12:16 AM Eastern
Baby steps, I guess, but when the Blue Jays scored three runs in the bottom of the 5th to take a VERY temporary lead at 4-1, it was only the second time in what’s now a six-game home losing streak that they’ve actually been ahead.
Shannon Stewart came through beautifully, doubling his season RBI total with one swing, a rocket past the glove of Placido Polanco that split the outfielders and got all the way to the wall for a two-run triple. Aaron Hill followed with a sharp single to left to drive Shannon in, and wonder of wonders, the Jays not only had a three-run lead, but they’d picked up two straight two-out RBI hits.
The lead was gone pretty quickly, though, a couple of doubles allowed by Jason Frasor here (after he’d done a great job getting out of David Purcey’s jam with a double play ball in the 5th), a couple of doubles allowed by Jeremy Accardo there, a stunning error by John McDonald, and hello, Scott Downs. The lefty’s first pitch was deposited into the Tigers’ bullpen by Edgar Renteria for a two-run homer that made it 7-4. To their credit, Frasor and Downs had been terrific so far, allowing just one run combined, so there was bound to be a crack in the facade at some point.
What it comes down to, though, is what it has come down to in every other loss this season with one exception – the Jays just didn’t hit. The Stewart 2-run triple-Hill RBI single combo accounted for 2/3 of the club’s safeties on the night. They only had one other hit, a solo shot by Rod Barajas in the 2nd.
Stunningly, this team is now 0-4 against left-handed starting pitchers. I’ve said many times that this is a line-up that will steal southpaws’ lunch money with regularity, but so far this season, the Jays are just taking names, and not kicking butt. To be honest, taking names only has any sort of detrimental effect on your opposition if it’s accompanied by the requisite butt-kicking.
The question is, what can be done? When you look at the line-up, Frank Thomas stands out. Outside the first four games of the homestand, he’s been just terrible, though that’s nothing new for him in April. Last night I suggested that maybe the time has come to get him out of such a high-leverage spot in the line-up, that I wouldn’t mind seeing him batting 8th until he heats up, which he always does around the middle of May. The thing is, you can’t hit Frank Thomas 8th, you might as well just bench him, but if he’s on the bench, he’s not getting the reps he needs to eventually turn things around. And if Thomas is benched, that means Shannon Stewart becomes the everyday left fielder with Matt Stairs taking over at DH. As bad a start as Thomas is off to, Stewart’s is just as poor.
Thomas is hitting .167/.306/.333, while Stewart is at .235/.341/.294. The triple tonight was his first extra-base hit of the season. I’m not sure there’s an upgrade involved in removing Thomas for Stewart.
The question then becomes, is it time to Free Adam Lind, who’s hitting .360/.411/.640 in Syracuse, and shove him into a platoon role in left, pushing Stairs to platoon with Thomas at DH? It’s not a bad idea, but there are a couple of roadblocks. First, Lind hasn’t played the last two games for the Chiefs after going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts on Wednesday, so something might be up. Second, assuming Lind is healthy, the Jays would have to make room on the active roster to add him. They could drop to 11 pitchers, which I have always believed is a good idea, but then one of Downs, Brian Tallet or Jesse Carlson would have to go, since it’s not a good idea to have a bullpen with only two right-handed pitchers in it, especially if one is either Shawn Camp or the struggling Jeremy Accardo. The only other place to cut is at third, with one of Marco Scutaro or Joe Inglett having to go. Thing is, Inglett’s gone anyway when Scott Rolen comes back, so all you’d be doing is delaying the tough decision for a week and a half or so and making Scutaro your everyday third baseman until then.
Doing nothing is an option, but it doesn’t seem to be a good one. The hitters seem to require a swift kick in their collective backside. It’s still unbecrediculous to me just how hot-and-cold these hitters run. Imagine the team that’s leading the league in on-base percentage and eight 0ff the league lead in runs scored being under .500 because they can’t hit! It makes no sense at all, which is why I think it’s going to turn around on its own. But it hasn’t yet, and Tigers are starting to roll, having won four of five.
Last year, it was routine to come to the ballpark feeling as though whoever was starting for the Jays was only going to have a good chance to win if he allowed fewer than two runs, and it’s starting to feel that way again. I understand the frustration, but I do have faith in the track records of these hitters. The reason I’m talking about making a move with Thomas is that while his track record indicates that he will snap out of it and be very, very productive, that same track record indicates that we’re in for another month of what we’re getting right now, and right now he’s sucking up too many useful plate appearances.
Enough about the bats. David Purcey requires a mention, because it’s not every day a first-round pick makes his major-league debut. He looked very nervous, and it’s easy to see that from the boxscore – seven walks in 4 1/3 innings. He only gave up two hits and one run, though, thanks to couple of timely strikeouts of Gary Sheffield, Brandon Inge’s poorly-timed (for the Tigers) sacrifice bunt – that was out of nowhere and completely blew me away, SO stupid – and Jason Frasor’s bail-out double play ball in the 5th. Purcey knew he was going back down, and the Jays shipped him back to the ‘Cuse right after the game, but one hopes the lessons learned will serve him well. I expect him to pick right up where he left off in AAA, continuing to have a great year, and to be the first guy back if and when the Jays need a starter again. I know this is difficult to imagine, watching the Blue Jays as most of you do, but most pitchers do have a hard time in their major-league debuts.
Shawn Camp joins the Jays’ pen to replace Purcey and give the relief corps a third righty, as the Jays continue to call up the hot minor-league hand. Camp had been outstanding at Syracuse, allowing just four hits over 10 innings, striking out 13 without issuing a walk, and he hadn’t been scored on. Great numbers indeed, but over parts of the last four years in the big leagues, he allowed 365 baserunners in 230 2/3 innings, striking out 168, pitching to an ERA of 5.27 and allowing opponents to bat .319, and he’s 32 years old.
Lastly, whither Matt Stairs? I expected to see him pinch-hitting for Stewart in the 7th, with a runner on and the Jays down by three, and when that didn’t happen, I was stunned not to see him hit for Stewart in the ninth, with two on and the Jays down by four. So surprised that I’m not going to rip John Gibbons for not using him because it indicates that Stairs might not have been able to go. I can’t imagine any other reason for not using him in the 9th inning, because even though a Stairs homer wouldn’t have tied the game, the next three hitters were Hill, Rios and Wells, none of whom would have been pinch-hit for, and he couldn’t have been saving Stairs for extras, could he?
Comments are encouraged, as always, and I apologize for not getting to all of yesterday’s. I’m going to try to catch up when I get home.
19 Responses to “At Least They Had The Lead This Time”
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Mike,
The the way this team is being run absolutely blows my mind. How can you go into a series against possibly the most stacked right handed hitting lineup in the history of baseball with a bullpen that consists of 4 lefties and 2 righties. Even worse, these 2 righties consist of a guy who has never been able to pitch in pressure situations and a guy who has been nothing short of a t-ball ball stand since the start of this season. The second I saw Accardo come into this game I knew it was over. I was shocked he was able to keep the ball in the park against the portion of the lineup he pitched to. I know these stats aren’t readily available but there can’t possibly have been a team in the history of baseball who’s bullpen consisted of 67% lefties.
Moving on to Frank Thomas .. the supposed number 5 hitter who is supposed to be a run producer. The typical Frank Thomas at bat consists of:
1st pitch: Frank takes fastball right down the middle
2nd pitch: Frank fouls off fastball he can’t catch up to
3rd pitch on: Frank spends rest of at bat trying to stay alive
Its pathetic and its getting extremely frustrating to watch. Please find out what is up with Adam Lind not playing the last 2 days. Knowing the management of this team, it would surprise me if J(ust)P(retending) has a trade in the works for pitching help.
- MattGood work on successfully choosing a shirt without the assistance of your wife, Mike. One day I will acquire an aptitude similar to yours.
Are you aware that in late March Shea Hillenbrand’s son was attacked by a monkey?
http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=6141674&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=3.2.1
- JCLMike, name me something more annoying in baseball than GIDPs and giving up leadoff doubles? I just checked and the Jays lead the AL in GIDPs so far and I’m sure they’re among the “leaders” in no-out hits also. Sure, dumb errors and lazy play/poor focus (Rios) are annoying too, but nothing flaccidates (not a word) an inning like those two.
- ShawnHey Mike. Never miss a Jays talk. At the game tonight and it was so frustrating to watch them manage only 3 hits. And Johnny Mac with an error. Oh boy. Anyway, I’ve been pretty annoyed with the attendance at the games lately. Just to let people know, but I have a season pass which isn’t advertised much. Costs $81 and I get a ticket in the 500 level to every game. Just to let people know. How can you go wrong with that kind of a deal?
- JustinNoticed something while watching the game tonight. What is up with Pudge getting pitching signs from the dugout? Maybe I haven’t paid attention before but I always assumed veteran catchers such as Pudge called their own game?
If the Detroit Tigers can do it with Pudge the Jays can sure as hell do it with Diaz.
- Mattfunny how my posts keep getting deleted. gee mike funny how I told you only a few days ago that the jays offense would go cold and a losing streak would begin. you see mike those games that the jays should have won and didn’t was not a positive. it means that if they can’t win those games when they are playing well, then when they start playing poorly as they are now, it’s a guananteed loss. it looks like another .500 season and hopefully the end of JP
- lesVery,very upset with this loss. Are you checking Cubs boxscores like I have been since Reed was dumped? Should be interesting to see how the season long numbers pan out. I liked the Stewart signing but felt that somebody else could have been dumped (Coats was on the opening day line up).
Can’t wait for Rolen to get back in and contribute. I think he’ll have about three weeks of struggling before heating up.
Looking forward to seeing how Camp will work out.
Grand Slam by Big Papi tonight, pulling his own Thomas imitation thus far.
McGowan and Marcum will right this ship. Burnett will get lit this next start but will have a good May. I can feel it.
- ToddPS – do you if any Jays read your blog?
- ToddHi, Mike:
I too wonder what happened to Matt Stairs — so much so that I had him as today’s Hit candidate in the Beat The Steak contest, based on his career numbers vs. Bonderman.
- NormBut I’ve now switched to V. Wells, in case Matt doesn’t play.
Mike,
This is the best place to go for Toronto baseball analysis…thanks for all the late night work. Are the Jays concerned about the awful attendance at home games? They keep claiming attendance has increased every year, but it looks like the opposite it happening. 16,000 fans for weekday games? Are we witnessing the end of major league baseball in Toronto?
- DanYes it takes awhile for Frank to get the bat going, but truthfully the season starts in April not June. It’s not like hes getting paid less for April/May.
Hes 40 and needs to sit on the pine and start to think about retirement
- TSIf Gibbons was a decent manager he at least would have realized by now that Thomas should not be hitting 5th. Whats the holdup? Is it because the Jays do not want to prove a mistake in signing him? Thats what I think.I cant believe Thomas is still in the everyday lineup. So many scoring chance are wasted because of his inadequacies. Bring in Bonds already. They have nothing to lose as he would definitely be a huge upgrade over Thomas.
- aviHey Mike,
I’ve been wondering: why couldn’t Burnett have pitched yesterday? I understand that he would have been a bit tired after his appearance in the 14th the other night, but he only pitched one inning – did it really make that much of a difference? I’m not questioning the Jays’ move, I’m just curious as to why they had to make it.
- TyI attended the game last night and I was a little disgusted with alot of things. First thing, the fans, or lack thereof. The attendance was very pathetic for a Friday night game against a contending team.
This contributed to a very quiet and mundane atmosphere. SO I am calling out the FANS first of all. Stop watching meaningless playoff hockey games and SUPPORT YOUR BLUE JAYS.
Secondly, the bats again were silent, and although it is ‘still only April’ this concerns me. I have had no problems with the pitching and expected Purcey to be a little rattled yesterday, but he did keep his team in the game and his teamates did not pick him up.
Finally, The Jays have had a favorable month with loads of home games against what we all should consider weaker opponents, and road games coming up against teams they should beat and so far they are not capitalizing. Getting swept at home by Travel weary Western Division clubs is unacceptable. Maybe this stinkfest at home has something to do with the lack of attendance.
I am a fan who has invested alot money in a bunch of games that are backloaded in July, August, September because I was confident that they would be contending for a pennant title.
Maybe I am panicking a little bit, but I am calling this team out as a fan who demands a better product on the field, and I feel that these players owe it to us fans, not the coaching, the PLAYERS. They need to step up and walk the walk.
I WILL NOT attend games in September watching a bunch of prospects and no-namers.
- MarkGlad you have FINALLY realized that frank has become an automatic out.
- Big DaveWheres the “Father Time This” comment today?
- Brett VWith Stewart a late injury scratch, Inglett in left and Thomas on the bench, does Lind being called up not make sense? Or as you said is Lind injured, any word on that yet?
- clintMr Wilner,
- gregDo you think the jays will keep Mr Thomas if he has a bad season this year?
With the Lefty on the hill for the Tigers tomorrow we better see Thomas at DH and Stairs in Left. If Thomas sits tommorrow I got to believe he is on the verge of being released or traded (with some Jays cash going with him)
- PeeWee