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Jesse is a Friend and He's Always Been a Good Friend of Mine: Game 32, Pale Hose at Jays

Chicago White Sox @ Toronto Blue Jays




Don't look now, but our azure-coloured heroes have won 3 in a row and are looking to inch closer to .500 today against the White Sox. The Jays took yesterday's game behind an extremely strong performance by Jesse Litsch, a good day at the plate by Vernon Wells, and Marco Scutaro's first homerun of the season. Litsch was wonderful, yielding only 5 hits over 7 1/3 innings, striking out 3 while walking no one, and surrendering just 2 runs, both on solo shots.

After Litsch, who is now 4-1, left the game, Downs and Ryan kept things close, finishing out the game with 3 Ks, no walks, and just one single off Ryan. It's good to see Downs pitching effectively, and Ryan still has yet to yield a run.

Today, Doc Halladay faces off against Jose Contreras. Halladay has tossed 4 consecutive complete games but, due to horrid run support (8 runs over those 4 games), has lost the last 3 of them. The Jays really need to score some runs in support of Doc today.

I did end up going to the Nats game yesterday afternoon (hence my not being around), and it was pretty great - beautiful warm weather and an exciting game. There was a sizable contingent of Jays fans in my section, visiting DC from Canada, so that was fun. The only thing was that the game dragged a bit with all the offense. Let's go Jays!

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This one's on WGN

but I’ll stick with Jamie and Rance, because I can’t stand The Hawk.

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 1:10 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Swisher strikes out

AT&T finally upgraded their network so I can get 2.5Mbps DSL, but the 1.2Mbps stream is choppy. I miss the old Windows Media based mlb.tv. The new Silverlight client is terrible.

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 1:13 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

that sucks

"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 May 4, 2008 1:28 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Cabrera strikes out too

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 1:14 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Doc strikes out the side

Now about that run support.

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 1:15 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Jays go 1-2-3

with a strikeout, a groundout, and a fly ball.

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 1:22 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Two grounders with a strikeout between for Doc

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 1:28 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Shaun McGowan?

Nice one, Rance.

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 1:28 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

perhaps he's a Pogues fan?

that would bring it a bit closer

"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 May 4, 2008 1:28 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Doc looks pretty vicious thusfar

"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 May 4, 2008 1:28 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Stairs with the leadoff double

breaking up the no-hitter.

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 1:31 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

RISP time!

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 1:31 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

0 for 1

Wells moves Stairs up to third.

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 1:33 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Lyle with the sac fly

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 1:36 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Now Hill with the 2 out double

so it’s still RISP time!

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 1:37 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

0 for 2

Lind grounds to first.

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 1:39 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

One pitch, one out from Quentin

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 1:41 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

well

we’re ahead of Doc’s last start

"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 May 4, 2008 1:41 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Crede sees a few more pitches

but ultimately grounds out to x.

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 1:44 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

another good inning for Doc

hope we can put some more pressure on Contreras

"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 May 4, 2008 1:44 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Ozuna out on a chopper to Rolen

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 1:44 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Zaun with the leadoff single

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 1:48 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

A bit off topic but...

I was at the game yesterday and I got to wondering how the roof impacts the park factor of the Dome. It seems to me that it probably plays fairly neutral (~100 park factor) in both cases, but a bit more favourable to pitchers with the dome open.

Anyone care to shed some light on the issue?

by SuckaMD on May 4, 2008 1:48 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

With it open, the overhanging part causes downdrafts

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 1:49 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Are downdrafts better for pitchers or hitters (I would think pitchers). Does anyone know what the park factor ratings are?

by SuckaMD on May 4, 2008 1:50 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

They would knock down fly balls

which would help the pitcher.

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 1:54 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

as for the park factors

it’s interesting. I think at RC there has been a ton of variation. Historically, it had been a hitter-friendly park, but last season it played heavily pitcher-friendly, so there has been a fair amount of variation over the years.

"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 May 4, 2008 1:59 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I've also always wondered

How (if at all) do park factor ratings account for variabilities in home-team ability. E.g. if the home team is good-pitching but poor hitting (like the ‘07 Jays), that would tend to depress the number of runs scored in the park that season. How is this accounted for?

As another example, I was discussing Orel Hershiser’s 1988 season (59 consecutive scoreless innings) and my friend mentioned that he might have been aided by pitching in Dodger Stadium. The one-year park factor mentioned on baseball-reference shows Dodger Stadium (by conventional wisdom known as a pitcher’s haven) shows that it actually played as a hitter’s park that year. Could this be acounted for by the fact that the home team was a good deal above average in terms of offensive production that year?

by SuckaMD on May 4, 2008 2:41 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

that's an interesting question

I’m not sure if the park factor is determined just by comparing production in a park to the mean (which would, as you say, be skewed by home team pitching and batting performance), or whether it is determined by comparing the home team’s hitting and pitching in other parks to the home park (which presumably wouldn’t).

"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 May 4, 2008 2:46 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Rios doubles, Zaun to third

RISP time!

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 1:49 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

0 for 3 with the x groundout

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 1:51 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

0 for 4 on the Rolen lineout

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 1:51 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

1 for 5 with the 2 run double

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 1:54 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

2 for 7 on the Overbay strikeout

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 1:58 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Jays are hitting Contreras pretty hard

"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 May 4, 2008 2:00 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

that's true

Eckstein definitely didn’t hit it well and the Jays were fortunate on that call

"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 May 4, 2008 2:16 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Swisher breaks up the no-no with the ground rule double

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 2:02 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Funny that it's called a ground rule double

when it’s in effect in all ballparks.

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 2:02 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

x with the throwing error

pulling Overbay off the bag

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 2:03 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

It's Sunday and a Doc start and Johnny Mac isn't playing

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 2:05 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Why with Litsch?

I thought he was more of a flyball pitcher than most of the other starters?

by SuckaMD on May 4, 2008 2:14 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Last year he was a GB pitcher

I think this year his splits are more even, and his K rate is up.

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 2:15 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Litsch hasn't gotten as many grounders earlier this season

b/c his sinker hasn’t been working effectively. Now that it seems to be working well again, I’d expect more grounders, like last season.

"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 May 4, 2008 2:17 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Thome singles to center

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 2:06 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Nope. Scrappy at SS, Scooter at 3B

by SuckaMD on May 4, 2008 2:07 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Konerko with the double over Rolen's head

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 2:08 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Does the Band count?

I also like Kathleen Edwards and Metric quite a bit. Lately I’ve been listening to plenty of the Constantines as well.

"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 May 4, 2008 2:21 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Dye strikes out

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 2:11 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

RBI grounders for Pierzynski

That’s the 2ER… any more and the streak is broken.

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 2:12 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Doc plunks Quentin

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 2:14 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Crede flies to center to strand 2

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 2:15 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Ozuna strikes out on 3 pitches

I think that’s his 8th pitch in 2 games.

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 2:23 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

That was a little too close for comfort

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 2:24 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Doc's at 75 pitches

I don’t think he’s going to make it to complete game #5. Of course if he has innings like that one the rest of the way then he could.

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 2:26 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

3 grounders to the right side

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 2:37 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Going to miss the end of the game...Taking my boys to see Iron Man

Why they’d want to see a movie about a guy taking the wrinkles out of his shirts, I don’t know.

by Tom Dakers on May 4, 2008 2:46 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Love those first pitch outs.

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 2:47 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

except when they happen to us

"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 May 4, 2008 2:47 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

The crowd cheers for pizza

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 2:48 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Lind looked a bit awkward on that

but at least he made the catch

"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 May 4, 2008 2:53 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

After Crede's 10 pitch AB, Doc is at 98

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 2:53 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

what was Lind swinging at?

"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 May 4, 2008 2:57 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Fooled badly on some breaking balls

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 2:59 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I can understand the last one, but he was way too aggressive 0-1

"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 May 4, 2008 3:02 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

that's the kind of at-bat

that gets you benched/sent down

"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 May 4, 2008 3:02 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Cy Carlson warming

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 3:00 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

And after Ozuna grounds out, Gibby pulls Doc at 101 pitches.

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 3:02 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I guess

if Carlson can finish this inning, we’ll have Accardo to close

"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 May 4, 2008 3:03 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

If Carlson gets Cabrera, Thome will be leading off the 9th

so maybe Carlson will face him too.

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 3:06 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Carlson strikes out Swisher

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 3:05 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Cabrera singles off Rolen's glove

so Carlson will get his chance against Thome right now.

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 3:07 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Er, doubles.

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 3:07 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Cy

with the K of Thome on three straight

"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 May 4, 2008 3:08 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Strikes out Thome

That’s a good .2IP from Carlson

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 3:08 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

it would be nice

to get another run or two, but the way we’ve hit over the past few innings, it doesn’t seem too likely

"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 May 4, 2008 3:09 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

yep

three routine groundouts sounds about right

"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 May 4, 2008 3:14 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Nope, we go 1-2-3 again

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 3:14 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

1 pitch, 1 out for Accardo

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 3:17 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Dye flies to center for the second out

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 3:18 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

And Gibby out to ask Downs for the 1 out save.

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 3:18 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

with Frasor waiting in the wings

should AJ get on.

"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 May 4, 2008 3:19 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Do we feel nervous about it being Frasor?

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 3:20 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

with Camp as the only other righty option, I guess not...

"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 May 4, 2008 3:23 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Camp has been great so far

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 3:25 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

yes, he has

"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 May 4, 2008 3:27 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Downs does the job

got a little help from the ump on a 1-0 pitch

"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 May 4, 2008 3:21 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

The streak is at 8!

Tying the ‘91 Royals and the ‘88 Tigers (I think I said).

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 3:22 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

4 in a row

it should feel better than it does, but it still feels pretty good

"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 May 4, 2008 3:23 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Of course the Yankees and Red Sox are winning

so we might gain no ground from this win streak.

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 3:25 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

JotD

Doc (.276), Stairs (.193), Accardo (.130)

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 3:23 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Jays of the Day

Doc, Stairs, and I suppose Accardo, though really the pen should share one

"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 May 4, 2008 3:24 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Wasn't it pink bat day?

I don’t remember Jamie and Rance mentioning it, but it was a fast game.

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 3:29 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Oh wait, that's next week

Good thing I haven’t called my parents yet

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on May 4, 2008 3:30 PM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

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