So Adam Lind did not have a 6 RBI encore performance like he had on opening day. In fact, he didn't even pick up a hit in the 2nd game of the series. He did, however, come up large to play a key role in the Blue Jays victory...
With one out in the bottom of the 9th, Lind had a superb battle with Tigers reliever Brandon Lyon. After going ahead 2-0 in the count, he fouled a couple of pitches off to square it at 2-2. Lind continued to fight, fouling another pitch back and then drawing a ball. After spoiling the next pair of pitches, he promptly was issued a free pass after a solid 9 pitch at bat. Jose Bautista came in to pinch run for Adam, so Lind represented the winning run on the Rod Barajas Sacrifice Fly...
Little things like that shouldn't go unnoticed with Lind displaying that even if he isn't dynamite some days, he can still be a vital part of this ball club winning games...
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Gaston confidence in David Purcey pays off
After pitching six solid innings against a potent Tigers offense, starter David Purcey ran into trouble in the 7th. Down 1-0, Purcey surrendered an RBI double and then with runners on 2nd and 3rd his attempt to intentionally walk Brandon Inge sailed over Rod Barajas. To make matters worse, on the same play, Purcey could have caught Marcus Thames at 2nd after the relay but he whaled it into centre field allowing a 3rd run to score...
Manager Cito Gaston could easily have yanked the young lefty right then and there. Instead, he allowed him to battle through it. Gaston showed a little confidence in Purcey, and he returned the favour by whiffing Inge and inducing a line out to end the inning. While this was a risky move by Cito, I was glad he left him in there. If, at the first sign of trouble Gaston pulled the hook, what's that telling Purcey and the rest of the team? It'd be displaying little faith in the young man's abilities, which could hinder his development...
This situation is reminiscent to a Jays/White Sox game two years ago. Dustin McGowan loaded the bases with no one out. He was left out on the mound to work through the mess he'd created and he proceeded to retire the next three batters to end the threat. That was a key moment in McGowan's career where he started to fulfill his potential. Could it have the same impact for Purcey?
Manager Cito Gaston could easily have yanked the young lefty right then and there. Instead, he allowed him to battle through it. Gaston showed a little confidence in Purcey, and he returned the favour by whiffing Inge and inducing a line out to end the inning. While this was a risky move by Cito, I was glad he left him in there. If, at the first sign of trouble Gaston pulled the hook, what's that telling Purcey and the rest of the team? It'd be displaying little faith in the young man's abilities, which could hinder his development...
This situation is reminiscent to a Jays/White Sox game two years ago. Dustin McGowan loaded the bases with no one out. He was left out on the mound to work through the mess he'd created and he proceeded to retire the next three batters to end the threat. That was a key moment in McGowan's career where he started to fulfill his potential. Could it have the same impact for Purcey?
Aaron Hill back with a flourish
It must have seemed like an eternity for Aaron Hill. After colliding with teammate David Eckstein his 2008 campaign abruptly came to an end in early May. Originally believed to be a mild concussion that would keep him out of the lineup for a few days turned into a week, then a month, and eventually the team shut him down for the remainder of the season..
Hill is healthy again and has returned to the Jays lineup. Down 3-1 in the 8th inning to the Tigers, he sent a Brandon Lyon offering over an outstretched Carlos Guillen for a pivotal 3 run home run erasing the deficit and giving the Jays a 4-3 lead. One can only imagine just how sweet it was for Hill to lift his team up when they were on the brink of defeat. Hill is showing no ill effects of his concussion, and if early indications are true, Hill is back in a big way. He didn't just return to the team and blend in, he came back with a flourish...
Hill is healthy again and has returned to the Jays lineup. Down 3-1 in the 8th inning to the Tigers, he sent a Brandon Lyon offering over an outstretched Carlos Guillen for a pivotal 3 run home run erasing the deficit and giving the Jays a 4-3 lead. One can only imagine just how sweet it was for Hill to lift his team up when they were on the brink of defeat. Hill is showing no ill effects of his concussion, and if early indications are true, Hill is back in a big way. He didn't just return to the team and blend in, he came back with a flourish...
Cause for concern with B.J. Ryan?
No doubt after closer B.J. Ryan blew his first save opportunity of the season (yet still won the game) his critics will claim the Jays are in a heap of trouble with the former all-star. But what to make of Ryan coughing up the lead in the 9th inning? Is there cause for concern or is it merely a blip on the radar?
After whiffing Marcus Thames for the first out in the 9th, Brandon Inge tattooed a Ryan offering off Windows restaurant in centre field. The concern of fans at the Rogers Centre was palpable. After a miserable spring, in which Ryan got lit up and his velocity was down, the big lefty failed to close the door on the Tigers...
But let's give Ryan the benefit of the doubt, at least for now. It wasn't as if he was pounded for 6 hits and 5 runs. He made a mistake on one pitch and paid the price dearly. It's easy to correlate his struggles in spring with this outing, but that simply might not be the case (unless this becomes a trend.) On the plus side, Ryan's fastball reached the high 80's, so his loss in velocity seems to be a non-issue. Had the Jays lost this contest at Ryan's expense, it'd be a whole lot harder to reserve judgment...
After whiffing Marcus Thames for the first out in the 9th, Brandon Inge tattooed a Ryan offering off Windows restaurant in centre field. The concern of fans at the Rogers Centre was palpable. After a miserable spring, in which Ryan got lit up and his velocity was down, the big lefty failed to close the door on the Tigers...
But let's give Ryan the benefit of the doubt, at least for now. It wasn't as if he was pounded for 6 hits and 5 runs. He made a mistake on one pitch and paid the price dearly. It's easy to correlate his struggles in spring with this outing, but that simply might not be the case (unless this becomes a trend.) On the plus side, Ryan's fastball reached the high 80's, so his loss in velocity seems to be a non-issue. Had the Jays lost this contest at Ryan's expense, it'd be a whole lot harder to reserve judgment...
Fantastic comeback victory for the Jays!
The thrilling 5-4 come from behind (then nearly blown) victory by the Blue Jays simply would not have happened these past few frustrating campaigns under former Manager John Gibbons. Everything went the Tigers way in this one, except for when it mattered. After a couple of questionable calls at 2nd base went Detroit's way, it seemed the Jays were destined to go home losers. But the team showed resiliency, not unlike what they did down the stretch in '08 after Gibbons was canned. Call it the Cito Gaston factor...
Down 3-0 in the 8th inning, veteran Scott Rolen laced his first home run of the young season, then Aaron Hill followed that up with a three run blast that just sailed over the left field wall giving the Jays a huge 4-3 lead heading to the 9th. Closer B. J. Ryan promptly blew the save in the 9th, serving up a no doubt solo shot to Brandon Inge. Instead of hanging their heads, in the bottom half of the 9th and the bases loaded, Rod Barajas' sacrifice fly lifted Toronto to a massive victory. It can't be underscored enough; even though the season is 2 games old, a big victory like this goes a long way in setting up a season...
It wasn't supposed to be this way. The team was expected to be awful. The rotation would falter. The creaky veterans would get hurt. The young kids would go through their lumps. Suddenly, just two games in, there is optimism in a city starved for a decent professional sports team...
Down 3-0 in the 8th inning, veteran Scott Rolen laced his first home run of the young season, then Aaron Hill followed that up with a three run blast that just sailed over the left field wall giving the Jays a huge 4-3 lead heading to the 9th. Closer B. J. Ryan promptly blew the save in the 9th, serving up a no doubt solo shot to Brandon Inge. Instead of hanging their heads, in the bottom half of the 9th and the bases loaded, Rod Barajas' sacrifice fly lifted Toronto to a massive victory. It can't be underscored enough; even though the season is 2 games old, a big victory like this goes a long way in setting up a season...
It wasn't supposed to be this way. The team was expected to be awful. The rotation would falter. The creaky veterans would get hurt. The young kids would go through their lumps. Suddenly, just two games in, there is optimism in a city starved for a decent professional sports team...
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