1:30 AM Eastern
In a one-run loss in which a team allows six unearned runs on one error, you’d think that the goat horns would have no trouble finding a head on which to rest. Not tonight, though.
There’s all kinds of blame to go around in the Blue Jays’ first loss of this road trip, though it is first laid at the feet of Edwin Encarnacion. Edwin made the error – his 5th in six games at third base this season – that opened the floodgates to the six-run frame. With one out, nobody on and the Blue Jays leading 2-0, Encarnacion made a nice play to flag down a ground ball by Texas catcher Yorvit Torrealba. He got back on his feet, steadied himself, and uncorked a one-bounce throw that skipped past Adam Lind.
A good throw, which Encarnacion certainly had time to make, easily retires the slow-footed Torrealba, and we have bases empty and two out, with Jo-Jo Reyes having still faced the minimum. Instead, it’s a runner on first and one out. Reyes rebounded to strike out Mitch Moreland, but that was the last hitter he’d retire.
Therein lies another head to fit for those goat horns. Sure all six of the runs Reyes gave up in the third inning were unearned, but even after the error, all he had to deal with was a runner on first and two out. From that point, he blew up real good.
After the strikeout, Reyes threw a wild pitch, then issued a walk and gave up an RBI single and a two-run double. With the Jays only down one, Reyes got ahead of the dangerous Adrian Beltre 0-2, but then threw three straight balls, the last of which hit Beltre in the back. Then there was another RBI single followed by another two-run double followed by a shower for the Jays’ lefty who left the game with a WHIP of 1.83 and who has made all of one quality start in his first five – and the quality start is a pretty low bar.
But another goat emerges on that final two-run double. Mike Napoli squared up that ball solidly and drove it deep into the gap in left-centre. Corey Patterson gave chase, and turned to take the ball off the wall – but it didn’t hit off the wall. The ball landed on the warning track and short-hopped the fence, bouncing back past Patterson to a waiting Travis Snider, who was backing up. If Patterson keeps running towards the wall instead of turning to take the carom, he’s in a strong position to make the catch and the inning is over with the Blue Jays down 4-2 instead of 6-2. It was far from the first time that we’d seen a gaffe from Patterson in the outfield, and his baserunning has been far more suspect than we’d had reason to expect, as well. Rajai Davis has likely been joined by Scott Podsednik in Patterson’s rear-view mirror.
The Blue Jays did manage to rally from their four-run deficit and tie the game in the 7th. They scored three in the 5th, the big blow being a two-run double by Jose Bautista, and then Juan Rivera played hero in that 7th inning. With two out, Rivera blasted his second home run of the series, and of the season, to knot things up.
By the way, Rivera is on quite the little run right now. Small sample size, sure (no one would argue that he’s even close to this good), but he had three more hits tonight and over his last 19 plate appearances is hitting a stellar .500/.579/.875. Not bad for a guy who so many believed was lazy and disinterested just three or four days ago. His situation hasn’t changed in Toronto – he’s still only here for a year at the most and he’s still only here because the Blue Jays had to take him to make the Vernon Wells deal work. Hopefully this little run shows just how little those facts had to do with his rough start that was, as it turns out, just a rough start.
So on whose head doth lie the final goat horn? Well, that depends. Opinions are varied, but it might lie on the head of Octavio Dotel, for giving up the tie-breaking home run to Mitch Moreland leading off the 7th, or it might be better-placed on the head of manager John Farrell, for bringing Dotel in to face a left-handed hitter in a big spot. Heaven forfend Moreland should actually get credit for hitting the home run or anything.
Here’s the thing: Left-handed hitters love Dotel. Last season, lefties hit .301/.412/.581 against him for a .993 OPS. As a basis of comparison, Jose Bautista’s OPS was .995 last season, meaning ANY left-handed hitter who stepped into the box against Dotel last year became as good as Bautista. The year before, lefties had an even more insane 1.000 OPS against Dotel . So it’s fair to ask why Farrell would go to Dotel in a tie game with a left-handed hitter leading off, even though he was to be followed by six straight right-handed hitters, for whom Dotel is poison.
One possible answer is that Carlos Villanueva had just finished up 3 1/3 innings of no-hit relief and was done, and Farrell didn’t want to waste Marc Rzepczynski, his only lefty in the ‘pen, in that spot when the rest of the inning was screaming for Dotel. He might not have wanted to go to Jason Frasor, Casey Janssen or Shawn Camp for just the one hitter, either, especially since Camp and Janssen had both worked the night before. And it wasn’t time for Frank Francisco or Jon Rauch yet. And in a tie game, you don’t want to start going to your bullpen for just one hitter.
Another possible answer is that – dig this – while Moreland was FAR more likely to reach base against Dotel than against any other Blue Jays reliever, the likelihood of him taking Dotel out of the yard wasn’t all that screamingly high. Despite the brutal splits, Dotel has actually allowed FEWER home runs per plate appearance to lefties than to righties over the past couple of seasons. So sure, there’s a good chance that Moreland walks (I would have thought that was the most likely outcome), but then there’s a great chance that Dotel mows through the next three righties, or three of the next four, and the inning ends with the game tied.
It didn’t happen that way. I’m not going to roast John Farrell for it – he took a calculated gamble and it blew up in his face. And again, it came in his 24th game as a major-league manager. Certainly most of us wouldn’t have done it the same way, but Farrell still has plenty of rope as he settles into this position.
Here’s tonight’s edition of The JaysTalk, featuring someone who wanted to fight with me about J.P. Ricciardi! For your listening pleasure:
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Tomorrow, it’s the good old day game after the night game, and what promises to be a terrific pitching match-up with Brandon Morrow facing Alexi Ogando. We’re on the air at 2:00 pm Eastern for a 2:05 first pitch, and we’ll be live blogging and tweeting all afternoon. There will be no JaysTalk, because it’s a weekday day game, but join us anyway, won’t you?
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Please stop leaping to the defense of Blue Jays’ starting pitchers at the expense of their hitters, defensive players, and relievers. When Jesse Litsch was one of the “best pitchers in the league” in 2008 he spent a month in the minors. Jo-Jo Reyes lost this game almost single-handedly. The goat horns belong easily with him. Back-up players forced into service due to injuries that fail to produce at the level of the regular starters are not goats. Starters who can’t pitch certainly are.
MW: Edwin Encarnacion has been a major-league third baseman for a long time and Corey Patterson is certainly a back-up pressed into service – but he’s allegedly the best defensive outfielder on the team. I don’t think it was out of line to point out either of their gaffes last night. Both are certainly more “regular starters” more than Jo-Jo Reyes is.
- JosephHi Mike
Great summary about the game. I agreed that there were many goats to wear the horn on this one. To me to this point, Reyes simply fails to deliver for whatever reason. Too bad. The question for you now is – who would take his place if the Jays were to let him go – is there anyone in the farm who can fill the spot until Cecil gets himself turned around?
NB: I am a Cecil fan by the way, hope he makes it back soon. I have always enjoyed your Jaystalk Mike, great entertainment
MW: Thanks. There’s no one pounding down the door right now to take the opportunity away from Reyes, which is why they’ll likely stick with him a while longer.
- francisDo you think you might be being a little hard on the journeyman outfielder signed to a minor league contract being forced to be an everyday centre fielder in the AL East?
Also, I didn’t see the Encarnacion error but a lot of internet chatter is saying the throw wasn’t that bad and a more experienced 1b might have been able to dig it out.
MW: A – Not given the fact that he’s a defensive specialist. 2 – The throw wasn’t awful, but it certainly wasn’t good. And he had time to make a good throw.
- EricMike:
You’re comments were on the money … lots of goats last night. Reminds me of visiting my grandparent’s farm as a kid.
Lots of horns to go around. Jo-Jo’s future is in doubt. May have a golden arm but control and mental makeup are problematic. EE should not be at third: not good for his hitting composure. Patterson seems afraid of the outfield wall last night as he did in Fenway when he pulled up short on ball to center. And, John Farrell gets a small set of horns for letting Dotel pitch to lefty. Use Janssen for one batter before they send him down.
What’s next for the starting rotation? Jo-Jo again? Please no. Cecil is nowhere close to ready to come back up. Villaneuva to start or bring up one of the kids for s intro to MLB? Not too many other options are there?
What’s next for the outfield? Rajai comes back and they’ll likely keep Patterson but if Podsednik is close to OK it could be bye bye Corey. And, you’re right re his diminished speed: looks fast, runs less fast.
- Grant CarterHi Mike – Watched the game and I suppose the Blue Jays made it exciting at best. Speaking of goat horns. I saw the play Encarnation made and he made a great play snaring the ball and it wasn’t an easy throw even given Torreable’s speed. Ashby sounded like he had tears for Reyes. The score was 2-0 Toronto, with a runner on and two out and 1-2 count. All he needed was one more strike. Good pitcher’s have all had errors made on them but they don’t have a melt down like Reyes. He was throwing gopher balls one after another after he got two out. The problem is this seems to be an every outing occurance where he wilts under pressure.
- garyThat wasn’t even an Error by EE. THat was an error by lind. It was a one bounce throw that was knee high that Lind should have had. He simply pulled up on it too fast.
MW: It was an in-between hop that Lind couldn’t come up with. It’s Encarnacion’s responsibility to get the ball to first base on the fly.
- DCthe Bad: what’s up with Jo-Jo Reyes?? he has not won a game since 2008. I mean why we keep giving this guy a chance? send him to the minors to work his game and call him up if he smokes up the minors but clearly he is no fooling anyone at the majors. He was awful almost every time he gets a start, and please no excuses give me results, It’s all about production!
The Good: I gotta give props to Rivera he’s now batting .189 almost a 100 points higher than the last time I wrote on your blogs.
MW: It’s not really fair to say Reyes hasn’t won a game since 2008 as though he’s been a major-league starter that whole time.
- DidierFarrell best not go to Vegas if he’s a gambling man.
His decision making on which horse to bet will lose him a lot of $$.
- Kevin A.I like the whole “aggressive on the base paths” idea but it seems to be killing us lately. Out at home in a first inning where maybe we get the pitcher really on the ropes early… and then the failed hit and run or whatever that was later on.
What was it last year, 3rd most HRs in baseball history? I’m all for adding to our game, but running into outs is taking away from literally our greatest strength.
- sonsI think you’ve been hard on Edwin and easy on Farrell in this post. I actually think the error Edwin made wasn’t quite that bad — it wasn’t a complete gimme of a play, and it certainly was mild in comparison to Patterson giving up on the ball later in the game.
- NeilAnd anyone who has ever watched baseball knows not to put Dotel in against a lefty. It’s quite simple. Whether or not Rzepczynski is burned after that batter doesn’t matter once the homer was hit, and it is my opinion that you always have to give yourself your best shot in the current situation, and worry about the next batter after.
In the end, I’m not trying to hang anyone for this, but I think I’d put Farrell’s error higher on the “goat list” than Edwin’s.
Go-Go Jo-Jo
Youth notwithstanding, we need more from our starters.
When the year began, I didn’t anticipate out 4-5 starters being Reyes and Litsch while Cecil blows up in the minors.
Bring up McGowan :0)
- GaryIf Reyes keeps going like this and Cecil needs some time in the minors, who’s next in the rotation? Mills? Rzep?
MW: Mills, Richmond or Stewart.
- Xavemichael,
- darrell bishopwe’ve got the very best all around ballplayer in all of baseball with our man jose b.
i still can’t get over this.
can you imagine how many rbi’s this guy might tally this yr. if he continues to keep his ba up over .300?
holy crap. honest to god michael.
thank you j.p. ricciardi. it doesn’t even matter if he didn’t see him as the ballplayer he’s turned out to be.
this is turning out to be one of the very best heists in the history of mlb. right up there with the yanks trading for the babe.
there i said it…….
btw, how’s robinson diaz doing these days?
thata boy j.p. thata boy……
Mike, just wondering why every once in a while you spout off an opinion with no truth behind it. Different types of steroids have been clearly proven to improve a person’s vision and reflexes. Pretty essential things for a good hitter. Your views on steroids seem ill informed.
MW: I know this isn’t Darrell, that’s a bug in the system, but I’d love to know who said this. I’m surprised you would say such things, whoever you are, especially since there is ABSOLUTELY NO scientific proof that steroids improve vision and reflexes. Why would you accuse me of “spouting off an opinion with no truth behind it” and then come on here and correct me with an untruth?
- darrell bishopThe frustrating thing about the Riccardi caller, is that he is not alone. I know a handfull of people just like him…
A lot of people think to seem in binary. Either a GM is perfect or an absolute utter failure… It’s difficult to rationalize with some people that Riccardi’s tenure was a 7 out of 10, because to them it a GM can only be a 0 or a 1…
- smallcapsteveMike…I tried figuring out Cecil’s Las Vegas ERA but my calculator broke.
- chris m.well Mike
Snider down to Vegas – I am quite surprised especially with the said commitment AA indicated in the beginning of the season.
I don’t think Snider can learn more in AAA – perhaps defensively he can improve but as far as batting, he can only do that in the major league. Hope to see him back soon
- francisHey Mike, I posted the steroid comment. I hate this subject because it’s over-discussed but for you to say there is “ABSOLUTELY NO”scientific proof of this is absurd. I’ll agree that vision is still up for debate, but reflexes clearly are enhanced. What do you think, it just gives you big muscles? There’s more to it than that. I’ve played with guys who did steroids, and have read books on it. Every book I’ve read says although there had been little testing on it, the general consensus among doctors and users is that they enhance reflexes, which directly impacts a hitter’s reactions at the plate. Let’s not be naive about this. It bothers me that such a baseball enthusiast like yourself seems to be standing up for steroid users with your naivety, when it clearly tainted the way the game was played with beyond normal human reflex levels.
MW: So first you insult me, saying I spout facts that are incorrect while you do the same thing – admitting that vision is up for debate when you said before that it’s been proven steroids improve vision. Now you accuse me of both being naive and of defending steroid users. I’m sorry, this is a place for rational, reasonable conversation.
- BrentWhat is up with the decision to send Travis Snider to Las Vegas? I would have thought that he would have been given more time, as his batting average was slowly creeping up. It seems to me that he has not much to gain from playing in the PCL. He should be facing Major League Pitching. Oh well, let’s just say I’m disappointed with this decision.
- Phil@ Phil:
Agreed. Odd April decision. One hopes there is something else going on that we casual fans are not aware of that prompted this.
(Mike, I’m not sure why, but sometimes you can see the previous commenter’s “Awaiting Moderation” comment.)
- James (of the Church of the Double Steal)mike you are right about the Reyes thing, (23 starts or so is not 3 years work) but you get my point the guy sucks right now and I’d rather see Cecil play than Jo-Jo. It was a good win today (5-2 over the Rangers), and I’m so glad we are doing everything to win every game, not like in the past. (sorry Cito)\
MW: You have to admit, though, Reyes is outpitching Cecil right now.
- DidierAlright, well I see you’re not going to stick to the real argument here. Reflexes are equally important to vision by the way. That was ultimately my point.
Used to love the show but you seem to label every fan this year as a “know nothing.” I know there are a lot of uneducated fans out there that you have to deal with but we’re not all that way and I didn’t appreciate you talking down to me earlier on the subject.
MW: You have to admit, your original tone was very accusatory and insulting, so I’m not sure why you’d think you would have gotten a pleasant response.
- BrentSorry about being late, but I hate to see Edwin’s record sullied unnecessarily. The throw on Wed night was standard for a long throw from 3B, allegedly adding velocity by one bouncing in the dirt and arriving at 1B knee-high. The error was on Lind.
MW: No, it wasn’t.
- Hans