Doc Leads Jays to Win Over Tigers!

by hugo on Apr 13, 2007 9:46 PM EDT in Toronto Blue Jays News

The Happy Recap
Wow. It's games like this that make me happy to be a baseball fan. Doc Halladay and Jeremy Bonderman both masterfully battled, with the Jays eventually coming out on top, 2-1 in the bottom of the 10th.

Doc was absolutely fantastic, pitching 107 pitches over 10 full innings, scattering 6 hits, and walking no one. The only blemish was a Magglio Ordonez HR in the 2nd. Bonderman was also fantastic, yielding only a Rios HR to lead off the game. But Bonderman was pulled after 9 innings, and Fernando Rodney came in. Aaron Hill led off the inning with a great at-bat in which he eventually reached on a slow roller to 3rd. Jason Smith laid down a beautiful bunt for a single, and John McDonald followed up with another bunt single (his was lucky as he popped it up but it just got down). With the bags loaded, Rios hit the sac fly to win it! Go Jays!

"Playa-Hatin" Royce Clayton Watch : Clayton did not play. I can't quite figure out if John Gibbons views Clayton as an offensive upgrade on McDonald, or a defensive upgrade, or neither? He didn't pinch hit Clayton for McDonald in the 10th (perhaps b/c the Minister of Defence had the bunt sign), and he had no qualms about starting (and leaving) the minister over Royce with groundballer Halladay on the mound. Any thoughts on how Gibbons sees the two? N.B. This segment's name changed at the request of loyal reader Woody.

Waxing/Waning Gibbons
Not many moves on a day like today, but I liked sending Halladay out for the 10th. he had only thrown 89 pitches, so it was a nice little move that paid off when Doc sent the Tigers packing. Also, no real problem with hitting Stairs 2nd against a righty.

Jays of the Day
Well, Doc . Rios too, for his 1st HR of the year and a nice easy fly ball to win it. The Jays need Rios to be a big contributor now as leadoff man, with Reeder on the DL.

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Comments

Aaron Hill

He'll end up finsihing the season with a .400 average considering the season he had last year. He's only going to improve!!!

Haha he probably will regress but if he could pull off a .290 season last year, what does everyone think he'll end at? I say .320

Go Jays!!!!

by achengy on Apr 14, 2007 12:18 AM EDT reply actions

Hill had 2 bad months last year

if he can avoid those kind of prolonged slumps, I think he can achieve .305/.355/.445. An .800 OPS would be great but I don't think it is out of the realm of possibility.

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Apr 14, 2007 1:20 AM EDT reply actions

Playa Hatin' Clayton!!!

Alright! Great job Hugo. I appreciate the shoutout.

I think when Guzman is healthy, we should every now and then compare Guzman v. Clayton to see which is better. My money's on Clayton.

by mamiemell on Apr 15, 2007 1:52 PM EDT reply actions

At the Game

I was lucky enough to attend this game, since I was in Toronto over the weekend.

Halladay was incredible, and left to a standing ovation in the 10th. He received another round of applause when he was shown on the Jumbotron shortly after.

Gary Sheffield was booed loudly before every one of his at-bats. I didn't really understand why, to be honest, though I joined in from time to time, haha.

The game finished ridiculously early, though we all left fulfilled. Terrific end to the game, too.

by mark w on Apr 15, 2007 5:04 PM EDT reply actions

Also

During the game, a montage was shown of the 10 Blue Jays with the most games played in franchise history. Tony Fernandez by far received the loudest applause (which makes sense, since he was #1). It was pretty cool.

by mark w on Apr 15, 2007 7:40 PM EDT up reply actions