After a near no-hitter turned in to an extra innings loss in Game 1, the Jays will turn to prospect Brett Cecil on Tuesday afternoon against Cleveland.
Despite Monday night's see-saw, 12-inning loss, the Jays continue to perplex the pundits. And if Jays fans are looking for signs that this improbable start to the 2009 season will continue, perhaps Sunday's sweeping away of the Orioles provided a couple.
First, Scott Richmond continued his streak of solid starts in solidifying his place as the No. 2 man behind Roy Halladay. And secondly, Vernon Wells and Alex Rios both homered in a game for the first time this season, driving in three of the four runs. This on a day when the usually tight defence was ragged, allowing the Orioles to stay in the game log enough to force Cito Gaston to use Scott Downs for a third straight day.
So the Jays came home from Kansas City having lost its first series of the year. They finally lost back-to-back games, but were still without a losing streak to date. Roy Halladay played his role of ace as usual, not vintage 'Doc' but good enough to win. He hasn't been razor sharp so far this season, but I'd still my money on him against anyone in the A.L. this side of Zack Greinke. Then we get to see yet another young pitcher make his Major League debut with Aaron Hill providing a couple of huge hits in the extra innings. I'd didn't see anything from Robert Ray that tells me he won't take a couple of more turns in the rotation before Casey Janssen, Ricky Romero or Jesse Litsch return to action. Finally, Sunday's solid team win goes with yet another nod towards the bullpen that went six up, six down to complete the win.
Now in come the Indians, who the Jays went 2-1 against at frigid Progressive Field to start the road portion of the schedule. In the series we'll get to see first-hand what all the fuss has been about Brett Cecil, the club's top pitching prospect. The 22-year-old left hander arrives after 45 career minor league starts (9-8, 2.96 ERA, 1.17 WHIP, 9.4 K's/9 IP). And for those of you, yet again, looking for a sign, Cecil wears number 27, the same number that a 23-year old left-hander by the name of Jimmy Key wore when he began his successful Major League career in 1984.
ROOKIE'S FIRST SLUMP
It will be interesting watching Travis Snider deal with the first career slump. The 21-year-old has not even come close to a hit in the last week. When he looks curve, they throw a fastball, and vice-versa. So if it continues and for whatever reason the need arises to send him back to AAA, don't sweat it. I remember a rookie back in 1994 that was pounding the ball in the first weeks of the season and then had trouble when they adjusted to him. He went back to triple-A, righted himself and then came back to stay. His name was Carlos Delgado and he went on to a great career. Remember, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
BAD KARMA IN THE BRONX
First Roger Clemens, now Alex Rodriguez. No wonder why the Yankees haven't won the World Series since 2000. Allegedly they are disreputable dudes. Allegedly. The best pitcher of his generation and the best hitter of his generation will stand outside the Hall of Fame along with Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Jose Canseco and Rafael Palmeiro. But this latest allegation that 'A-Fraud' was pitch-tipping with opposition players in blowout games, ostensibly to pad stats and, ultimately, get bigger contracts puts him in Pete Rose territory. The fans pay good money to, hopefully, see their team win. If this true, the game once again gets sullied by greed. Maybe it's the quality of the ball team and/or the players, not the excessively over-priced ducats that is keeping fans away from their new ballpark in the Bronx.
