HOUSTON – With his seven innings of one-run ball in the Toronto Blue Jays’ 3-1 loss to the Houston Astros on Friday night, J.A. Happ surpassed his total workload from 2013 and remained on pace to match if not exceed his total from 2012.
So after 95.1 innings, about three more than last year’s tally of 92.2, how is the left-hander feeling?
“I still feel good, I feel strong,” said Happ. “I don’t know what the numbers say, maybe the last few might have been a tick down or so, but I still feel good physically. I felt like I could keep going out there.”
Happ threw 144.2 innings in 2012 and 156.1 in 2011, so the Blue Jays needn’t worry about building him up or overworking for him. At 31, his arm doesn’t need kid glove like those of Marcus Stroman and Drew Hutchison, which is important for the Blue Jays because they need him.
What’s happening when things are going right?
“I’m able to make adjustments, get ahead in the count and pound the strike zone,” said Happ. “When I feel healthy it’s easier for my body and mind to work together, and then try to make adjustments. …
“I feel all right with where I’m at.”
He should, he’s earned it.
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Through an attempt at trade equivalency, here’s my re-examination of the Blue Jays at the trade deadline.
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Brett Lawrie started a rehab assignment Friday night with single-A Dunedin.
In that game, a 10-8 win over Palm Beach, Roberto Osuna, working his way back from Tommy John surgery, allowing three runs in 3.1 innings with six strikeouts. It was his debut at the high-A level after pitching at low-A Lansing last year when he was injured.
Outfielder Cole Gillespie, on the DL with an oblique injury, went 1-for-5 in starting his own rehab assignment.