrong.

Will you have email at the game coach?
Coach - Friday, September 12 2003 @ 08:29 PM EDT (#92122) #
Oh, yeah!!!

Kevin Cash has shortstop feet back there, and a shortstop arm. Blocks a pitch in the dirt, jumps on it, and throws a strike to nail Batista for the third out.

Towers (no walks, 6 K) has thrown 76 pitches in six innings. Another quality start.
Coach - Friday, September 12 2003 @ 08:30 PM EDT (#92123) #
No, Eddie. No, Eddie.

Contact me off board and we can make arrangements to meet.
_Nigel - Friday, September 12 2003 @ 08:34 PM EDT (#92124) #
This game may feature the two hitters least ready for major league pitching currently in MLB in Cash and Cust. Otherwise a quality outing for Towers.
robertdudek - Friday, September 12 2003 @ 08:37 PM EDT (#92125) #
I think Tim Raines Jr. is even less ready than Cust. Deivi Cruz isn't a peach either.
_Nigel - Friday, September 12 2003 @ 08:38 PM EDT (#92126) #
I have to keep reminding myself not to get too excited with this performance. Remember to chant to yourself "It's Baltimore in September". Even Hendrickson made them look bad last year. Still the 9K's are nice.
_Nigel - Friday, September 12 2003 @ 08:43 PM EDT (#92127) #
Robert, about Raines - that's a mouthfull to say that, but I think you might be right; about Cruz - I think he has a whole different category "never ready for major league pitching".
Coach - Friday, September 12 2003 @ 09:16 PM EDT (#92128) #
Remember to chant to yourself "It's Baltimore in September".

One good start is a fluke, two in a row is a trend and three is a statement. Another excellent effort by Towers. He's gaining in confidence every start. Josh called his catcher "awesome" on the TV postgame.

"Cash is phenomenal, man. He really sets up great."

Great game for Sparky, and the bullpen is automatic lately. A very satisfying win.
_Cristian - Friday, September 12 2003 @ 09:40 PM EDT (#92129) #
Hijack!

When did Fox take over the Sporting News? If you go to tsn.com it seems to have merged with foxsports.com
_perlhack - Friday, September 12 2003 @ 10:20 PM EDT (#92130) #
Cristian, there's a link on the tsn.com page title "Why has the site changed?" which leads to this article which explains the change.
robertdudek - Friday, September 12 2003 @ 10:27 PM EDT (#92131) #
The Jays need to go 9 and 6 the rest of the way to match my pre-season prediction of 84 wins (Craig predicted 83 - the pessimist!).
Gerry - Saturday, September 13 2003 @ 12:12 AM EDT (#92132) #
New Haven's season ended tonight with an 11-4 loss to Akron. Bush, Reimers and Chacon all suffered as Akron counted 17 hits.

Dominic Rich had a two run jack, and Quiroz drove in the other two.
_Elijah - Saturday, September 13 2003 @ 12:20 AM EDT (#92133) #
I visited Toronto tonight (Friday) and was able to take in a Blue Jays home game for the first time since 1994. It's been a long time since I've rooted for the home team at a ballgame.

Towers really settled down with the curve ball and offspeed stuff. I was supremely impressed with his handling of Deivi Cruz. No, he can't hit but he doesn't strike out either and Towers K'd him twice tonight.

And the game ended in 2:02. I like the atmosphere. Granted, I've only been to three home games since 1989 but the fans around me were into the game and supportive. I will say this - the thing where they get the crowd to do the wave is a bit on the cheesy side.
_R Billie - Saturday, September 13 2003 @ 05:31 AM EDT (#92134) #
Has Towers ever had a 9 strikeout game at any level? Although the way Cust was flailing away weakly out there it was almost like free K's.
Craig B - Saturday, September 13 2003 @ 12:09 PM EDT (#92135) #
This game may feature the two hitters least ready for major league pitching currently in MLB in Cash and Cust. Otherwise a quality outing for Towers.

Cash is still looking overmatched (getting better every outing) but as I understand it from people who have seen him, that's Cust's M.O. He can look like the worst hitter in baseball three straight trips to the plate and knock one out in his fourth time up.

Poor Tim Raines Jr. looks exactly like his dad; it's sad to see someone who looks so much like Rock up at the plate hoping for a miracle.
Coach - Saturday, September 13 2003 @ 12:25 PM EDT (#92136) #
Joe Christenson of the Baltimore Sun reports on the bad blood between Towers and his former employers:

If the Orioles thought Josh Towers was nasty on the mound last night, they should have heard him after the game, when he tore into his former team from the winning clubhouse.

Josh was understandably pleased, but didn't lose perspective.

When a reporter called his performance dominant, Towers took a look across the clubhouse at 20-game winner Roy Halladay, and stopped the question in its tracks.

"I don't want to use the word dominant," he said. "It's not like I was Doc Halladay out there. But when we struck out three in the seventh, I was pretty pumped."


I love that -- "we" struck out the side. He's always willing to share the credit with Cash.
robertdudek - Sunday, September 14 2003 @ 10:47 AM EDT (#92137) #
Craig,

I agree about Cust - he looks like the next Russ Branyan if he develops.
Game 147: This Time It's Personal | 25 comments | Create New Account
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