Much credit must go to Blue Jays’ pitching coach Brad Arnsberg for the job that he has done to this point in the season.
In what has become an annual affair, injuries have ravaged his staff, especially the rotation, which began without the services of Shaun Marcum and Dustin McGowan due to surgeries, and the defection of A.J. Burnett to greener pastures in the Bronx.
Then, with the ’09 season just 10 days old, Jesse Litsch walked off the mound in Minneapolis with a forearm strain that has since needed Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ligament in his elbow.
Casey Janssen returned after missing the entire 2008 season following shoulder surgery, but he was shut down after just five starts when the shoulder started barking again. And then, as if that wasn’t enough, ace Roy Halladay, with 10 wins in his first 14 starts, had to come out of his June 12 start in the 4th inning and was placed on the disabled list.
Halladay is scheduled to return this Monday when the Jays finally get to face division-rival Tampa Bay for the first time with the season almost half spent.
Because of all these injuries, Arnsberg’s rotation has been patchwork, to say the least. It currently sports four left-handers, four rookies, and Canadian Scott Richmond. In fact, when you factor in Bobby Ray, also on the disabled list, the Blue Jays have rushed four pitching prospects to the mound so far this year to make their Major League debuts. Name me one other team that could withstand this many injuries, with the spots taken by rookies, and somehow stay in a pennant race.
Yet, here we are, with Canada Day coming up next week and the Blue Jays, who spent 42 days in first place during the first half, still hanging around the top of the Wild Card race and battling the Yankees for second in the ultra-competitive A.L. East.
And while the hitters, under the tutoring of Gene Tenace and the watchful gaze of Cito Gaston, have been given the lion’s share of the praise for the Jays’ success this season, Arnsberg should also get some serious kudos for keeping the pitching staff together. Also, remember that closer B.J. Ryan failed miserably and is now a $10 million mop-up man, his replacement Scott Downs is currently on the D.L. with a bad toe and the rest of the bullpen is on unfamiliar footing.
All one had to see was Arnsberg sitting on the bench beside Brett Cecil on Thursday night with the Reds beating the rookie all over the yard. This is where Arnsberg is most valuable: as a teacher, a mentor and a calm communicator. The same can also be said for bench coach Brian Butterfield, who is in charge of the infield defence. The Jays lead the Majors in fielding percentage and heading into Thursday’s action, had only made five errors since May 22nd, four less than any Major League team.
So while a lot of the pundits and bandwagon jumpers have been waiting for the Jays to fall from their lofty perch, you can look to Brad Arnsberg’s pitchers and, by extension, Brian Butterfield’s defenders as the main reasons why the Jays have hung, as long as they have, in this pennant race.
TIME FOR SOME SUPPORT
Along those lines, I’m not one to stand up and try to sell the product. That’s not my job, never has been, never will be. And the last time I checked, it’s not in my job description. But I find it strange why more of you haven’t made the trek down to the concrete convertible to take in this entertaining team.
I am becoming concerned about the falloff in attendance this season. It would be different if the team was wrestling the Orioles in the basement. Then I wouldn’t blame y’all for staying away. That has certainly not been the case so far.
I have my own theory.
I blame the economic downturn which has left a lot of the ticket buying public with less entertainment dollars in their pockets. That’s not to say that you aren’t watching; TV ratings have been significantly higher than last year. That shouldn’t be that surprising with the other pro teams in Toronto – Maple Leafs, Raptors, and Argonauts – all looking from the outside come playoff time.
Do I think that the Jays have a shot to end their 16-year playoff drought? Not really, but the way that they have played to date, the Jays haven’t been out of many games. So why not check it out. There’s still a lot more value for your dollar at the Rogers Centre than down the street at the Air Canada Centre.
Suddenly, I sound like a salesman. I think I’ll stop now.
