I write now from the bottom of the fifth inning so I can say a few things before the rest of this 1-1 game and the next bottle of sauvignon blanc does anything to shape my reflections on Big D's ML debut. Yeah, I drink white wine when it's warm out and the windows are open. It's refreshing, you should try it.
Jason Frasor just came in to induce an inning ending double play, so the final line for Purcey looks like this:
4.1 IP
1 ER
7 wlks
3 K
2 Hits
86 pitches, 40 for strikes
The wildness was certainly the defining trait of this outing, which is pretty much par for the course when a rook takes the mound for the first time. This thing certainly could've gotten away from the Jays on about three different occasions, which might say something. Or it might not. The highlight was most definitely two Ks of Gary Sheffield in high pressure situations.
"Definitely impressive with his stuff, especially when he can use his changeup a little more", said Rance Mullinks.
"He's going to have a great career", said Pat Hentgen (who loves Canada so much that he still spends time killing critters up in Eastern Ontario). "Works his butt off."
Big D will go back down to Syracuse with a no decision to mull over and some jitters worked out. A propos of nothing, I present you with the lines of each of our 5 starters in their ML debuts.
Roy Halladay (age 21): 5 IP, 8 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 K
AJ Burnett (age 22): 5.2 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K
Dustin McGowan (age 23) : 5 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 3 BB, 6 K
Shaun Marcum (age 23): 1 IP, 0 H, 1 BB, 1 K--in relief, obviously
Jesse Litsch (age 22): 8.2 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K
and, in case you'd forgot him
Casey Janssen (age 24): 4 IP, 3 ER, 3 H, 2 BB, 3 K
Ironically it was the crappiest pitcher of the bunch, Litsch, who had the best debut. Draw your own conclusions.
Shannon Stewart ropes a triple to the right field gap and the Jays go up 3-1. It feels like God wants them to win this game.
Rando thoughts for now:
* They're waving tonight, which will undoubtedly infuriate the DJF crew...
* There are two dudes who really pull off the powder blues, Brian Tallet and Rod Barajas.
* I like Rod Barajas. More later.
EDIT: don't ever presume that you think you know what God wants.
-- Johnny Was
2 comments:
During the 7th attempt to start the wave in the top of 6, some guy sitting in my section wearing a grey sweater stood up and screamed "watch the fucking game, the go ahead run is on second base" to no one in particular. Oh yeah, that guy was me.
Personally, I would prefer it if Jays fans kept their asses planted to their seats and spontanously broke out in song rather than doing the wave. It's bone chilling and moving when you hear Liverpool supporters do "You'll Never Walk Alone", as they have been for decades... If you're going to embrass yourself in public, better through singing than standing on command.
JW
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