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Purcey helps sweep away Rays

ROBERT MACLEOD

From Monday's Globe and Mail

Latest comment posted at 5:43 PM EST 08/09/08

Blue Jays complete 6-0 homestand against contending teams ...Read the full article

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  1. The Grill from Canada writes: Toronto`s still not out of it. They just need to win every single game from now on.
  2. G L from Thunder Bay, Canada writes: Outstanding pitching performance by Mr Percy.The young man is capable of pitching at this level.He'll have to work on his consistency.But the BJ's appear to have a keeper here.As I've said in a number of postings earlier For those teams still in contention for a divisional title and have games left with BJ's on your schedule.You'd better bring your A game to the ballpark or you could pay for it.Both Minnesota and Tampa did not and payed the price.
  3. L. W. from Greener Pastures, Canada writes: The youth and inexperiance of the Rays showed up today. They are so tied up with being in first, that they are forgetting the fundementles. They remind me a bit of the mid 80's Jays.

    Todays 1-0 game was a treat to watch for a fan of baseball. Sorry to all those fair weather fans that like to see a lot of runs.
  4. Ryan Hickman from Canada writes: A nice start for Purcey today and nice to see the Jays get to Garza even if for only one run!

    The Jays are flying high and Chicago will be in their sights next.
  5. gabriel oak from Canada writes: Whoa, boys, hold on a bit. Soon we'll be hearing the cry that this is the team that Ricciardi built. Then a groundswell to not only keep him here for '09, but also to extend his contract. What a winning streak will do.
  6. jim slim from cowichan valley,bc, Canada writes: 'Fundementles'??? v nicely put L.C. from greener pastures ...LOL
  7. Bobcat Bobby from WIinnipeg, Canada writes: Hey Jim Slim, it is L.W. from Greener Pastures, not L.C. from greener pastures. Need capital letters G and P. Nicely put yourself. Let's not forget the fundamentals.
  8. Travis Magee from Saskatoon, Canada writes: Well in JP's defense he has managed to assemble the best pitching staff in the major league. He can't be entirely faulted for the underachieving bats, but at the same time he is certainly responsible for bringing in guys who are hitting, and he didn't. He keeps saying he likes the team he has assembled, maybe what the jays are doing now is an indication of why he likes his team. Firing JP probably won't make a difference for next season either, cuz barring a drastic overhaul this will be a JP team for the next 2 seasons anyways, he has all his core players locked up to contracts, so what we got is pretty much what we're going to have.

    On the other side, is JP capable of bringing in that one player or two that would be needed to push us over the top? That I am not too sure about. We could probably use another bat to play dh, or at least a solid right handed hitter who can spell Snider or Lind if we do indeed keep Snider in the bigs next year.
  9. G L from Thunder Bay, Canada writes: The Grill from Canada says The BJ's are still in it.all they have to do is win all their remaining games. Is that all Grill? Your a real optimus.You might have added and the teams ahead of them lose theirs.Iam a BJ fan but frankly I don't like their chances.
  10. P Martin from St. John's, Canada writes: Well, the BJs are 3rd in the wild card - 8 back and 1.5 behind the twins. If they win 5 or 6 of their 7 games against Boston then it is possible. Yes, they need a bit of help but it primarily comes down to their games against Boston - if they keep in it. Those games are going to determine any possibility of the playoffs.
  11. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Thanks to the Toronto Blue Jays...

    My Red Sox are now only 1.5 GBL behind the Rays in the AL East ...

    Much appreciated ! You guys are swell !

    Cheers
  12. nigel evans from United Kingdom writes: It's never over until the fat lady sings,and she hasn't even started warming up yet.All you have to do is believe.C'MON YOU JAYS
  13. Patrick F from Canada writes: If the Jays had this sort of streak happen in the middle of the season rather than this late we might be seriously looking at the Jays in the playoffs.

    However, they still do have a chance. The problem is that unless they win a vast majority of their games they're gonna have to count on some teams doing poorly. A combination of them doing good and other teams ahead of them doing a bit poorly would give them a true shot. I just dont want this to become like the Leafs last year 'HEY THEY HAVE A SHOT AT THE PLAYOFFS!' until they were mathematically out of it. Hope for the best but dont expect it. The Jays have been a 500 team for most of the season. In order to get a playoff shot they'll need to play 600 ball or better for the rest of the season.
  14. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: nigel evans from United Kingdom writes:

    "All you have to do is believe."

    Naaaah, you have to play hard for an entire season, get clutch hitting when it is needed and stop expecting your pitchers to do it all for the team .

    But I am now giving away far too many secrets of the sport of baseball...

    Cheers
  15. Lorne Carmichael from Charlottetown, Canada writes:
    The Blue Jay pitching is now good enough to dump BJ Ryan on someone else . He does not have it any more and I would suggest the Jays try to trade him in the off season . Teams that keep giving the likes of Gagne a chance suggests to me there are suckers out there for washed up releivers .
  16. Jesse Winger from Calgary, Canada writes: The Blue Jays are Calgarys' team too!

    Great game, fellas! A case of Chivas is on its way..!
  17. Scenic Sask! from Canada writes: R Miller from Halifax - You won't be thinking the Jays are so swell when they once again sweep the Red Sox next weekend.

    ..........but you're welcome! I was surprised/pleased to see the Rays swept!
  18. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Scenic Sask! from Canada:

    Yeah, the sweeping of the Rays is good news for both of us.

    BTW Nice to see you back again!

    I missed your comments after my Bosox took 2 of 3 games from your Jays in their last series in TO...

    See you next weekend ...

    PS.... What do you think of Dustin Pedroia for AL MVP ?

    Cheers
  19. Scenic Sask! from Canada writes: R Miller from Halifax - Dustin Pedroia should have AL MVP locked up. He's been super!

    Between the Jays and, surprisingly the Mariners, they look to have all but eliminated the FOURTH PLACE Yankees from playoff contention.
  20. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Scenic Sask! from Canada:

    Agree with you that Pedroia has really been clutch !

    Canadian, Jason Bay, has been a great recent addition too for the BoSox.

    However, the Blue Jays' young arms like Mr. Purcey are really starting to show what they are capable of (even though the Jays' lumber has been mostly deadwood throughout the season.)

    The next few weeks are obviously going to be pivotal in the AL East...

    I believe that the Bosox play the Jays seven times and the Rays six times within that span...

    May the best T-E-A-M win...

    Cheers
  21. G L from Thunder Bay, Canada writes: Re my earlier posting optmus? OUCH that should be optimist GL. Is it any wonder you flunked spelling. It sure shows at times
  22. Mr. Pink from the wet coast, Canada writes:
    Lets not overlook the fantastic job done by Carlson in 8 and 9. Cito has got to be thrilled with that, and the instant reality that he now has a another viable option to close.
  23. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: TB.. 3 games 3 down
    @CWS... 4 games
    @BOS... 4 games
    BAL... 3 games
    BOS... 3 games
    NYY... 3 games
    @BAL... 3 games

    From last Thursday..... and my glass is half full post

    That's 3 down..... White Sox up next.

    Cheers
  24. R Miller from Halifax, Canada writes: Scott Loucks from Pickering, Canada:

    The eternal optimist, but even your glass has to be getting more than half empty these days...

    Good Luck to your Jays, but....

    Here's another telling stat:

    BoSox winning percentage in their last 25 games = 0.720.

    Cheers
  25. daniel mendelson from Canada writes: Well the Jays' winning percentage over the last 8 games is 1.000!
    And the Jays have outscored the Red Sox 66-31 in 2008.
    (You can use the stats to say anything)

    Bottom line - Jays need to take 3/4 from Chicago, and 3/4 (or sweep) Boston. Otherwise, it is back to "pride" and "spoiler". Huge long shot, but it could be an exciting weekend nonetheless.
  26. matt s from Canada writes: That postponed game against boston may turn out to be crucial now!!
  27. Scot Loucks from Pickering, Canada writes: I actually think the key to the Blue Jays being even close is they must sweep the lowly Orioles.

    Something they have had a problem doing for years (Winning the games that were supposed to be gimmes).

    Cheers
  28. The Seeker from Toronto, Canada writes: Travis Magee from Saskatoon, Canada writes: Well in JP's defense he has managed to assemble the best pitching staff in the major league. He can't be entirely faulted for the underachieving bats, but at the same time he is certainly responsible for bringing in guys who are hitting, and he didn't.

    JP only 'assembled' the best pitching staff in the AL solely by accident. He had no choice but to use Marcum and McGowan after his other options turned out to be duds (Ohka, Thompson, Zambrano, etc.)
  29. ben petrie from burlington, Canada writes: Saying JP put together the best pitching staff in baseball by ‘accident&8217; is totally ridiculous. Take a look at the bullpen, statistically it&8217;s far and away the best in baseball and this has been done without last year&8217;s close and one of the key set up guys. Look at how the other members were acquired (downs, Carlson, tallet, wolfe etc) and you see a general manager that has recognized talent that other orgs have missed on and acquired iton the cheap. There are 29 other teams that would love to have the jays bullpen.

    Faulting JP for not winning is one thing but minimizing or belittling his accomplishments is not fair and shows how little you and many of the baseball writers & talking heads in this city know about the game.
  30. A Realist from Canada writes: Seeker - JP only assembled the best pitching staff by accident? Wow - you JP haters will say just about anything to support your man crush on him. You may want to go through the staff pitcher by pitcher and see how they got to Toronto. I suppose he deliberatley assembled an underachieving offense too - just to make fans like you hate him. But he screwed up by getting good pitchers by accident? Get over it.
  31. The Seeker from Toronto, Canada writes: A Realist from Canada writes: Seeker - JP only assembled the best pitching staff by accident? Wow - you JP haters will say just about anything to support your man crush on him. You may want to go through the staff pitcher by pitcher and see how they got to Toronto. I suppose he deliberatley assembled an underachieving offense too - just to make fans like you hate him. But he screwed up by getting good pitchers by accident? Get over it.

    >>>

    I don't hate JP, but thanks for jumping to conclusions with your rant.

    My point was that for starting pitching (which I guess I should have specified in my earlier post - my apologies) he grudgingly handed the ball over to Marcum and McGowan because his other free agent signings were busts.

    >>>

    ben petrie please read my post above - I should have said starting pitchers.
  32. A Realist from Canada writes: Not difficult to jump to conclusions after reading your post - it was blaming JP for "accidently" assembling a good pitching staff - just what you said. If you recall, JP said that the "scrap heap" pitchers were acquired on a flyer because the young pitchers the Jays had needed more time in the minors. He drafted Marcum, why wouldn't he want to give him a shot unless he felt they needed time - and who's to say they didn't? To say he "grudgingly" gave them a shot speaks volumes of your bias.
  33. The Seeker from Toronto, Canada writes: A Realist from Canada writes: Not difficult to jump to conclusions after reading your post - it was blaming JP for "accidently" assembling a good pitching staff - just what you said. If you recall, JP said that the "scrap heap" pitchers were acquired on a flyer because the young pitchers the Jays had needed more time in the minors.

    >>>

    Sorry if you read it that way - it wasn't my intention.

    I don't agree with you that JP got those guys as 'scrap heap' pitchers though. From what I recall, they were going to be our 4th, 5th starters with the young guys getting some time later in the year (ie, Sept). When those guys didn't pan out, he had no choice but to use the young guys. He had no other options. Hence, 'accidentally' reaping the benefits of Marcum and McGowan strong performance.
  34. Jake ---- from Canada writes: The Jays can take the East if they go 18-20, that includes winning all 7 games against the redsox. Atleast it's been fun to watch these guys over the last month. And I got to say Cito has done a great job with this team.

    One thing Gibbons lacked was that he did not use his pitching staff well, I don't think there is a better manager then Cito when it comes to working a bullpen.
  35. The Seeker from Toronto, Canada writes: A Realist from Canada writes:

    He drafted Marcum, why wouldn't he want to give him a shot unless he felt they needed time - and who's to say they didn't? To say he "grudgingly" gave them a shot speaks volumes of your bias.

    >>>

    There's no bias - I've already said that I don't hate JP, so not sure why you keep harping on 'bias'.

    I think the reasons why he didn't want to rush were because a) he's a pitcher (obviuosly) and b) he already had the Russ Adams thing hanging over his head (ie,opinion that he has a poor drafting record).
  36. Cole H. from Toronto, Canada writes: Ohka, Thompson & Zambrano combined cost the Jays very, very little in terms of salary. If even one of those guys worked out & was able to eat some innings it would have been well worth it. It didn't work out unfortunately but it cost so little.
    I don't understand why people got worked up about it at the time & it's completely perplexing that folks still bring it up.

    It's bizarre that so many people condemn Ricciardi for the punchless hitting but then refuse to give any credit for the success of the pitchers.
    Weird.
  37. A Realist from Canada writes: You used the term accidently - perhaps you should have said "reluctantly" or something else. It was his intent to have those guys start eventually, but due to circumstances, he had to throw them into the fire earlier than expected. Good on them for responding and give credit where credit is due - JP gave them a shot.

    The Russ Adams thing? This isn't hockey or football where the first round pick is supposed to be a star. Go through every teams' draft record and look up their 1st round picks - there are tons of failures. Conversely, there are a ton of 143rd rounders making it too. I'd say with Hill, Marcum, Lind, Litsch, Purcey, Snider, etc, his drafting record doesn't look too bad. Look at the Yankees supposed phenoms Hughes & Kennedy - how'd they do?
  38. Mike M from Canada writes: The Seeker from Toronto, Canada writes:
    I don't agree with you that JP got those guys as 'scrap heap' pitchers though. From what I recall, they were going to be our 4th, 5th starters with the young guys getting some time later in the year (ie, Sept). When those guys didn't pan out, he had no choice but to use the young guys. He had no other options. Hence, 'accidentally' reaping the benefits of Marcum and McGowan strong performance.
    ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Except that's not what happened, nor what they planned to happen.

    Only Ohka started the year in the rotation, Thomson never made it to the majors, and Zambrano pitched almost exclusively from the pen.

    Zambrano was never in the plans for the initial rotation as he was recovering from injury and unlikely to have the arm strength initially. It was hoped that maybe he'd return to the pitcher he was when he first came up with the Rays, but he didn't and thus was cut (for those that still criticize not re-signing Carpenter, you should have loved this move).

    Thomson was just brought in for depth and I don't think he was ever really in the team's plans. That's why he contract was structured the way it was

    Those 3 guys accounted for about 7% of the team's starts and I think that's right in-line with what was expected by the Jays. Sure, they may have had higher hopes, but I don't think you're accurately representing the Jays plans for last year, nor what actually happened.
  39. Tony! Tony! from Canada writes: The Zambrano/Ohka/Thomson argument is getting as old as the Reed Johnson thing. All three of them were picked up off the scrap heap to give the Jays some pitching depth at AAA and with the hope that one of them could chew up some innings as a #5 starter. Both Ohka and Zambrano pitched well in Spring Training, so they were given a shot in the rotation and the bullpen respectively. What's so wrong with this? I don't get it -- they cost little to nothing and gave Marcum and McGowan some more time to develop. What's the problem? Sometimes these "reclamation" projects work out, sometimes they don't.

    I don't think JP's done a perfect job as GM, but at least give him credit where credit's due.
  40. The Seeker from Toronto, Canada writes: A Realist from Canada writes: You used the term accidently - perhaps you should have said "reluctantly" or something else. It was his intent to have those guys start eventually, but due to circumstances, he had to throw them into the fire earlier than expected. Good on them for responding and give credit where credit is due - JP gave them a shot.

    >>>

    I agree. Both Marcum and McGowan performed admirably. I still don't think it was JP's intention to have 2 rookies in the starting rotation.

    >>>

    The Russ Adams thing? This isn't hockey or football where the first round pick is supposed to be a star. Go through every teams' draft record and look up their 1st round picks - there are tons of failures. Conversely, there are a ton of 143rd rounders making it too. I'd say with Hill, Marcum, Lind, Litsch, Purcey, Snider, etc, his drafting record doesn't look too bad. Look at the Yankees supposed phenoms Hughes & Kennedy - how'd they do?

    >>>

    Did you read my post? Did I criticize JP's draft record? I said opinion of a poor drafting record - Public perception I didn't say he had a poor record of drafting.
  41. Tony! Tony! from Canada writes: The Seeker: Then is it JP's fault, too, that the Jays have to use Purcey (a rookie) and Litsch (who had less than half a season of experience in the bigs) in the rotation this year? Afte all, Jannsen, not Litsch, was the front runner for the #5 spot in the rotation at the beginning of the year and Purcey has only stepped up because of McGowan's injury. Did JP "luck" into this situation as well?
  42. gordon foster from Canada writes: It's sure great to have Cito Gaston back.
  43. Mike M from Canada writes: The Seeker from Toronto, Canada writes:
    I agree. Both Marcum and McGowan performed admirably. I still don't think it was JP's intention to have 2 rookies in the starting rotation.
    ================================================

    Well, neither pitcher was a rookie, with 2006 being the rookie year for each one. Marcum had his almost 80 innings there and McGowan had surpassed the 50 innings threshold for his career.

    Even aside from the fact that neither was a rookie, both had demonstrated they were at the time where they were either going to make a major contribution or else not be much of a major league pitcher. McGowan was 25, had spent the better part of a season in AAA and was in his last year of options.

    Marcum was younger, but had already had more than 20 starts in AAA, and, having spent the better part of the previous year in the Jays rotation, it would have been seen as a huge step back were he not in the 2007 rotation eventually.

    You're recollection just doesn't mesh with the facts.
  44. Scenic Sask! from Canada writes: R Miller from Halifax writes: Scenic Sask! BTW Nice to see you back again!

    I missed your comments after my Bosox took 2 of 3 games from your Jays in their last series in TO..."

    Sorry R Miller, don't know where I was....I should have been on here at LEAST once! LOL (I'm not always around)

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