Blue Jay supporting cast takes centre stage in 4-2 win over Tigers
Witness the three-run eighth inning that saw a considerable list of underachievers strike the game-turning blows. Aaron Hill, who came into the game batting .226, ripped a double into left field that drove in a run to give Toronto a 2-1 lead. Juan Rivera, he of the .208 game-time average, added a sacrifice fly to bring home what turned out to be the winning run. Meanwhile, J.P. Arencibia (.229) chipped in a sac fly to provide an insurance run.
Toronto starting pitcher Kyle Drabek, meanwhile, got his third win in nine starts with a seven-inning that was as uneven as it was effective. Drabek’s six walks, which added to his American League lead in the category, were a career high. But on a night that saw the first-pitch temperature reading hit 7 C, Drabek cooled Detroit’s bats, giving up just three hits to a team that had won 10 of its previous 11 games.
It certainly didn’t hurt that in the Tigers’ end of the first inning, with the bases loaded and nobody out, Drabek limited the damage to a Miguel Cabrera sacrifice fly to the right-field warning track; he escaped by inducing Victor Martinez to ground into a double play. If Drabek, 23, has been accused of being too emotional when he struggles, Arencibia, who caught the win, said the pitcher is beginning to figure things out.
“I think he’s starting to realize that when he gets mad, he’s not that good,” Arencibia said.
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Detroit’s fans certainly noticed of the presence of the Blue Jay who entered the game leading the majors in home runs with 16. Bautista arrived in the batter’s box to first-inning boos and a brush-back pitch from Tigers starter Max Scherzer (who, like Drabek, lasted seven innings before yielding to Joaquin Benoit, who took the loss).
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Lind took batting practice on Monday but Farrell announced after the game that Lind would be making a retroactive visit to the 15-day disabled list. The club called up Eric Thames from Triple-A Las Vegas to provide another left-handed bat while Robert Ray was designated for assignment to make room for Thames on the 40-man roster.
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Arencibia, for his part, said Drabek is only “scratching the surface” of his ability. Certainly his improved command — of his emotions, if not his fastball — can’t hurt.
“You’ve got to joke with him, loosen him up, because he’s so intense,” said Arencibia. “I loosened him up a little bit (after the first inning), and he went out there and did his job. . . . When he’s out there calm, and really being smooth, that’s when his stuff is really good.”
What, exactly, did Arencibia say to relax his teammate?
“There’s different things he’ll say. I can’t really say ’em,” Drabek said with a smile. “When he talks to me, sometimes it’s not even about slowing down. It’s just to talk. Whatever it is, it’s been helping.”
Jose Bautista is the best hitter in baseball
Bautista is no longer a sideshow performer, a novelty act from north of the border who, after a 2010 supernova of horsehide pyrotechnics, would surely disappear into the background where experts were certain he belonged.
Baseball has seen plenty of those. Does the name Brady Anderson ring a bell? How about Luis Gonzalez, who did not hit more than 15 homers until he was 30 years old, then hammered 57 in 2001 at age 33, then never more than 28 again.
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The jury had been out on the wisdom of the decision — by inexperienced general manager Alex Anthopoulos and Rogers ownership — to trade veteran Vernon Wells and his big contract to the Angels, then use the money to sign Bautista to a five-year, $65 million deal.
“Performance wise, he’s better than he was last year, which no one expected,” Anthopoulos says of Bautista’s fabulous start. “That being said, with the contract we gave him, we certainly expected Jose to be a very good player and more importantly to bring all the intangibles that he showed us — high character, humility, work ethic, selflessness, leadership and someone who was proud to be a Blue Jay representing both Toronto and Canada.
“I think we’re all amazed that he continues to improve. Last season was incredible. I’m not sure that there are words to describe what we’re seeing so far this season.
“As for credit, first it has to go to the player. It’s up to the player to make adjustments, work hard and then go out and perform. Second, a lot of credit needs to be given to (former manager) Cito Gaston and (hitting coach) Dwayne Murphy. Jose called Cito after he signed his contract to thank him for all he did for him. So, I’d say it’s a combination of three people.”
The Globe and Mail
Kyle Drabek shuts down Tigers
Drabek, the son of former major league pitcher Doug Drabek, grew up around the Pittsburgh Pirates clubhouse while Jim Leyland was managing his dad. On Monday, the younger Drabek allowed one run in seven innings to beat Leyland's Detroit Tigers 4-2.
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“I didn't get a chance to talk to Jim today — I figured I'd wait until tomorrow for that,” Drabek said. “I'll be curious to hear what he thought of my game tonight. He's been in this game for a long time, and I've known him all my life.”
Leyland, not surprisingly, was impressed.
“He's got really outstanding stuff,” he said of Drabek, who he remembers as a toddler. “His control isn't as good as his dad's, but he throws a little harder. We had him on the hook in the first inning, but let him get out of it, and he really picked it up from there.”
Toronto Sun
Jays beat Tigers to keep streak alive
The outing was far from perfect — Drabek walked a career high six batters — but the seven innings matched his season high and he allowed just three singles and one run.
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“He really threw an excellent game,” manager John Farrell started off. “He really minimized the damage (in the first inning). You’re looking at a bases-loaded, no-out situation and to get out of that inning with just one run allowed says a lot about him but more importantly you look at the overall seven innings. I thought tonight he took a step forward in his own development — he pitched, he didn’t throw — and kept his emotions in check.”
Drabek, though, isn’t over his infatuation with the base on balls and of the six walks he posted, the back-to-back ones he delivered in the first inning were the ones that haunted him as it led to the lone Tigers run. Of his 113 pitches, 58 were balls and that ratio has to change. With 34 walks on the season, he leads the league.
“He has a way of putting people on base because of the walk,” Farrell said. “But what he did tonight, he didn’t let that filter into the next at-bat, he got a couple of key double plays and while for the most part while he might have battled a little bit of command issues from time to time he didn’t show it outwardly as much. I really think tonight was a step forward in the right direction.”
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He was asked how Bautista compares to what he saw in Boston with Manny Ramirez and David Ortiz?
“I’ve not seen anything like this,” Farrell replied, ticking off Bautista’s stats. “He’s worth the price of admission just to watch four at-bats, regardless of what ballpark. It’s pretty awesome to see what he’s doing.
“He’s squaring up so many pitches in so many different locations ... I’ve not seen anything like it.”
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“It’s almost like he’s got an idea of what’s coming in terms of the pitch type and location,” Farrell continued. “He’s doing things that are extremely rare. We’re just glad he’s in our uniform.”
Then after listing his accomplishments in the clubhouse, of being the ultimate in being a team player and a leader, Farrell concluded: “He’s arguably the best player in the game right now.”
Jays' Bautista one for the ages
“I can’t imagine that there is anything that compares to this,” said Alex Anthopoulos, who pushed to acquire Bautista when he was assistant general manager of the Blue Jays. And now, Anthopoulos, as club general manager, watches and admires like an executive and fan.
“I thought I was done being amazed after last season,” he said. “And now with what he’s doing this season, words probably don’t to it justice. He’s becoming a source of pride for all Canadians, because he’s someone who loves being part of the country and the city. Combine that with an elite ability and even better character and we’re witnessing something truly special.”
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And before our eyes, we’re watching a player who is doing it all. He’s hitting for power. He’s hitting for average. He’s running the bases. He’s doing it with his arm. He’s doing it defensively. He hit the home run in the 11th inning Saturday to win the game but did you see what he did in the ninth when he went right to the wall in foul territory to get that ball? That’s what I’m talking about. He’s doing everything.”
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That’s why this so different,” said the baseball historian, William Humber. “You almost have to go back, in terms of how Babe Ruth was — how far ahead of the pack he was to make sense of Bautista. When Ruth first came up, he was at one level and everyone else was at another level. He set the trend and established the numbers. Maybe Bautista, in his own way, is setting a trend. He is the post-steroid era guy. It doesn’t just go back to last season but the previous season. Since then, no one is close to him. I know it may be considered a stretch, but Ruth was out of the ordinary and now Bautista is.
Jays' Lind goes on DL
Following their victory Monday, the Blue Jays decided to bite the bullet and placed 1B Adam Lind on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to May 8. Lind hasn’t played since May 7, when he left the game in the sixth inning with lower back pain.
Replacing Lind on the roster will be OF Eric Thames, who was impressive in spring training and is hitting .342 with six homers and 30 RBIs in 36 games at triple-A Las Vegas. To make room on the 40-man roster with the promotion of Thames, the Jays designated injured RHP Rob Ray for assignment.
“It’s responding, yet he still doesn’t feel completely confident when it comes to making the plays defensively at first,” manager John Farrell said of Lind. “He feels like once he gets in an outstretched position, the stability in his core is not quite there yet. We felt like he needs another three to five days to further strength that and let the back continue to settle down. We can’t go at this day-to-day for that length of time.
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As for Thames, the Jays elected to go with the 24-year-old left-handed hitter over Travis Snider, which is significant.
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Jayson Nix was back with the team on Monday, but he was not in the lineup as Farrell elected to stay with John McDonald at third. McDonald has driven in five runs in his past four games and, of course, is excellent defensively. Farrell also doesn’t seem to be in a hurry to mess with what has been a winning lineup.
“We have a little bit more flexibility in the infield,” Farrell said of the addition of Nix. “He’ll be able to get in there and give some guys a day (off).”
MLB Trade Rumors
Blue Jays Designate Robert Ray For Assignment
Ray, 27, appeared in a handful of games for the Blue Jays in 2009 and 2010. He is currently on the 7-day DL in Triple-A and has not yet appeared in a game this year. In parts of six minor league seasons, he has a 4.19 ERA with 7.3 K/9 and 3.0 BB/9.
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According to Richard Griffin of the Toronto Star, the Blue Jays called on Thames rather than Brett Lawrie, since they wanted a left-handed bench bat in Lind's absence (Twitter link). When Lawrie gets the call, he'll join the team as an everyday player.
Transactions History: Sergio Santos
When the Twins claimed a shortstop off of waivers on this date in 2008, they probably wouldn’t have guessed that Sergio Santos would go on to become a closer for their division rivals. Yet that’s exactly what’s happened since Minnesota claimed Santos from the Blue Jays three years ago.
Santos, selected in the first round of the 2002 draft by the D’Backs as a shortstop, arrived in the Toronto organization late in 2005, when the Blue Jays sent Orlando Hudson and Miguel Batista to the D’Backs for Troy Glaus.
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By 2010, Santos had graduated to Chicago's 'pen. He posted a 2.96 ERA in 51 2/3 innings with 9.8 K/9 and 4.5 BB/9 as a rookie. Armed with a 95 mph fastball, Santos has posted similar numbers through 19 frames this year. He has yet to allow an earned run and he has 10.4 K/9 and 4.3 BB/9 as Ozzie Guillen’s most effective reliever - almost certainly not what the Twins were envisioning when they claimed the former shortstop off of waivers on this date in ’08.
FoxSports.com
Ken Rosenthal Notebook
My choice for AL Rookie of the Year, Blue Jays third baseman Brett Lawrie, remains at Triple A while Orioles lefty Zach Britton, Mariners righty Michael Pineda, Angels closer Jordan Walden and even Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer are emerging as early candidates for the award.
What gives?
Lawrie, 21, is batting .321/.375/.574 even after going 0-for-5 Sunday and playing well at his new position, according to club officials. Yet, this doesn’t seem to be a case of Super 2 concerns overriding baseball considerations. The team apparently just wants to make sure that Lawrie completes his development properly.
The Jays got it right with catcher J.P. Arencibia, allowing him to progress one step at a time and even repeat Triple A, where he was the Pacific Coast League MVP last season. But they rushed outfielder Travis Snider, who reached the majors at age 20 in 2008 and is now back in the minors.
Each player is different, of course. And Lawrie looks like he may be getting close.
He was too aggressive offensively earlier in the season — he’s such a talented hitter, he believes he can hit everything. But he is showing improved plate discipline, with six of his 11 walks coming in the last five games.
Miked up
All Win Streaks Must Come To An End
It’s been quite a little run, all done without Adam Lind - who was hitting .477 over the course of an 11-game hit streak when he came out of the line-up over a week ago and who has finally been placed on the disabled list with his back injury. Eric Thames is coming up to take his place on the roster.
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Escobar, by the way, hit 1.000 against Scherzer this year over seven plate appearances in their two meetings.
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I can’t stand the walks, really can’t, especially to the extent that Drabek has been issuing them this season - he’s over six walks per nine innings, having issued 34 free passes in 50 innings of work. I think, though, that as a 23 year-old making his way through his rookie season in the big leagues, you can live with it so long as there’s continual improvement throughout the year. And if you’re not giving up anything that’s hard-hit, you can get away with a ton of walks sometimes.
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This is strange to say on May 16th, especially with the way they’d been playing prior to this win streak, but the Blue Jays currently sit just one game out of a playoff spot and while it’s certainly not time to make rash decisions, it is time to shorten leashes on underperforming veterans in order to give the team its best chance to stay where it is in a race. Hill is coming around, with back-to-back multi-hit games (and big hits in each), but Rivera is going the other way. With Corey Patterson hitting well and Thames coming up, Rivera may find himself just a platoon bat against lefties for a little while.
I’m very excited to see Thames. He’s a terrific kid and he impressed the heck out of everyone in Spring Training and has continued to rake in Vegas, but please don’t expect him to hit the ground running in the majors. It’ll be great if he does, and he certainly has the talent and confidence to do so, but it doesn’t happen often. He may only be here for a week, and if he stubs his toe like David Cooper did, one hopes he’ll at least go back down to the minors on a high note (like Cooper did) and come back some day and be a real contributor. Best-case scenario is that he’s here to stay, which would be awfully swell.
SS Girl
RGM Girl
Random thoughts
I think we're all excited to see Thames in action. What would be even more exciting is seeing him contribute while the team continues to win. Thames may well end up only being around for a couple games, which in retrospect might be the biggest disadvantage of Lind's late transfer to the DL.
It's also nice to see Drabek have a solid start. Obviously the walks are a little ugly, but as Wilner points out he doesn't have a history of being particularly walk-happy in the minors, so hopefully this is just part of his adjustment to the majors.
Rosental seems to think that Lawrie will be up and producing sooner rather than later, hopefully he's right.
I'm not going to post them here but I'll give a shout out to Stoeten Answer's Griffin's Mailbag, because it's hilarious and insightful. I haven't read this edition yet but I'm about to, I'm sure it'll be great as always.
Ok I'm out, have a good one guys.
