Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - Millar Is Ice Ice Baby!!

When I play a dope melody - Anything less than the best is a felony........
If there was a problem - Yo, I'll solve it
Check out the hook while my DJ revolves it - Ice Ice Baby!

Like the tune he once used for striding to the plate with the Orioles, Kevin Millar came through under pressure by rapping one to the left-center field gap to drive in the winning run. That helped the Jays break a come from ahead 7-7 tie for an 8-7 victory over the Texas Rangers in 11 innings at Rogers Centre Wednesday night. Word to your Texas mothers! (but in a nice way for our Texas readers!).

Before Millar's heroics, the man swinging Big Bertha big time was Rodrigo "B.A." Barajas, who belted not one but two homers against his former club. Millar was on base for both of Barajas' homers in the second and fourth off Rangers lefty Matt Harrison. Alex Rios added an RBI base knock in the fifth to give David Purcey a 5-2 lead to work with. The big lefty struck out two men in the first and had another 1-2-3 inning in the second but he gave up a two-run single to Jarrod Saltalamacchia in the third.

Purcey got through the fourth by getting around a single and a walk but in the fifth, former Jay farmhand Michael Young got to him with an RBI double to cut the Toronto lead to 5-3. Purcey got one more out in the sixth but left a walk for Shawn Camp and Jesse Carlson to deal with. There was no need to sweat as the C & C Reliever Factory got the job done as they each retired the only man they faced to end the inning. In the home half of the sixth, Rios drove in his second run of the night off Rangers reliever Scott Feldman and Adam Lind delivered against lefty Derek Holland to give Toronto a 7-3 cushion.

Carlson pitched a clean 1-2-3 seventh and Scott Downs proved to be human after all by giving up his first run of the year in the eighth. Still, it was 7-4 good guys heading into the ninth but that's when the fecal matter hit the freakin' fan! B.J. Ryan was hoping to pick up where he left off after saving Sunday's game against Oakland. He got off on the wrong foot by plunking Chris Davis and walking Mr. Alphabet (initials J.S. - I ain't typing his damn name again!). Ryan got one groundball out when Marco Scutaro started what appeared to a be a 6-4-3 double play but only the 6-4 part was completed as Aaron Hill fired one wide of the first bag. That allowed Davis to score and Ian Kinsler to get to second on the two-base error. Ryan bounced back by getting Josh Hamilton to ground out but he hung an 0-1 slider to Young who deposited it over the wall in centre to tie the game at 7-7.

The Jays offence wasted three singles in the ninth and tenth but Jason Frasor kept the Rangers off the basepaths with two perfect innings. Vernon Wells led off the home half of the eleventh with a walk against C.J. Wilson and was pushed up to second on a sacrifice bunt by Travis Snider. After an intentional pass to Scott Rolen, Millar plated Wells with the winning run on a poke into the left-center field gap off Kason Gabbard impersonator, Darren O'Day.

The newly-acquired O'Day arrived at the ballpark in the late stages of the game after he was claimed from the Mets earlier in the day. However, the sidearmer had to wear Gabbard's jersey because the team didn't have time to prepare a jersey for him. I wonder if it's against the rules to wear another player's jersey. Oh well, at least he didn't have to dress like this guy. O'Day replaces Kris Benson, who went on the disabled list with right elbow tendonitis.

The Jays totalled 17 hits on the night with Alex Rios and Jose Bautista getting four each. Millar had three safeties while Barajas, Aaron Hill and Adam Lind had two each. The Jays also drew a half-dozen walks and everybody, save for Travis Snider's sac bunt in his lone plate appearance, got on base at least once. Marco Scutaro, Vernon Wells, and Scott Rolen were a combined 0-for-13 with four walks. David Purcey was in line for the win but had to settle instead for a decent enough start in which he allowed three runs on seven hits and two walks in 5 1/3 innings.

The Batter's Box Jays of the Game are Rod Barajas and Kevin Millar with an honourable mention to Jason Frasor, who improves to 3-0 on the year.

Tonight, the Jays send 1-0 Scott Richmond to the dirt hill against 1-1 Kevin Millwood in the series finale. A first pitch out will hopefully take place at 7:07 p.m. EDT under the Big Top at 1 Blue Jays Way.

==============

In other TDIB notes.....

* The Yankees also get a walk-off win against the A's.

* The Red Sox win their seventh straight as they knock off the Twins in both ends of a doubleheader.

* Some fan with the initials R.C. went to see the Astros game Wednesday night. A new book on said person is due out next month.

* Umpire Kerwin Danley is recovering after Tuesday night's bat mishap.

Posted by #2JBrumfield on Thursday, April 23 2009 @ 01:32 AM EDT.

Millar Is Ice Ice Baby!! | 32 comments | Create New Account

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

Richard S.S. - Thursday, April 23 2009 @ 05:55 AM EDT (#198802) #

Aaron Hill is capable of all-star defense almost always - almost. Aaron Hill can become more fascinated with flash than substance, more concerned with looking good than being good, usually something bad happens. What happened in the 9th? B.J. Ryan didn't pitch that bad. Did he struggle or was he unlucky? Richmond -vs- Millwood or Richmond -vs- (Benson - DL) are we unlucky?

China fan - Thursday, April 23 2009 @ 06:14 AM EDT (#198803) #

Inspired by Magpie, here are my very subjective Levels of Trust for the starting rotation (as it currently stands).

Halladay -- 98 per cent. He is human, so that costs him 2 percentage points.

Purcey -- 70 per cent. But this is influenced by his flashes of genius, his future potential and his better performances of last season, rather than solely his performance this season.

Tallet -- 70 per cent. But that's for five innings only.

Romero -- 75 per cent. Heavily influenced by the assumption that he has to come back to earth at some point, as opposition hitters figure out his weaknesses. But there is a good chance that his Level of Trust could continue to increase as the season goes on.

Richmond -- 70 per cent. See above. My feeling is that he's not quite as good as his ERA would suggest. But if he maintains consistency, the trust rises.

Magpie - Thursday, April 23 2009 @ 07:13 AM EDT (#198804) #

Defenders have slumps, just like hitters. We assume that the level of defensive play is a constant, but it's no such thing.

Hill's error last night came from being a little too ambitious. He didn't really have a great shot at the DP because the runner was right on him. Would have been a heckuva DP. I also think Overbay might have saved the error, just by being left handed. Millar had to try to backhand the throw (and he's not as good as Overbay anyway.)

I was thinking in the 8th inning - sooner or later, Scott Downs has to give up a run, right? Isn't this the perfect time? Smart pitching.

China fan - Thursday, April 23 2009 @ 07:51 AM EDT (#198805) #

I'm already thinking that I should be more generous to Romero in my Levels of Trust -- he deserves an 80 at least. He is cool, calm and collected, and less likely to implode than most others in the rotation. I think he gained a lot of maturity during his struggles at New Hampshire in 2007 and early 2008. He learned how to deal with adversity -- a lesson that some pitchers have to learn in the majors.

GrrBear - Thursday, April 23 2009 @ 09:04 AM EDT (#198808) #

Ryan's problem isn't really velocity - he's not locating pitches well, so when he does have to throw a strike, he's not fooling anybody. It's rare for a closer to stay effective for an extended period of time; Ryan's days as a top-flight closer may be finished. It wouldn't be such a big deal if the Jays were scuffling around the .500 mark like most of us expected they would be, but with their 11-5 record, there's clearly the feeling in the clubhouse that this team might actually have a shot at the playoffs. They can't waste opportunities to win while waiting to see if Ryan's going to get his act together. Put Frasor or Downs in the closer role at least as a temporary measure to give Ryan a chance to work through his problems in low-leverage situations. Re-evaluate him after a month or so.

Personally, I think Ryan's done as a big-league closer, and the sooner Frasor gets the job, the better.

rpriske - Thursday, April 23 2009 @ 09:30 AM EDT (#198809) #

Frason? Not Downs?

A minor nitpicks... I'm pretty sure that Ian Kinsler was not safe on a two-base error. They generally don't 'assume' a double-play, so Kinsler would have been safe on a fielder's choice, and then moved to second on Hill's error/

MatO - Thursday, April 23 2009 @ 09:33 AM EDT (#198810) #

Alex Anthopolous Blue Jays VP was on McCown last night and had some injury updates.

McGowan is not throwing. They are working on getting his flexibility back but it's unlikely he'll be back at all this year.

Janssen threw a simulated game and was fine. His next appearance should be in an FSL game and if all goes well will likely be sent to Las Vegas for a few re-hab starts.

Litsch is doing well and is ahead of schedule. Might be back in the latter half of May.

Marcum is doing very well and may well be one of those pitchers that come back early from TJ surgery. They're looking at a September return to be cautious but there is a possibility he could be back in August.

Jevant - Thursday, April 23 2009 @ 09:57 AM EDT (#198811) #

I would be floored that if McG isn't throwing at all yet that he'll be back this year. I feel sorry for him - he's had a real rough go and just can't seem to keep it together (either physically or on the mound) enough to be that big horse we thought he could be behind Halladay.

Good to hear about Janssen and Litsch. Marcum is a big surprise...there's a part of me that hopes they just keep him out for the whole year to prevent further problems, but if they're in it in August or September, that would be a hugely nice surprise.

Mike Green - Thursday, April 23 2009 @ 09:59 AM EDT (#198812) #

If Hill had little chance at the DP, the error was of very little significance. You might criticize Hill for the error if the batter was the tying or lead run which advanced to second, but that was not the case.

I wanted to echo what Magpie said in the other thread. Ryan's errors last night were predominantly mental. Hitting the leadoff man with a 3 run lead in the ninth is very bad (with an HBP having only slightly less run value than a leadoff homer). Following that up with a walk is worse, and then with two outs in the ninth and nobody on, surrending a homer is the trifecta. If he had given up 3 runs on 4 hits, a homer leading off, an infield single, a couple of line drives and then a sac fly, I would have much more philosophical about his outing. I suspect that Cito felt the same way about it.

If Frasor ends up as a closer or set-up man, his moniker will go from FREE JASON FRASOR to EXPENSIVE JASON FRASOR next year. Ah, the sweet smell of success.

John Northey - Thursday, April 23 2009 @ 10:04 AM EDT (#198813) #

Of note on the closer situation... on the radio this morning I heard them say that Cito and JP are meeting with Ryan today. That can't be good for Ryan, and probably means either they feel he is hiding an injury or feel it will take a full meeting to get him to accept moving to a mop up role until he figures out how to preserve 3 run leads for one inning.

jmoney - Thursday, April 23 2009 @ 10:19 AM EDT (#198814) #

I know it's playoff time but would it kill Sportsnet to actually show some games instead of darts or poker.

It's like they feel that if they don't have hockey to show nobody is going to watch their network.

Magpie - Thursday, April 23 2009 @ 10:41 AM EDT (#198815) #

I'm pretty sure that Ian Kinsler was not safe on a two-base error. They generally don't 'assume' a double-play, so Kinsler would have been safe on a fielder's choice, and then moved to second on Hill's error

That is exactly correct. The official scorer can not assume a double play (it's not a discretional call.)

By the way, my own contribution to the official scoring last night was getting Millar's walk-off hit changed from a double (as originally ruled) to a single. Went up to Doug Eddings after the game and said "Doug, I don't think Millar ever made it to second. I think he peeled off and they started partying." Which was seconded by several still present.

This awesome power...

Greg - Thursday, April 23 2009 @ 10:55 AM EDT (#198816) #

I've always wondered about that. If Millar had continued to 2B would it have been a double? Or did he have to get there before Wells scored and the game ended?
Could he have indeed sauntered over the third and got a triple!

Mike Green - Thursday, April 23 2009 @ 11:39 AM EDT (#198817) #

The rule about not assuming double plays is, incidentally, a bit silly in modern times. On a hard-hit ball right at the shortstop with the runner from first not going, the second baseman routinely makes the turn and throws out the batter by several steps. If he throws in the dirt and the first baseman is unable to make the scoop, the batter reaches on a fielder's choice. There is no reason to treat this errant throw any differently than another. It is, of course, a different situation if the runner is bearing down on the second baseman who has no choice but to throw from over the runner.

Discretional, Mags? I guess that it was a long night at the old yard.

Mike Green - Thursday, April 23 2009 @ 12:09 PM EDT (#198818) #

It seemed to me that Purcey has been throwing many fewer changeups this year than last year. I checked on Fangraphs, and they have him at 5.7% of pitches last year and 1.4% this year so far. It's an effective pitch for him against right-handed hitters. Last night in the long at-bat against Marlon Byrd that ended his night, I was waiting for a change to disrupt timing.

Magpie - Thursday, April 23 2009 @ 12:18 PM EDT (#198819) #

I guess that it was a long night at the old yard.

Yes it was. Gosh, I left at 4:30 and got home just before midnight? That's almost like Real Work.

B.J. Ryan did not make any fans among the working press. Just when it looked like we might be out of there in under three hours...

Ryan is pitching like a rookie. He gets in a jam and starts trying to throw the ball harder, which is of course the absolute worst thing you can do. He almost seems to be over-reacting emotionally on the mound to everything that happens. He blows his first pitch past Davis for an impressive looking swinging strike, but his second one runs in a little and catches him on the hand. Bad luck, but no biggie. Still a three run lead. But then he walks the next guy, batting ninth for a reason, on five pitches and now we've got a situation.

92-93 - Thursday, April 23 2009 @ 12:22 PM EDT (#198820) #

Mags, way to keep Millar's OPS down. You don't want Cito to look like too much of a genius for that platoon, eh?

Mike, I thought Purcey basically had no off-speed stuff yesterday, and that's why I was actually impressed with the outing - he battled and lived off his fastball. If he could drop a few curves in it would really open up the rest of his game, and might get people chasing the slider a little more.

Magpie - Thursday, April 23 2009 @ 12:31 PM EDT (#198821) #

If Millar had continued to 2B would it have been a double? Or did he have to get there before Wells scored and the game ended?

It's the official scorer's call. Generally, Millar would have received credit for a double if he'd finished running to second (even though Wells had already crossed the plate.) But he does have to actually go all the way to second base.

And that's all. He can't keep going after that, the game's over.

Mick Doherty - Thursday, April 23 2009 @ 12:36 PM EDT (#198822) #

I am fascinated by Mags' Levels of Trust concept from yesterday. I am not a Rangers fan, though I can see their ballpark from a window across the hall right now, but living amongst Ranger nation, can tell you ... the popular Level of Trust in Matt Harrison is at about 3.14159 percent -- and that might be pi-inthe-sky high right now.

Harrison has an electric arm. But for some reason, he's just not, you know, very good ...

HollywoodHartman - Thursday, April 23 2009 @ 12:50 PM EDT (#198823) #

Romero to the DL with an oblique strain. Sadness ensues.
http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/2009/04/23/romero_dl/

Flex - Thursday, April 23 2009 @ 12:59 PM EDT (#198824) #

How serious is an oblique muscle strain? What sort of injury is that?

Matthew E - Thursday, April 23 2009 @ 01:06 PM EDT (#198825) #

The oblique is in your side, right? Yes?

Flex - Thursday, April 23 2009 @ 01:06 PM EDT (#198826) #

Hey, why don't I answer that myself?

A little research shows that oblique strains are abdominal muscle strains where the muscle that stretches across the abdomen pulls away from (most commonly with pitchers) the 11th rib during the violent contractions of the pitching motion.

We're looking at six to eight weeks of recovery.

Greg - Thursday, April 23 2009 @ 01:08 PM EDT (#198828) #

So what happens now?
Cecil up? Mills?

Mylegacy - Thursday, April 23 2009 @ 01:14 PM EDT (#198829) #

OMG!!!

Romero on the DL - this just might be the straw that breaks the camels back. We lose - AJ, Marcum, McGowan, Litsch, Janssen and now Romero from the starting FIVE - is this the point of no return? Sure looks like it unless another miracle awaits - Wolfe? Cecil? Mills? R-ski?

I say bring up Fabio Castro from AA - he was VERY good in Spring is now 1 - 0, with a 0.00 era, 16.2/11/2/17 with a whip of .78. He is a 24 year old little lefty - 5'7", 180 pounds who just might be up to the job.

tstaddon - Thursday, April 23 2009 @ 01:16 PM EDT (#198830) #

Guess we'll know if Las Vegas skips Cecil's start tonight. Otherwise... geez do you call up Accardo or Wolfe and start Murphy? Do Accardo and Wolfe even have dibs on the next reliever positions, the way Bryan Bullington and Jonah Bayliss are going? Neither of those two has seen much success at the major league level to date... though, admittedly, Bullington has dealt with injuries and has only really been tested as a starter...

Mills just pitched yesterday so I can't think he's an option for Saturday. Could it be Fabio Castro getting the call? He might be the best bet.

braden - Thursday, April 23 2009 @ 01:20 PM EDT (#198831) #

Just opened up a new thread on the Romero injury.

John Northey - Thursday, April 23 2009 @ 01:26 PM EDT (#198833) #

Argh! Romero showing promise then he gets hurt out of nowhere? Sheesh. So, we lose AJ in the winter, Marcum and McGowan injured for the season, Litsch out for an unknown length, and now Romero down. Now _this_ is a test of how deep the staff is and how good Arnsburg is.

So, now what?

Options on the 40 man: Luis Perez (L in AA 17 IP 11 H 9 BB 15 SO 2.65 ERA), Robert Ray (in A+), relievers Brian Wolfe (8 2/3 IP 11 H 0 BB 2 SO 4.15 ERA), Accardo (6 IP 8 H 2 BB 3 SO 2 R/ER), DL'ers Davis Romero and Cassy Janssen.

Late Cuts: Cecil: 10.80 ERA in AAA in 2 starts, Mills: 15 1/3 IP 19 H 8 BB 9 SO 4.70 ERA

Interesting possibility: Fabio Castro AA 3 starts 0 ERA 16 2/3 IP 11 H 2 BB 17 SO after a 4.71 ERA last year between AA/AAA

ML Possibilities: Murphy has been a starter, as has Downs.

C Snoy - Thursday, April 23 2009 @ 03:19 PM EDT (#198862) #

I want you guys to know that I really enjoy coming to this site and giving the comments a read. I have started leaving it till the end of my work day because it is good to come here and see some good intelligent Jays chat after spending a day on the GaM boards reading many comments suggestions that Rios and Wells should be traded for young pitchers (you know..to squeeze in behind all the veterans in our rotation) and that Aaron Hill shouldn't be playing defense in the late innings of a ball game..

robertdudek - Thursday, April 23 2009 @ 03:27 PM EDT (#198865) #

Here's some of my favorite lines from the song:

'Cause my style's like a chemical spill

or

Quick to the point to the point no faking
I'm cooking MC's like a pound of bacon
Burning them if you ain't quick and nimble
I go crazy when I hear a cymbal

zeppelinkm - Thursday, April 23 2009 @ 05:34 PM EDT (#198882) #

The Jays are really under pressure now.

Geoff - Friday, April 24 2009 @ 09:28 AM EDT (#198924) #

Ow! I just got hit in the head with a piece of the sky.

I think she's coming down.

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