12:18 AM Eastern
Brett Cecil capped a wonderful day for the Blue Jays and for baseball fans all across Canada by completely dominating the Rangers in their own backyard and in so doing, beating back the Texas brooms and getting the Jays back to the .500 mark.
Cecil threw his first career complete-game shutout, recording outs in the 9th inning for the first time in the big leagues, and he was pretty ridiculous. Cecil allowed only one runner past first base all night and half the hits he the Rangers managed went less than 50 feet. He walked two and struck out seven, the last of which ended the game on his 121st pitch of the night – which was also a career-high.
In his last start, Cecil allowed five runs in the first two innings to the struggling Seattle Mariners, and as Cecil sat in the dugout after the second inning, John Farrell came over and not-so-gently told Cecil to get his, umm, “stuff” together. Since that exceedingly one-sided conversation, Cecil has thrown 14 innings of six-hit shutout.
Cecil got offensive support in only one inning, but he made it stand up. Alexi Ogando matched him almost pitch-for-pitch through the first five, but gave up Yunel Escobar’s third hit of the night leading off the 6th, and an out later, Jose Bautista smacked the night’s first extra-base hit – a double to left-centre that scored Escobar. Back-to-back two-out doubles by Edwin Encarnacion and Travis Snider later in the inning made it 3-0, and that was more than Cecil would need.
After the game, the Jays announced that Carlos Villanueva is going to be bumped up to pitch on Thursday night, which means that Jo-Jo Reyes’ now-vacated spot moves all the way to next Saturday. That’s a pretty broad hint that Jesse Litsch is going to be called up to make that start, which to me is the right thing to do.
Here’s tonight’s edition of The JaysTalk, for your listening pleasure:
There was much more than just a ballgame for Blue Jays fans, though. While eyes and ears were focused on Arlington, Texas, hearts were thousands of miles north and east, as Pat Gillick and Roberto Alomar were inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, New York. The greatest General Manager of all-time and arguably the best second baseman of all-time, and both went into the Hall as Blue Jays.
Gillick was the Jays’ GM from 1978-94, through the formative years and the glory years. It’s impossible to properly credit Gillick enough for the great Jays teams – he did the drafting and the trading and signed the free agents that helped the Jays win a pair of whole shebangs in a row. Gillick’s greatest strength was that he surrounded himself with terrific baseball people, men like Al LaMacchia, Bobby Mattick and Mel Queen, all three of whom he singled out in a wonderful, emotional speech (which you can find in the audio on demand section of this very website).
Alomar came over to the Jays after the 1990, in one of the most spectacular trades of all-time. He was the least known of the foursome that included bubble Hall of Famers Fred McGriff and Tony Fernandez and World Series hero Joe Carter, and wound up being the best of the bunch. Alomar was a Blue Jay for only five years, but they were a pretty impressive five years. In that short span of time, Alomar wowed Jays fans on a regular basis with spectacular defense at second base – making some plays that still can’t really be believed in looking back. He also hit what might have been the biggest home run in Jays’ history, and what Jays’ fan can forget Alomar doing the Tomahawk Chop as he trotted home from third base in the World Series against the Braves.
Stats-ically, Alomar had a 123 OPS+ as a Blue Jay, walked more than he struck out and stole 206 bases in 252 attempts for an 81.7% success rate. he was an all-star five times, won (and earned) five Gold Gloves and finished in the top six in MVP voting three times.
Alomar spoke about all the teams for which he played, but saved the Blue Jays for last. He is the first player in the Hall of Fame wearing a Blue Jay cap on his plaque and could not have been more proud. He specifically singled out Cito Gaston, his only manager as a Jay, for teaching him how to be a professional, and Jays’ President then and now, Paul Beeston, who he said was like a second father to him.
The ceremony in Cooperstown unleashed a flood of spectacular Blue Jays memories; reminders of how much fun it was to follow a team that put together 11 consecutive winning seasons. A team that finished more than two games out of first place only ONCE between 1985-93. One hopes the Jays are on their way back to that kind of prominence; they certainly appear to be on the right track.
The 2011 edition of the Blue Jays will get back at it on Tuesday night, opening up a six-game homestand with a visit from the Baltimore Orioles. The Jays have won each of Brandon Morrow’s last seven starts, and they’ll try to make it eight straight in the opener against O’s righty Jake Arrieta. We’ll be on the air at 7:00 PM Eastern with our full crew back together – join us, won’t you?
Please follow me on The Twitter, you can find me @wilnerness590. If you want to follow the author of the latest Blue Jays’ pitching masterpiece, Brett Cecil can be found @CEC0208.
Rational, reasonable comments are always welcome!
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25 Responses to “How It’s Done”
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Just thought I’d mention that the Las Vegas 51′s are now 51 and 51. Perhaps they should change their name to the Vegas 102s
- General ZodMike:
Great game by Cecil. I noticed a pronounced change in the “plane” of his pitches. The nastiest ones “dove” to the plate. Earlier in the season the plane was either flat or upward, both of which were commented on by Jerry, Alan, Buck and Tabby and yourself.
Maybe he has it figured out. If so, great news as he did pitch remarkably well last night.
Litsch coming back would be a sound decision: switching him for Jo-Jo has merit.
Jo-Jo will likely be picked up but how does he become a solid 4th or 5th starter? He was given a long leash in Toronto and was schooled by one of the best (Bruce Walton)?
MW: Time, that’s how he does it. It clicks in for some guys later than others, and for some it never does. I don’t know if it’s possible for Cecil to have thrown a pitch on an upward plane.
- Grant CarterMike
Perhaps this question has been answered but why wasn’t Reyes moved to the pen?
MW: Farrell said he didn’t really consider Reyes as a reliever, that to him he’s a starter or nothing. But secondarily, in order to send Reyes to the bullpen, the Jays would have had to either send Janssen or Rzepczynski down, or risk losing someone on waivers.
- DanMike one more question. Do you think Patterson will be DFA’d? He’s unlikely to attract much attention at the trade deadline, isn’t much of a bat or defensive replacement off the bench (Saturday being exhibit A), and is unlikely to garner any draft picks, so…. Is he gone when Lawrie is called up?
MW: I would think that Mike McCoy is the likelier player to go when Lawrie comes up, but it’s certainly a possibility.
- DanTwo questions:
1 – What is the realistic expectation of Cecil in our pitching rotation? 1-3 or fringe starter once Drabek and Stewart play to their potential (assuming they do)?
2 – I’m excited for Lawrie to come up but I’m still worried about his defense (still think it would be better to give him a full year of fine tuning at AAA). But from what you’re hearing, what does he need to improve on defensively? Arm strength-accuracy, hit recognition, glove work? or a bit of all the above?
MW: 1 – Contributing starter in the big-league rotation. 2 – He’s learning to be a third baseman, and to this point he seems to be taking to it very well, but it’s still a work in progress.
- P.BenThis was a great day for the Toronto Blue Jays organization, both past and present.
- Joseph P.Mike: In the words of Yogi Berra, please pass on our congratulations “to those who made this day necessary.”
Great Sunday for Toronto baseball: A nod to the great past in Cooperstown and a look at the solid present and future with the CG SHO on the road by Cecil over one of the hardest-hitting teams in the AL.
What’s your 1 or 2 favourite Alomar plays excluding the Game 4 game-tying HR off Eckersley?
Mine is the full-extension catch he made off Lenny Dykstra in Game 1 of the ’93 WS – but there’s probably a billion catches he made like that one.
MW: Was that the one on which he was behind Olerud when he made the play? That was particularly awesome – I don’t think he made too many of those.
- Adrian, co-alumnusThat wasn’t just a good team they beat but a pitcher who has been a revelation for TX and having a heck of a good season.
I believe they’ll bring up Litsch as well, not just because it’s the right thing to do but becuase there are few legit options.
Drabek has been brutal (ERA over 8) and I think they want to give Jesse one last (?) kick at the can before calling up Stewart or Mills.
I hope Litsch can take advantage of this big opportunity and be a stabilizing force through Aug-Sept.
- GaryThe HoF ceremony reminded me of how much the Blue Jays fell off the table after the World Series wins and the baseball strike. Gillick and Alomar leaving, etc. What a shame.
I can’t quite recall what started the downward spiral. Was the purchase of Labatts by Interbrew the first domino? I know Interbrew was a terrible owner, but I can’t remember if things had started going bad before they came on the scene.
I’d appreciate tapping into your recall.
Thanks.
MW: That’s what it reminded you of? That’s sad, you should look at the positive more often. It was a combination of things – Duane Ward’s arm exploded, Gord Ash wasn’t a terrific GM, and Interbrew didn’t care about the team at all.
- kateThere’s a lot of talk that guys like Rasmus, Pence and Upton are available for trade. I’d like to think that AA is involved in those talks. Rumour has it that the White Sox are said to be packaging Edwin Jackson for Rasmus. If that’s the case, that not an awful lot to be giving up and I’d hope AA is looking to upgrade an apparent weakness on this team.
MW: Alex Anthopoulos is in on everything, I guarantee it.
- Craig MIt is great to see Cecil back in the groove.He is a fine pitcher when he is right.
- PaulHi Mike
you gotta love the picture of Cecil on the Jays website – he sure was fired up on completing the game and good for him. I unfortunately missed seeing the game, too bad, I hope there are more like these to come.
Flying under the radar with Jays starting pitching is Vilanueva. I am really impressed with what he has done and frankly, he is one of the best pitchers they have right now. There is a however though – I still like the idea of him in the bullpen as opposed to starting. If McGowan can comeback and Drabek can hold his emotion (and control of the strike zone) in check, they would be my choice of starters. So, three power righties and two lefties. Thoughts?
MW: It’s an awfully big if on McGowan, but that’s a heck of a rotation.
- francisThat play by Bautista in shallow right field while playing the shift was just sick! One of the best plays I have ever seen while using a shift.
- dan from elmvaleI never realized that almomar’s father sandy alomar senior had a career very similar (although not HOF worthy)to his sons. They both played almost the same number of years and both for a number of different teams. I read it was one of the big reasons why gillick went after Roberto because he thought the bloodlines would be great. Reminds me of reasearch from an economist I read. Whey increases your chances of playing in MLB by 257%…. having a father that played in MLB
- daveSingling out Cito Gaston what was it 3 or 4 “Thank you’s”? It appears you either loved Gaston or hated him there was no in between with him. I have heard many times how he favours veterans but here we have a 22 year old Alomar albeit not a spring chick but certainly not a veteran by any definition thank Cito almost embarrassingly many times. Wilner, what thoughts did you have as Alomar profusely thanked Cito?
MW: I only heard one thank you to Cito, but what did I think? I thought it was terrific of Alomar to single someone out who had meant that much to him.
- SeveI’ll give Brett Cecil might be a fifth starter in a excellent rotation. Jesse Litsch would be out of the picture in any quality rotation.
MW: Of course. Love more senseless hate for Litsch!
- WillHey Mike
Do you think that piching in the Vegas heat might have helped Cecil get the complete game yesterday?
MW: I guess it couldn’t have hurt.
- Joemichael,
it’s pretty amazing to me just how many comments and observations there’s been of recent on the notion that young cecil is perhaps not a part of the future rotation of this team going forward as they push on to contend in the forseeable future.
romero, morrow, people even suggesting stewart and drabek ahead of the lefty.
some almost seem to have him pegged in that jesse litsch category now as a possibility but probably not probable for the big picture plans for this organization.
it’s all crazy talk as far as i’m concerned.
brett’s a mlb starting pitcher all day long. no doubt about it. and gonna be a very good one to boot. and a lefty! you need a few of those for sure.
heck…. he was very arguably the team’s best pitcher over last season over all those others. pretty sure the most wins anyhow. what was it 15??
not bad for a virtual rookie in the bigs.
still reminds me of jimmy key. and how bad can that be i ask you?
MW: He did lead the team in wins last year with 15, but it’s tough to make the argument that he outpitched Romero, Morrow and Marcum. But you have to tune out the noise and try to filter in on those who know what they’re talking about. There will always be people who spout off highly uninformed opinions but who are sure they know exactly what they’re talking about.
- darrell bishopCecil was 22-11 in ’09- ’10.
You wonder if he should have been sent down.
His 4-hit shutout over Texas looks even better when you see Texas’s 27 hit, 20 run display yesterday .
A starter that might have helped the Jays is Marcum, 9-3 with Brewers.
- F. JenkinsMike, the trade deadline is coming. Do you think the Blue Jays can acquire a top 100 prospect in a trade. Also what do you think of the signings of Darwel Lugo who was ranked #6 in this years class and Wilmer Bocerra ranked #5. What can we expect from them, and do you think its good to go after Latin American tallent. I think its great because we are adding high ceiling players at the very bottom of our minora and it gives you so much depth to help for the future!
MW: You’re not really asking me what we can expect from a couple of 16 year-olds, are you?
- DavidMike, I have wanted to ask someone in JaysNation this for a while. Do you think that Alex Anthopoulos is a great General Manager and can build a winner? To me I think he is one of the best GM’s in all of baseball.
MW: He hasn’t even been on the job for two years, but so far I’m very, very impressed with what he has done.
- DougMike, your reference above to Alomar’s “five gold gloves”–is this only as a Blue Jay? I thought I heard somewhere over this past weekend that he had won GG’s 10 times?
MW: Yes, like all the other references in the post, it was only about the five years he spent with Toronto.
- NormCompletely unrelated to Cecil’s awesome performance but still a great story, check out this video from Alomar’s HOF parade where he stole my friend’s Alomar jersey. Mike, help him get it back!
MW: Sorry, I can’t post the link, but I’ll definitely ask him about it when I see him!
- Ed…so Ubaldo Jiminez is on the block.
Just for fun – lets play GM for a minute.
“IF” his arm is healthy, I’d give them Arencibia, Drabek, Hill and another (rookie league or A-Ball) prospect.
Rockies:
– I think they need a second baseman (they may see value in Hill @ Coors field).
– They’d like to get a catcher (Arencibia @ Coors — 40 dingers?)
– They’d want young pitching back (I would think Drabek is still considered to have huge potential despite the hiccup this year).
On the flip side, from a Jays point of view:
– IF Jiminez is healthy, he’s only 27 and under a very nice contract ’til 2014.
– we don’t have room for both Arencibia & D’Arnaud
– Hill needs a change of scenery to shed the ‘bad Karma’ of the last 2 yrs (how about Coors Karma)
One viewpoint of the Halladay deal is: Yes you got several pieces back that can get into contention quicker – but once you are a contender, you’ll probably need to get a Halladay type again if you want to ‘win’.
I don’t see Morrow or Romero as legit #1 guys on a championship team YET (not saying they can’t be down the road). I think they are great #2s with Cecil a nice 4th starter / lefty out of the pen in a short series.
I know I’m ignoring Deck McGuire, Zach Stewart, Alvarez, Carreno and others – but we’re just playin’ GM for fun here….
If Colorodo put this to Alex, do you think he’d do this deal?
a] no way
b] maybe
c] in a minute
MW: I understand that there’s fun in it, but I don’t think there’s any utility in this kind of exercise. We have no idea what Colorado is looking for, who the Rockies like, or the sort of package they want to pry loose for Jimenez. At this point in the Jays’ development, I don’t think they’d do that deal. They’re not on the cusp of contention right now, and they’re hoping Drabek develops into a Jimenez-type.
- MiguelMike, how cool is this. You have 9 fans on facebook, and you don’t even have a facebook account! Tell me that’s not awesome.
MW: How does that happen?
Someone has to go out of there way to create a “fan page” which is supposedly you, and than people have to look your name up and “like” the page.
What can I say Mike? You’re a celebrity!
MW: No, I’m not.
- Robert