Batter's Box Interactive Magazine

Gustavo Chacin pitched possibly the finest game of his young career. Corey Koskie returned to the lineup, Shea Hillenbrand homered and drove in four, Russ Adams reached base four times...

I mean, what's not to like?

Updated!! Now it's a Game Report!!

Gustavo Chacin became the third rookie starter in Jays history to win 10 games, matching the totals posted by Jerry Garvin in 1977 and Juan Guzman in 1991. The team record for wins by a rookie pitcher is 14, set by reliever Mark Eichhorn in 1986; Jeff Musselman won 12 games in relief in 1987. Chacin has a chance to pass both of them before this season is over.

Mike Scioscia of the Angels said our Gus reminded him of Fernando Valenzuela - he singled out Chacin's "ability to give his fastball a little more life by riding it up in the zone." Scioscia should know - he spent 10 years behind the plate catching Valenzuela. Shea Hillenbrand was clearly pressing as he headed into the All-Star Break, trying to justify the faith that Named For Hank had so recklessly placed in him. But Hillenbrand came through, and since the break, with that burden lifted from his shoulders, he's hitting like it's April again. He's got a nifty little seven game hit streak active (11-29, .379) and has hit 4 homers in his last 11 games.

Eric Hinske was about as bad in June as a major league hitter can be: .132, .264, .211. Yes, he had more walks (14) than hits (10). With the return of Corey Koskie, Hinske picked the exact right moment to start carrying his weight again - he's hit in eight straight games (10-29, .345), while Aaron Hill picked the wrong moment to go 1-24.

Bartolo Colon is pitching for the Angels tomorrow. Colon is 5-11 and listed at 250 pounds. He trains on beans and beer, I guess. Anyway, here's how the Blue Jays hitters have fared against Bartolo over the years:

HITTER	        AB   H   2B  3B  HR  RBI  BB  SO  BAVG  OBP   SLG   OPS
Koskie  	31   13   4   0   1    5   7   7  .419 .538  .645 1.184
Wells 	        19    6   1   0   1    2   1   0  .316 .350  .526  .876
Hudson 	        13    5   0   0   0    1   0   2  .385 .385  .385  .769
Hillenbrand 	 5    4   1   0   0    0   0   0  .800 .800 1.000 1.800
Hinske 	        16    4   0   0   1    1   1   3  .250 .294  .438  .732
Johnson 	14    4   0   0   0    1   1   1  .286 .333  .286  .619
Zaun 	         8    3   1   0   1    2   1   2  .375 .444  .875 1.319
Catalanotto 	22    3   1   0   0    1   3   3  .136 .240  .182  .422
Rios 	         6    1   0   1   0    2   0   2  .167 .167  .500  .667
Huckaby 	 2    0   0   0   0    0   0   0  .000 .000  .000  .000
Menechino 	 6    0   0   0   0    0   2   3  .000 .250  .000  .250
Adams 	         3    0   0   0   0    0   0   1  .000 .000  .000  .000
Totals	       145   43   8   1   4   15  16  24  .297 .370  .448  .819

Posted by Magpie on Wednesday, July 27 2005 @ 12:35 AM EDT.

Jays 8, Angels 0 | 53 comments | Create New Account

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.

Joe - Tuesday, July 26 2005 @ 09:47 PM EDT (#123875) #

I'll tell you what's not to like! The Jays didn't defeat the Angels four times tonight! If the Jays were a playoff team, they'd be able to beat them more than once per game!

uglyone - Tuesday, July 26 2005 @ 09:49 PM EDT (#123876) #

And with that big win, the Jays leap FAR past the Angels in the all-important run differential standings.

2nd AL, 4th MLB.

Sheldon - Tuesday, July 26 2005 @ 09:59 PM EDT (#123877) #

I was just going to post about Run differential! Good ol jays!

Over at Foxsports Dayn Perry has been very postive about the Jays because of the Run differential and their tough schedule. In the weekly power rankings prior to last week he would put them at 10th in the league mostly because of that.

They fell to 13th last week after the Devil Rays series and But they are are up to 11th in the latest standings.
Check it out here...
http://msn.foxsports.com/name/public/MLB/powerrankings

I like his rankings better than SI. The Jays are usually much worse in them.

sweat - Tuesday, July 26 2005 @ 10:07 PM EDT (#123878) #

If we see Shea playing 1st again, and maybe one game at third, i think it would be pretty obvious he is being shopped to the Angels. Certainly tonights effort made him look pretty good.

Flex - Tuesday, July 26 2005 @ 10:13 PM EDT (#123879) #

I missed all but the last couple of innings tonight, but I caught Sports Centre. When they go to commercial they keep showing a highlight of the Jays vs the Angels with Hinske playing first and badly missing a grounder. But wasn't he DH tonight? Did that happen in tonight's game or some other game?

Can anyone help? I may not sleep.

davec - Tuesday, July 26 2005 @ 10:14 PM EDT (#123880) #

So the commentators keep harping on about the hitters hitting for a higher average against Chacin the second and third time around the batting order. Surely this would hold true for every pitcher in baseball, wouldn't it? Otherwise, there would be no need for a bullpen, because starting pitchers would have infinite stamina!
Is this a stat that can be looked up anywhere?

GrrBear - Tuesday, July 26 2005 @ 10:23 PM EDT (#123881) #

Looking at the boxscore, I noticed something kind of weird:

Adams .266 .329 .422
Koskie .248 .315 .425
Hinske .247 .326 .423
Rios .283 .331 .425
Hudson .272 .327 .421

It's cool how the OBP and SLG of these five players are so close to each other, especially when you consider:

Team .273 .339 .427

Hinske's recent hot streak has put his numbers back up to team average, of course, but I like how balanced the hitters are. Sure, we don't have an A-Rod or a Pujols to juice the lineup, but we don't have a Cristian Guzman dragging it down either.

And I know Adams' OBP is only .329, but I love his approach at the plate - I hope he continues getting leadoff at-bats.

Dr. Zarco - Tuesday, July 26 2005 @ 10:33 PM EDT (#123882) #

The darn Red Sox just tied up the DRays in the 9th with 2 off Baez. It could have been worse as Johnny O was thrown out at home. Schilling looks to be on to work the bottom of the ninth. The Trop sounds really loud, fans actually appear into the game...not sure I've ever thought that before. Maybe they just played with the mic's. Why can't Baez be crappy when he faces the Jays?

Jim - Tuesday, July 26 2005 @ 10:44 PM EDT (#123884) #

Damon took care of the Rays. Made a good catch to send it to extra innings then hit a bomb in the 10th.

Flex - Tuesday, July 26 2005 @ 10:45 PM EDT (#123885) #

Damon just homered in the top of the 10th.

Flex - Tuesday, July 26 2005 @ 10:45 PM EDT (#123886) #

Well put, Jim.

VBF - Tuesday, July 26 2005 @ 11:37 PM EDT (#123889) #

Yea, that's the 20,000 Red Sox fans in town for the game.

You guys think we get alot of Yankee and Sox fans? Go to Baltimore, Tampa, Detroit, and Chicago against either of these two teams, then come back to me.

Jefftown - Tuesday, July 26 2005 @ 11:41 PM EDT (#123890) #

Chacin's start tonight all the more affirms why it's a good idea not to get Burnett. I get nervous with him because his DIPS ERA is much higher than his ERA, but the more he starts the more I think he'll be a solid starter for years to come.

I try not to bring in "intangibles" to discussions of baseball players' value, but in Chacin's case I think it's necessary. He pitches without fear; he has the perfect demeanor to be a good pitcher.

uglyone - Tuesday, July 26 2005 @ 11:46 PM EDT (#123891) #

Hell, a couple more starts like this, and Gus puts himself into the Cy race.

VBF - Tuesday, July 26 2005 @ 11:51 PM EDT (#123892) #

Manny wants out!

Ramirez: There's no privacy!

Toronto is a low key town which keeps players like Roy Halladay happy. Manny Ramirez had heavily considered Toronto during his free agency, and he has said that he likes the city very much. Toronto has money. Do we have a match?

HippyGilmore - Tuesday, July 26 2005 @ 11:58 PM EDT (#123893) #

Only if Boston paid at least $10 million of his salary for each remaining year on his deal. Why would they pay us, a division rival, 10 million a year to take him off their hands? Otherwise, J.P. would be spending almost his entire payroll bump on one player, one truly great player but one player nonetheless. Are you confident enough that the farm system can fill every single other hole this team has?

VBF - Wednesday, July 27 2005 @ 12:04 AM EDT (#123894) #

Yea, I didn't even realize it was that high. That's just nuts. Forget Manny then since I don't think Boston is going to absorb much salary.

Okay people, nothing to see here.

King Ryan - Wednesday, July 27 2005 @ 12:59 AM EDT (#123895) #

If he was an FA, I would go after Manny very aggressively. But if the Jays have to trade for him, ehhh...Besides his monstrous contract, what would it cost? Hill+Rios+League+McGowan?? Something like that probably.

Craig B - Wednesday, July 27 2005 @ 01:17 AM EDT (#123897) #

Sounds like Manny just sounding off, which he periodically does. I honestly don't think he means it - as a passionate guy, he sometimes will let fly with something out of the blue.

CaramonLS - Wednesday, July 27 2005 @ 03:51 AM EDT (#123898) #

Wow Ryan, Waging the entire Future with 60 games of Rameriz if he was an FA. Not to mention Manny is just an above average player away from Fenway.

Its too bad the Pads aren't out of the race, because Giles has way way better road splits than Manny does, and would probably cost 1/2 as much.

Jim - Wednesday, July 27 2005 @ 07:46 AM EDT (#123899) #

The Sox/Rays game actually had some drama before it was over. If I were a Tampa fan, I'd be awfully upset with Pinella, there was no reason to stick with Baez, he was getting he brains beat in during the ninth, nevermind the 10th. Lou just sat on his rear-end and didn't even get anyone up.

Maldoff - Wednesday, July 27 2005 @ 08:54 AM EDT (#123903) #

I was just listening to the JP Riccardi show on the Fan590, and he mentioned that he thinks that Halladay will be back for the Chicago series! That means only one more Pete Walker start, then we get the Doc back to work.

JayFan0912 - Wednesday, July 27 2005 @ 09:00 AM EDT (#123904) #

I was thinking about trades a bit differently, and I was wondering:

Would you trade McGowan for Hillenbrand (or say hudson) ?

I think the answer to this question by most people, and probably the jays, would be no... but then why would you not trade hillenbrand for blue chip prospects on the mets, angels, twins, etc.

I just can't understand the big deal here ... you are converting adam peterson into a blue chip prospect in half a year.

Pistol - Wednesday, July 27 2005 @ 09:05 AM EDT (#123905) #

According to Fordin, Scott Downs will get be used as a starter and Pete Walker will go back to long relief while Halladay and Lilly are out.

Jordan - Wednesday, July 27 2005 @ 09:10 AM EDT (#123906) #

Adams' overall OBP is .328, but as a leadoff hitter, he's posting a .306/.374/.353 line in a small sample of 85 at-bats. Magpie noted this a while back, but Adams looks like two different hitters when batting first and batting last:

POS  AB  BA/OBP/SLG
1    85  .306/.374/.353  
9    120 .283/.328/.550

In about 50 AB elsewhere in the lineup, Adams is hitting only about a buck and change. What does this mean? Probably very little, but you could argue he takes a different approach to the plate batting leadoff than batting ninth.

Here's another interesting split: Shea Hillenbrand's OPS by month.

Month     OPS
April     951
May       714 
June      764
July      948

If Hillenbrand repeats his first half -- sizzling first month, followed by two mediocre months -- he could wind up with a final line resembling .300/20/100 with 100 runs scored. I'll be the first to admit I wasn't counting on seeing that kind of production from him.

Jordan - Wednesday, July 27 2005 @ 09:27 AM EDT (#123908) #

It appears that the winners of the AJ Burnett sweepstakes are ... the Florida Marlins. According to this report, no one's willing to take Lowell's contract along with Burnett, who will himself want a multi-year deal if acquired. That, plus the fact Lowell has come on strong and Burnett has pitched really well lately, has apparently convinced the Marlins they're better off with him than without him. I think they'll believe differently this time next year.

This might be just the calm before the storm, but if Burnett is in fact staying put in Miami, I'm glad that (a) the Jays didn't sink too much money and talent into a very high-risk pitcher that they could pursue in the off-season, and (b) the Jays were considered major players for Burnett, a fact that has alerted the mainstream media that the Jays are potential contenders looking to buy, not sell -- which in turn, should only help make Toronto a more attractive destination for potential free agents this winter.

Sometimes you have to show you're serious about one game in order to get invited to a better one.

jsoh - Wednesday, July 27 2005 @ 09:57 AM EDT (#123910) #

From the 'You think you got pitching problems' department:

Hideo Nomo, fresh from being released from the worse team in baseball, has been picked up by the Yankees (reg required - use bugmenot).

So. Leseenow. The Yankee's rotation seems to consist now of:

Unit
Moose
Zombie Al Leiter
Zombie Hideo Nomo
A cast of Zombie thousands

I think that Pavano and Wang are still on the DL, and it was just released over the wire services that Brown sprained his shoulder trying to get the fork out of his back.

Sheesh.

Jobu - Wednesday, July 27 2005 @ 11:12 AM EDT (#123918) #

So long y'all! I done been called in to pitch in New York City!

-The Hillybilly Zombie

Mike Green - Wednesday, July 27 2005 @ 11:23 AM EDT (#123919) #

Well then, do take my advice. The pretzels are no good for playing frisbee, but fine with a little bit of mustard.

Mick Doherty - Wednesday, July 27 2005 @ 11:56 AM EDT (#123922) #

I wondered why Stottlemyre hadn't retired yet -- not only might he get his sons out of retirement, he might end up pitching himself!

Jobu - Wednesday, July 27 2005 @ 12:21 PM EDT (#123924) #

Unit
Moose
Zombie Al Leiter
Zombie Hideo Nomo
A cast of Zombie thousands
Me
A Pretzle
The Stottlemyre Family

Anyone else we can add to the team to amuse us before they finish ahead of us and get the last laugh?

VBF - Wednesday, July 27 2005 @ 12:25 PM EDT (#123925) #

Billy Crystal is a good friend of Joe Torre, IIRC. He could be a very good back of the rotation starter.

Pepper Moffatt - Wednesday, July 27 2005 @ 12:28 PM EDT (#123927) #

They ought to bring Pascual Perez out of retirement, just for the entertainment value alone. Plus he's a former Yankee!

Jordan - Wednesday, July 27 2005 @ 12:31 PM EDT (#123929) #

Leiter and Nomo might succeed in turning the Bronx Zoo into this.

jsoh - Wednesday, July 27 2005 @ 12:35 PM EDT (#123931) #

Anyone else we can add to the team to amuse us before they finish ahead of us and get the last laugh?

Now pitching for the New York Yankees.... Los Tres Molinas!

*shot of Jobu in the stands going wild*

Pepper Moffatt - Wednesday, July 27 2005 @ 12:36 PM EDT (#123932) #

Leiter and Nomo might succeed in turning the Bronx Zoo into this.

I thought you were going to post a link to an old age home.

The Yankees should totally try to get this guy for their rotation. He's a proven major leaguer!

VBF - Wednesday, July 27 2005 @ 12:38 PM EDT (#123933) #

Ack, knowing the Yankees, they'll probably try to pry Hewhomustnotbenamed away from Washington.

VBF - Wednesday, July 27 2005 @ 12:39 PM EDT (#123934) #

Phil Mickelson is almost a Major Leaguer. I'm sure he could do it.

Jobu - Wednesday, July 27 2005 @ 12:43 PM EDT (#123935) #

Yeah, and didnt Garth Brooks for a few tryouts? As a professional singer he's sure to be able to stand the "New York Spotlight"

By the way: If all three MOLINAS! joined the Zombie Zoo, even I'D have to buy a Yankee jersey.

uglyone - Wednesday, July 27 2005 @ 12:48 PM EDT (#123936) #

<i>Here's another interesting split: Shea Hillenbrand's OPS by month.

Month OPS
April 951
May 714
June 764
July 948

If Hillenbrand repeats his first half -- sizzling first month, followed by two mediocre months -- he could wind up with a final line resembling .300/20/100 with 100 runs scored. I'll be the first to admit I wasn't counting on seeing that kind of production from him. </i>

Those monthly stats are pretty typical of his career....or at least the last 3 years....

APR: .867
MAY: .784
JUN: .775
JUL: .867
AUG: .684
SEP: .765

Coach - Wednesday, July 27 2005 @ 12:51 PM EDT (#123937) #

Over at Foxsports Dayn Perry has been very postive about the Jays because of the Run differential and their tough schedule.

Over at the Star, the always positive Geoff Baker opined yesterday that the Jays' offence, "...despite sitting fourth in the AL in runs scored, has not been nearly as adequate as its numbers make it appear..."

Apparently it's something like Moffatt, who isn't nearly as tall as his height makes him appear.

Craig B - Wednesday, July 27 2005 @ 01:30 PM EDT (#123943) #

If only the Jays could score as many runs as they actually score, the offence would be doing great!

Named For Hank - Wednesday, July 27 2005 @ 01:43 PM EDT (#123946) #

If only I could make as much money as I actually...

Wait, I need more money than that.

Who wants to see me do something crazy? I'm going to do something crazy around 5:00 today at the Rogers Centre. Maybe I should write it up as an article.

Anyone who wants to participate should meet me at the Jays Shop (formerly the Bullpen Store) around 5:00. I'm easy to spot because I'll be wearing Theo in a sling.

Coach - Wednesday, July 27 2005 @ 01:49 PM EDT (#123947) #

Crazy by your standards, Aaron? I wouldn't miss that for anything.

Rumour also has it that Sec. 518 will be graced by rare visits from the likes of Gideon and Pistol this evening, in addition to many of the usual suspects and prospects.

Skills - Wednesday, July 27 2005 @ 01:50 PM EDT (#123948) #

Man, I gotta move to Toronto. I'm going to law school in the U.S. next year and I'm gonna try and convince the Jays to take me on as an intern the summer after my first year. I'm secretly hoping that if I can get the opportunity I can eventually parlay it into the Theo Epstein path to general manager.

Skills - Wednesday, July 27 2005 @ 01:52 PM EDT (#123949) #

If I can do that then I can finally get in on all the real life Batter's Box action and not settle for only seeing the Jays when the play the Yanks.

binnister - Wednesday, July 27 2005 @ 02:02 PM EDT (#123950) #

Though Baker is ignoring the numbers, his words do express a feeling I've had about the Jay's this year.

The Jay's are 2nd in the AL in Run Deferential....my response?

So what?

The Jay's are a .500 club right now... INSPITE of the offense they've generated & the fine pitching they have had (best in the AL East, I believe).

Yesterday's game is a prime example of why I'm not impressed with this statistic. The Jay's may pile-on the runs in a shutout game, but then turn around and lose 3 or 4 1-2 run games. Net result: Break-even run diffential, but LOSING record.

The reason is this: The Jay's only seem to score runs when the WHOLE team is hitting and they can string together the singles and doubles the team predominately gets.

This is what I would say Baker is trying to get at when he says the offense is not as good as the numbers make them out to be.

Jordan - Wednesday, July 27 2005 @ 02:09 PM EDT (#123951) #

Theo in a sling

Is that the latest cutting-edge look from Tommy Hilfiger?

Yes, the Cheer Club in Section 518 is going to be a little noisier tonight than usual.....

Named For Hank - Wednesday, July 27 2005 @ 02:12 PM EDT (#123953) #

Crazy by your standards, Aaron? I wouldn't miss that for anything.

Well, it's up to my normal standards of craziness, anyways.

Let's just say I'm going to do something that a "normal" person would not do, at least not for the reasons I'm going to do it.

Pepper Moffatt - Wednesday, July 27 2005 @ 02:18 PM EDT (#123954) #

I hope it's not snorting Pixie Stix. While it may seem like a good way to get really hyper, those crystals really shred up the tissue in your nostrils.

Mike Green - Wednesday, July 27 2005 @ 02:57 PM EDT (#123957) #

Baseball Prospectus is having free preview week. Nose around the PECOTA and DT cards. So, here's today's trivia question, which 2 players on the Jay opening day roster had the highest 75th percentile EqA projection for 2005?

Thomas - Wednesday, July 27 2005 @ 03:56 PM EDT (#123961) #

Earlier today I remarked that the Jays seem to do pretty well against Colon. Upon further review, he is 8-3 against Toronto in 15 starts and, looking at only American League teams, he has the fifth-lowest ERA against Toronto, behind only Cleveland, Texas, Oakland and Baltimore. His ERA against Toronto is lower than his career ERA.

Let that be another lesson to you in the powers of selective memory.

Maldoff - Wednesday, July 27 2005 @ 08:48 PM EDT (#123972) #

Interesting comment on ESPN.com today here:

"Left-hander Ted Lilly wasn't able to throw on the side Wednesday and Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said he could be placed on the 15-day disabled list this week.....The Blue Jays haven't decided who will replace Lilly for Saturday's start against Texas, but general manager J.P. Ricciardi said top pitching prospect Dustin McGowan is an option."

Maybe it's just me, but I think that this might be jumping the gun just a little bit.

Jays 8, Angels 0 | 53 comments | Create New Account

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