The Blue Jays closed out their season finale against the Seattle Mariners with a 7-5 victory. I haven't watched the game yet -- it's waiting for me on a DVD here -- but it doesn't look like Chacin did his Rookie of the Year chances any favours with his outing today: Five earned runs in four and a third innings.
His 13th win was handed to him on a platter too. 5 run lead after 1 inning, and he couldn't hold it. Lots of credit goes Pineiro's way, and it's too bad he gets the L tonight because he pitched magnificently after the 1st inning.
Rios with the game winning HR, Batista with the save. Retribution night at the dome. Good for them.
Can Rios be benched and possibly be close to losing his job every week from now on? Can we trick him into thinking this even if he's playing well?
Can Rios be benched and possibly be close to losing his job every week from now on? Can we trick him into thinking this even if he's playing well?
I think Rios is going to be giving 110% again now that Gabe Gross is playing well.
Did you see Batista after the win? He looked like someone just stopped a brick house from falling on him. Poor guy.
Did you see Batista after the win? He looked like someone just stopped a brick house from falling on him. Poor guy.
Rios put a pretty swing on that ball. Nice to see him turning on the inside pitch. I don't want to get too excited though, he still has a long way to go.
Rios could be the guy that ends up defining JP's tenure.
If he trades him and he explodes, JP's a bum. If he keeps him and he's just so-so, then JP's a bum for not trading him. However, if he keeps him and in 06 he gets the 28-35 homers many of us think he could get, THEN JP is a genius.
JP get out that crystal ball, you're gonna need it!
If he trades him and he explodes, JP's a bum. If he keeps him and he's just so-so, then JP's a bum for not trading him. However, if he keeps him and in 06 he gets the 28-35 homers many of us think he could get, THEN JP is a genius.
JP get out that crystal ball, you're gonna need it!
What I found fascinating about this game was how things could have gone either way in the 9th. Schoeneweis gave up a loud line drive that went barely foul, and Batista surrendered a fly ball that was caught at the track. The moral: you need good luck as well as skill to win, I guess.
I only caught the last few innings but here are some things i think:
1. McGowan has electic stuff. Send him to winter ball as a closer, and see what he can do. If not the 7th & 8th are ours for years to come.
2. Do Speier's pitches actually move up on hitters?
3. Miggy didnt pitch well, he got lucky. The last out should not have been swung at. 2-0 and you swing at a possible ball after the pitcher is erratic to the batter before him.
4. Only trade Rios if someone offers a excellent deal. I would be happy with a Gross, Wells, Rios OF next year. One heck of an OF defense.
1. McGowan has electic stuff. Send him to winter ball as a closer, and see what he can do. If not the 7th & 8th are ours for years to come.
2. Do Speier's pitches actually move up on hitters?
3. Miggy didnt pitch well, he got lucky. The last out should not have been swung at. 2-0 and you swing at a possible ball after the pitcher is erratic to the batter before him.
4. Only trade Rios if someone offers a excellent deal. I would be happy with a Gross, Wells, Rios OF next year. One heck of an OF defense.
McGowan in September
13 IP, 12 H, 3 BB, 8 K, .240 OPP BA, 3.46 ERA
League in September
9 IP, 3 H, 6 BB, 2 K, .115 OPP BA, 2.00 ERA
Teeny-tiny sample size, yes, and I recall Mark Hendrickson looking terrific a few Septembers ago, too. But these numbers jibe with my own impressions that these guys are starting to pull it together on the mound. They may each be half a season away from fine-tuning their command, and the stuff is unquestionably there.
13 IP, 12 H, 3 BB, 8 K, .240 OPP BA, 3.46 ERA
League in September
9 IP, 3 H, 6 BB, 2 K, .115 OPP BA, 2.00 ERA
Teeny-tiny sample size, yes, and I recall Mark Hendrickson looking terrific a few Septembers ago, too. But these numbers jibe with my own impressions that these guys are starting to pull it together on the mound. They may each be half a season away from fine-tuning their command, and the stuff is unquestionably there.
McGowan looks like he'll be ready, at least for a bullpen role, at the start of 2006. League needs more work.
McGowan has electic stuff
So that's better than eclectic, but not as good as electric?
Yes, I think the Electical College will give him enough votes. :-)
McGowan's potential is too great to make him a reliever. His command, and the fact that he has 3 good-to-excellent pitches mean that he should have every chance to be in the rotation. League, on the other hand, really only has 1 pitch; I don't see how he can be anything other than a reliever.
I am skeptical that a Gross / Wells / Rios outfield will produce enough runs. If I were JP I'd try awfully hard to acquire a corner outfielder who can hit the ball in the seats and see Gross and Rios share a spot.
I am skeptical that a Gross / Wells / Rios outfield will produce enough runs. If I were JP I'd try awfully hard to acquire a corner outfielder who can hit the ball in the seats and see Gross and Rios share a spot.
I was not suggesting that McGowan's long-term role should be in the pen. I think that he is likely to be ready for the big club at the start of 2006, but that the team might choose the Earl Weaver approach of introducing him into the rotation through the pen. Deciding where he belongs will rightfully be on management's spring training agenda.
The Earl Weaver approach; I am certainly am a fan of pitcher experiencing MLB development time in the bullpen. I posted a while back asking if anyone had any insight into why the Jays (and most major league teams) appear to have gotten away from that approach. Instead player movement from minors to majors seems so rigid -- starter, reliver, closer.
A number of solid Jay starters begin their MLB careers in the bullpen -- Key, Cerutti, Wells -- off the top of my head.
Whether this was done as a developmental step or as a result of an overcrowded starting rotation (and/or shoddy bullpen) at the time, I can't recall.
A number of solid Jay starters begin their MLB careers in the bullpen -- Key, Cerutti, Wells -- off the top of my head.
Whether this was done as a developmental step or as a result of an overcrowded starting rotation (and/or shoddy bullpen) at the time, I can't recall.
Fair enough about the Earl Weaver route to the rotation for McGowan. Even Doc spent half of his first big league season in the pen, and pitched quite well there.
Say, did anyone else notice the Jays were officially eliminated from the playoffs recently? I just noticed they have 10 games left and are 14 1/2 out of the wild card.
As to McGowan and the pen, I say put him out there next year and have him ready to step in if there is an emergency start or an injury. He has done well in the pen - 7 2/3 IP 5 H 1 W 6 K's 1 ER. I personally would like to see a pen of Speier/Frasor/Chulk/SS/Downs/McGowan with League in the mix if needed. Two are lefties, two are starters (in 2005), 4 one-two inning guys, plus League if hot. Batista traded away. Btw, I am someone who was happy when the Jays signed Batista but he is a starter and with Halladay/Lilly/Chacin/Towers all locks (imo) for the rotation we have Bush/Downs/McGowan/Gaudin and any other prospects fighting it out for that 5th slot so no room for Batista.
Winter 2005/2006 should be fun.
As to McGowan and the pen, I say put him out there next year and have him ready to step in if there is an emergency start or an injury. He has done well in the pen - 7 2/3 IP 5 H 1 W 6 K's 1 ER. I personally would like to see a pen of Speier/Frasor/Chulk/SS/Downs/McGowan with League in the mix if needed. Two are lefties, two are starters (in 2005), 4 one-two inning guys, plus League if hot. Batista traded away. Btw, I am someone who was happy when the Jays signed Batista but he is a starter and with Halladay/Lilly/Chacin/Towers all locks (imo) for the rotation we have Bush/Downs/McGowan/Gaudin and any other prospects fighting it out for that 5th slot so no room for Batista.
Winter 2005/2006 should be fun.
League throws the fastball with movement and the slider, and they vary dramatically in speed (fastball 95-100, slider 80-85). I think that's a good recipe for a quality set up man or closer.
McGowan has starter written all over him. He can throw a range of pitches well. He reminds me a lot of Roy Halladay. Some days he's good and others he gives up home runs to every 2nd batter. But one day he'll pull it together and I think he could be a #2 or #3 pitcher in 07.
McGowan has starter written all over him. He can throw a range of pitches well. He reminds me a lot of Roy Halladay. Some days he's good and others he gives up home runs to every 2nd batter. But one day he'll pull it together and I think he could be a #2 or #3 pitcher in 07.