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Come to the Dome today and say what will finally, probably, be a final au revoir to les Expos. Montreal's best chance of avoiding a sweep comes today, as staff ace Livan Hernandez takes the hill against Pat Hentgen. The Jays have suffered some terrible luck this year, but they've also suffered from some terrible performances. As Canada Day approaches, Pat Hentgen is 2-7 with a 5.84 ERA, 15 HRs allowed in just 74 innings, and more walks than strikeouts in barely more than 5 innings a start. It seems fair to say, at this point in the season, that even with modest expectations, Hentgen has been a bust at $2.2 million. It's too bad his Jay career is winding down this way, so root for him to reach back and find some glory this afternoon.
Game 75: The True North Strong and Free | 43 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
_Ben - Sunday, June 27 2004 @ 11:34 AM EDT (#35062) #
Does anyone know what length the contrat Hentgen signed was. Please say it was only one year.
Lucas - Sunday, June 27 2004 @ 11:55 AM EDT (#35063) #
It was only one year.
_Andrew K - Sunday, June 27 2004 @ 01:11 PM EDT (#35064) #
Two batters, two walks. Doesn't look too great.
_braden - Sunday, June 27 2004 @ 01:14 PM EDT (#35065) #
Hentgen looks absolutely lost out there.
_Andrew K - Sunday, June 27 2004 @ 01:16 PM EDT (#35066) #
It's kind of sad to see a good and sometimes great pitcher come to this.
_braden - Sunday, June 27 2004 @ 01:20 PM EDT (#35067) #
Nice snag by Rios to save a couple of runs.

I know there isn't really anybody to step in right now but could this be Hentgen's last shot at staying in the rotation?
_Andrew K - Sunday, June 27 2004 @ 01:21 PM EDT (#35068) #
I wonder, when (if!) Miller comes back, whether Towers will go down or whether he might spell with Hentgen for spot starts and long relief.
_braden - Sunday, June 27 2004 @ 01:37 PM EDT (#35069) #
That's exactly what I was thinking. I think I'd rather have Towers in there every fifth day.
_Rob - Sunday, June 27 2004 @ 01:40 PM EDT (#35070) #
Ugh. 8-0.
_Andrew K - Sunday, June 27 2004 @ 01:40 PM EDT (#35071) #
I didn't realise that Tony Batista has such a weird batting stance!
_Dr. Zarco - Sunday, June 27 2004 @ 01:40 PM EDT (#35072) #
As Hentgen was walking the world, I was reminded of how Sweet Lou pulled Gaudin after 4 walks in the first, saw a reliever come in and do a nice job. I think Tosca left Hentgen out there too long-it was obvious he didn't have it-and it costs the Jays-well, Nakamura doesn't have it either so it's now 8-0. Yikes
Mike Green - Sunday, June 27 2004 @ 01:41 PM EDT (#35073) #
David Bush is almost ready. Hentgen and Halladay would make fine mentors for him. It wouldn't shock me if Bush is promoted right after his next start.
_Brian B. - Sunday, June 27 2004 @ 01:41 PM EDT (#35074) #
Oh well, at least we'll get to see Adam Peterson pitch again.
_Andrew K - Sunday, June 27 2004 @ 01:43 PM EDT (#35075) #
Having 13 pitchers on the roster is looking like good planning! We'll need them all in this game...
_Rob - Sunday, June 27 2004 @ 01:43 PM EDT (#35076) #
I didn't realise that Tony Batista has such a weird batting stance!

I forget...are you one of the UK fans? Batista used to play for the Jays and everyone knew about his stance. Obviously you wouldn't know, being across the pond and all. Sure is weird, though!
_DaveInNYC - Sunday, June 27 2004 @ 01:44 PM EDT (#35077) #
I don't know if that's such a good thing Brian :)

In all seriousness, I think it's over for Hentgen.

Absolutly horrific today
_Andrew K - Sunday, June 27 2004 @ 01:45 PM EDT (#35078) #
I'd be delighted to see Bush and any other youngsters who might be future of the club. I've even changed my mind about Rios and want to see him stay up even when some of the injuries clear. This season has been such a loss, I'd like to see something positive later on.

The only worry is whether you can "ruin" young players but dropping them in too deep too early, teaching them failure which they never recover from. I haven't followed baseball for long enough to know if this is common. It does appear to be not uncommon in cricket.
_Andrew K - Sunday, June 27 2004 @ 01:46 PM EDT (#35079) #
Yes I'm one of the EuroBox crowd and am new to baseball in general. I only really started watching the Jays last year, although I'm trying to catch up on baseball history by reading some books and so on.
_Gabriel - Sunday, June 27 2004 @ 01:50 PM EDT (#35080) #
I worry about ruining young players by bringing them up to early. I don't think this happens to hitters nearly as much as it does to pitchers though. I think if you are a young hitter, you will learn to hit eventually or you won't regardless. Pitching seems to be different. Just my opinion though.
_Rob - Sunday, June 27 2004 @ 01:51 PM EDT (#35081) #
Bush's next start is...today. You mean his Friday start, I assume. So who gets dropped from the 40-man in favour of Bush? (Of course, the other Bush will get dropped in November.)

I'm guessing
a) Some trade involving a reliever.
b) Estalalalalala dropped somehow.
c) Wells to 60-Day DL.
d) Berg released and the Jays have only 2 backup hitters, with no 3rd outfielder. Hentgen plays left field, with hilarious results.
_Dr. Zarco - Sunday, June 27 2004 @ 01:53 PM EDT (#35082) #
Hentgen hasn't struck out a batter in 3 starts now. I'm tending to agree with DaveinNYC and say he's about washed up or needs some DL time or something.
_DaveInNYC - Sunday, June 27 2004 @ 01:53 PM EDT (#35083) #
Option D sounds good Rob

:)
Mike Green - Sunday, June 27 2004 @ 02:00 PM EDT (#35084) #
Actually, Rob, it wouldn't surprise me if today's start in Indianapolis is Bush's last triple A start, and if he makes his ML debut on Friday. It works out perfectly. I'll keep an eye on him today.
_Andrew K - Sunday, June 27 2004 @ 02:00 PM EDT (#35085) #
Re 40 man roster. 60 day DL players don't count towards the 40, right? Why isn't McGowan on the 60 day DL?
_Rob - Sunday, June 27 2004 @ 02:05 PM EDT (#35086) #
Bush pitching on Hentgen's day does make a lot of sense.
I tried to connect to the Syracuse broadcast the other day via WFBL but the Real link didn't work. Do you know of another broadcast option, Windows Media maybe?
_Cristian - Sunday, June 27 2004 @ 02:06 PM EDT (#35087) #
Way to kill a rally Berg.
_DaveInNYC - Sunday, June 27 2004 @ 02:09 PM EDT (#35088) #
The Jays can't do anything in hitter's counts.

Bases loaded, 3-1 count and it's a weak fly out to right field.

And this isn't the first time I've seen a count that is generally a hitter's count (2-1, 3-1, 3-2) turn into a weak grounder or a routine fly out.
_Sneeps - Sunday, June 27 2004 @ 02:14 PM EDT (#35089) #
Hentgen needs to be put out his misery. And Berg needs to be put out of his Berg.
_S.K. - Sunday, June 27 2004 @ 02:23 PM EDT (#35090) #
Sturtze (6/27/03): 5.43 era, 65.2 ip, 76 h, 26 bb, 37 k, 11 hr
Hentgen (6/27/04): 6.42 era, 75.2 ip, 82 h, 38 bb, 32 k, 16 hr

Yuck.

I wonder who will replace Hentgen's "innings" next year? Omar Daal? Gil Heredia? Paul Menhart? The suspense is killing me.
_braden - Sunday, June 27 2004 @ 02:24 PM EDT (#35091) #
Rios doubles his career RBI totals.

by the way, why was Cabrera (was it him?) charged with an error on Rios's ground ball yesterday? From the one replay I saw it looked like a slow bouncer that Rios beat out.
_Brian B. - Sunday, June 27 2004 @ 02:25 PM EDT (#35092) #
A double for Rios brings in Mighty Mouse. Anyone see what kind of double it was?
_braden - Sunday, June 27 2004 @ 02:26 PM EDT (#35093) #
Line drive down the right field line. It was well hit.
_Andrew K - Sunday, June 27 2004 @ 02:33 PM EDT (#35094) #
Ah-ha! Peterson gets a chance to reduce his ERA a bit. Let's see if he can go a solid inning or two.
Mike Green - Sunday, June 27 2004 @ 02:43 PM EDT (#35095) #
Rob, yeah, I know, I've had some problems connecting to the Syracuse broadcast. I don't know of a Windows Media connection. I'm trying the Indianapolis broadcast, which you can access through www.theminorsfirst.com.
_Mike Forbes - Sunday, June 27 2004 @ 03:17 PM EDT (#35096) #
And Adam Peterson Reduces His ERA By 24 Points With 3 Outs!
_Dr. Zarco - Sunday, June 27 2004 @ 03:18 PM EDT (#35097) #
Frank Robinson is doing his best Dusty Baker impression-Hernandez is back to start the 7th with 121 pitches.
_Kenneth - Sunday, June 27 2004 @ 03:49 PM EDT (#35098) #
I just tuned in...what in the name of God happened to Hentgen today?
_Dr. Zarco - Sunday, June 27 2004 @ 03:56 PM EDT (#35099) #
Kenneth, in short-he had no clue where the ball was going. He even struggled to throw a catchable ball for Zaun-let alone a strike-on 3-0 pitches.
_Kenneth - Sunday, June 27 2004 @ 03:57 PM EDT (#35100) #
I feel the end of the line for a great Jay...
_jim854 - Sunday, June 27 2004 @ 06:08 PM EDT (#35101) #
Just got home from today's disaster! Pat looked like the proverbial deer in the headlights - he couldn't even hit the catcher's mit in the warmup - the ump had to throw him a ball when his skipped to the backstop. I feel he is at the end of a great career and I'm glad he is home in TO for it. I just hope that he has enough wisdom to end it himself, otherwise JP will have to be the 'bad' guy and the pull the plug on his season with the Jays, sooner rather than later.

As Dr. Zarco said above, the difference between Tosca and sweet Lou was noted by many of those sitting with me in S115. Lou would have made a quick decision for the benefit of the team while Carlos for some unexplicable reason left him in the game and 8 runs resulted and the Jays with a depleted lineup were never able to catch up. Over 25 000 fans were in attendance and many of then were calling for Carlos to get Pat out of the game because he was embarrassing himself and Carlos chose to lose the game - either because he is (1) incompetent as a manager or (2) too-respectful of Hentgen's ego. In either case both Pat & Carlos, it seems to me, are near/at the end of the line.

NB: the relief core did a pretty decent job. Maybe because there was nothing on the line. That's too mean, I take it back! Really. They were great.

Foot-in-mouth disease: Berg came to the plate late in the game hitting 0-3 and having butchered a play in the field and a throw to 2nd base, I'm complaining to those around me and he hits a single. Oh well tomorrow is another day.
_Daryn - Sunday, June 27 2004 @ 06:14 PM EDT (#35102) #
I wouldn't be surprised to hear that Hentgen is injured..

I said that at about 3:00 today then I heard Mike Wilner say the same thing later on... Since Mike could actually SEE the pitches I'm going to assume its an astute observation (and then take credit for it! LOL)
_Jonny German - Sunday, June 27 2004 @ 10:45 PM EDT (#35103) #
Sturtze (6/27/03): 5.43 era, 65.2 ip, 76 h, 26 bb, 37 k, 11 hr

S.K., or anybody else that knows, can you tell me where I can look up this sort of info?

---

I'm not the world's biggest Tosca supporter, but I think he handled Hentgen properly today. Pinella got very lucky with the performance his bullpen turned in the other day, and if he hadn't nobody would be talking about pulling Gaudin in the 1st being a good move.
_Cristian - Monday, June 28 2004 @ 12:12 AM EDT (#35104) #
Let's not forget that Gaudin is a reliever who has recently began to start games for Tampa. Therefore, it's much easier for Piniella to pull the plug on the Gaudin experiment than it is for Tosca to take the ball away from a Cy Young winner.
Game 75: The True North Strong and Free | 43 comments | Create New Account
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