Doc Wins His 10th of the Season

by Tom Dakers on Jun 7, 2009 4:22 PM EDT in Game Recaps Comment 43 comments

Roy Halladay threw his first shut out of the season and was just terrific, just 97 pitches, gave up 7 hits, no walks and 6 strikeouts. He is the first pitcher in the majors to get to 10 wins this year. Couldn't ask for better. There was really only twice in the game when it looked like KC might score: he gave up two singles to open the fourth but a nice 5-4-3 double play and a ground out ended that quick and in the 7th the Royals loaded the bases with one out but strikeout and a ground out ended that. Doc had 16 ground outs to 5 fly outs. Constantly amazing, he still hasn't thrown less than 7 innings in a start this year and is on pace to throw 274 innings this season. He is just a wow every time out.

Offensively Aaron Hill broke out of his 0 for 25 streak with a 2 run homer and Lyle Overbay was 2 for 3 with a massive solo homer to center. Not that it will matter to the folks that think it's funny to call him Lyle Overpaid but he is batting .302 and has been just terrific all season. But like I said that won't matter to hose that don't like him. Alex Rios was also 2 for 4 and hti the ball 3 of 4 times up and Vernon Wells was 1 for 3 with a sac fly. Everyone in the lineup had at least one except Rod Barajas and Joe Inglett.

Kind of worrisome is that ~~Scoot~~ Scott Rolen sat the game out with a 'stiff back'. I think most of us had him penciled in for 120 games this season but he's been pretty healthy so far. I think Cito is smart to sit him out on day games after night games. No sense in having him play everyday. I don't mind Bautista playing making a couple of starts a week, more than that I think he is a little over exposed but he isn't a bad player.

Jays of the Day are Doc (well duh, .334 WPA), Hill (.135) and Overbay (.097). Alex Rios gets an honorable mention. No Suckage Jays, Lind had the low number (-.057).

The Jays start a 4 game set with the Rangers in Texas tomorrow with Casey Janssen going tomorrow against Scott Feldman (5-0, 3.79). Hopefully the good start from Doc will be contiagous.

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I never called Lyle overapid (at least I don't remember)

But I was one who grumbled about his ability to hit with runners in scoring position. It looks like he is hitting like 2006 Lyle and not 2007/8 Lyle (yay.)

As for Tejas. The place formerly known as the Ballpark at Arlington is a place full of bad memories (last was the 2008 BJ/BP meltdown.)

In honor of the Jays 2nd Baseman who played with fire in more ways than one.

by Damaso's Burnt Shirt on Jun 7, 2009 4:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Scoot Rolen!

I believe in Karma. That means I can do bad things to people all day long and I assume they deserve it. - Dogbert

by JohnnyG on Jun 7, 2009 4:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

oh my god...

can you imagine the man-crushes.

Prehistoric Hoops - a neat little Raps blog

by boo15749 on Jun 7, 2009 7:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

2 of 3 in 2 of 3

this is a nice recovery from 9 straight losses!

Go JAYS!

by aagoodfella on Jun 7, 2009 4:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

the doc rocks

Halladay has been the only reason to watch the Jays’ the past five seasons. Granted it was the weak hitting Royals but half way to 20 looks good. And it was pretty hard for Captain Cito to screw up todays win. Texas, I fear, will be a different story.

by purplebutz on Jun 7, 2009 5:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

How long can 'Doc' keep this up?

Last win was 133 pitches, and today, yet another 9 innings but 97 pitches (which is actually not so bad at all). By Doc’s track record, he ‘should’ able to keep this up for the rest of the year. And consider our bullpen hasn’t done what they were able to do earlier this year, it is nice to see doc get 10th win. However, I am still concern if they should let doc pitch fewer complete games, if I remember correctly, didn’t Cito said in the beginning of the year that doc is gonna pitch less complete games? I understand every win counts in our tight division, but a game like today (against KC), should Cito let doc rest after 7th or 8th?

by Outz on Jun 7, 2009 7:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

His pitch count wasn't high today ....

and was only his second complete game. If he keeps up what he’s done so far this season he would end up with 274 inning, which is a ton these days. I doubt he’ll end up that high, he can’t go 7 + in every game of the year? But I think I bet Hugo that he’d be above 250 on the season. I think Cito will watch the number of games he pitches over 100 pitches the rest of the way.

by Tom Dakers on Jun 7, 2009 8:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Actually it was his 3rd complete game of the year, but his 2nd in a row. And if he keeps pitching like he can and has been, no reason why he can’t pitch at least 7 innings the whole year. I do agree though that there’s no way he’s going to be going 133 pitches much, if at all. On the other side, I was surprised that KC kept Davies in for the whole game since his pitch count was getting up there (finished with 124 pitches I think) in the 7th inning.

by Icedragon on Jun 7, 2009 10:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I might agree if Roy was a AJ Burnett type Strike Out Pitcher

But he’s not.

Why so serious?

Pitches to contact. Only throws his killer curve a few times a game.

He had a shoulder problem in 2004 after Carlos Tosca rode him hard and Roy was trying to strike a lot of guys out with his curve. This probably led Roy to go with pitching to contact.

It’s not just innings pitched, but it’s also pitcher per batter.

In honor of the Jays 2nd Baseman who played with fire in more ways than one.

by Damaso's Burnt Shirt on Jun 7, 2009 9:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I just remember a certain game against Baltimore. I don’t need the bullpen screwing up more wins for Halladay.

by BigTimeBlueJayFan on Jun 8, 2009 1:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Merely 97 pitches for a complete game shut-out?

Very impressive.
Is this a record?

by PFHLai on Jun 7, 2009 10:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Not likely. I have no idea what the record is, but I’m sure there has been better. 97 pitches is very efficient, but its not unheard of. If I were to guess (and this is obviously just a complete guess because I really have no clue), I would figure 75-80 pitches would be closer to a record.

by Icedragon on Jun 7, 2009 10:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

58 pitches

Red Barnett for the Boston Braves in 1944. No Ks. No BBs. 2 hits.

In honor of the Jays 2nd Baseman who played with fire in more ways than one.

by Damaso's Burnt Shirt on Jun 7, 2009 10:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I remember reading once

about Greg Maddux throwing an 83 pitch complete game some years back. That’s off the top of my head, though, so I can’t give additional information

by SuckaMD on Jun 7, 2009 10:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

A quick search on baseball-reference

reveals over 1,000 instances of a player throwing a CG with <100 (though many of them were shortened games). A sampling of recent 9 inning CGs include: Jon Lieber in 2001 with 78, Greg Maddux in 1997 with 76 pitches, Carlos Silva in 2005 with 74, and Aaron Cook with 79 in 2008 and 74 in 2007.

by SuckaMD on Jun 7, 2009 10:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

still, a great accomplishment

by Doc

to me, he is the frontrunner for Cy Young

by aagoodfella on Jun 7, 2009 11:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Definitely

he should have been the Cy frontrunner last year, but it wasn’t to be. So far this year, Doc has been nothing if not better than last season. Maybe he is pissed at being snubbed last season and wants to stick this year’s Cy up the BBWAA’s Cliff-Lee-loving asses.

by SuckaMD on Jun 7, 2009 11:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I can't believe no one remembers

several years ago, Doc threw a CG SO – in TEN INNINGS – and only threw 99 pitches. i wasn’t very old though i had followed baseball my whole life – and that’s the moment i remember thinking “i’m going to remember when he did this forever”

Prehistoric Hoops - a neat little Raps blog

by boo15749 on Jun 8, 2009 12:43 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

thank you chesapeke ron

excellent points

by norm depalma on Jun 7, 2009 11:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Jays hold the 2nd best home record in MLB

… in case that snuck up on ya

21-10 for a 677 win rate, second only to the Dodgers at 22-7

by aagoodfella on Jun 7, 2009 11:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Im concerned about Texas

This is not the same Texas team we took 2 out of 3 from earlier in the season… they have power (as well) and now their pitching is beginning to gel together. The only thing going for us is that Josh Hamilton is on the DL

by Aquamelli on Jun 7, 2009 11:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

u and me both

Tallet i figure (hope) will be ok

Janssen might be ok or not, depending on his outing, I do not see him specifically vulnerable to the long ball

but Romero and Richmond, those guys have a tendency to leave ’em hanging up there and it could be a launching pad for those two …. better get hayhurst ready for lots of action next week —

and I am not sure if it is a matchup particularly suited for Carlson either … who sometimes has a tendency to get tagged

but who knows, i figured the Rangers to be bombing out of the Bronx, the highest home run park in baseball, and Texas really did not do much … let’s hope the Jays can continue that trend

by aagoodfella on Jun 8, 2009 12:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would just like to point out that the recap says we beat the rays 4-0

by Huey2k2 on Jun 8, 2009 12:56 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Cito is a terrible in-game manager, and that should be quite obvious to anybody who watches this team with any regularity. He has possibly cost this team quite a few games with his choices so far this season.

by Brad Fullmer Fan on Jun 8, 2009 1:02 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Cito is .599 since his return

by aagoodfella on Jun 8, 2009 1:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

actually ...

a friend of a friend who knows Brad Fullmer says that Fullmer often reminisces that one of his great MLB career regrets is never having the opportunity to play for a Cito-managed club and that Fullmer holds, in great disdain, all those who do not give Cito his rightful props.

;-)

by aagoodfella on Jun 8, 2009 1:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

One of those things we say but can't prove

is that he costs the team wins with in game moves. None of us can see alternate futures. It’s possible that even with all the ‘right moves’ a game would still be lost and I’m sure you all remember times with wrong moves where we’ve won. As Torgen pointed out, AL pinch hitters were hitting .179 earlier this season, worse than Johnny Mac normally hits, so using pinch hitters looks to be a bad move. He’s had a slow hook a couple of times, but likely didn’t cost us those games, they were likely already lost.

I’ve said a number of times, but I think it’s true, the things Cito does well are hidden but that doesn’t mean they aren’t important.

by Tom Dakers on Jun 8, 2009 8:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also...

Josh Towers threw a couple of complete games in 2005 with below 100 pitches. It’s an impressive achievement, but it’s nothing that unusual.

by Brad Fullmer Fan on Jun 8, 2009 1:06 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Very impressive considering it was Josh Towers.

by BigTimeBlueJayFan on Jun 8, 2009 1:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We have to hope that Doc's masterful effort is contagious

Wonderful performance as usual, too bad we let two more Doc wins slip away. Let’s hope for the best for the next series.

by Marco1978 on Jun 8, 2009 6:09 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

To Chesapeake Ron

You are right, unfortunately for Cito and the club. There’s no doubt: Doc should finish these games and yes, at least 3 or 4 wins are missing from the team’s numbers. Given the individual stats, I also feel that one or more lineup switches (as far as batting order) are legitimate at this point, if not needed and even inevitable.

by Marco1978 on Jun 8, 2009 6:16 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It's true, Doc pitched a 10-inning complete game and not too long ago

Thanks to www.baseball-reference.com, I found it but it was so recent, I had to recall it!

April 13, 2007, a 2-1 win at Skydome over Detroit. He improved to 2-0 and finished 16-7 that year, getting an average of 5,59 runs in support.

On four days of rest, on that day he allowed six hits and one run, walking none and fanning two.

That only run allowed came on a long ball. He also gave up two doubles but lowered his season ERA at that point to 2.35, facing a total of 35 batters and getting 15 groundouts plus a DP ball.

He threw 70 of 107 pitches for strikes, the ratio between looking and swinging strikes was 17 to 2.

Luckily we won that game in the bottom of the 10th, it would have been a huge shame!!!!

by Marco1978 on Jun 8, 2009 6:46 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I remember watching the game and being absolutely dumbfounded that he came out in the 10th, Although I didn’t remember the pitchcount actually being so low.

I believe in Karma. That means I can do bad things to people all day long and I assume they deserve it. - Dogbert

by JohnnyG on Jun 8, 2009 8:07 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Let's try to give the blog an idea for a shuffled lineup

What about Scoot leading off, Hill in the 2 spot and Lind in the 3 spot (or viceversa) with Lyle Overbay as cleanup, Wells in the fifth spot, Rios in the sixth (but depending on the form, why not Rios as number 5 and Wells as number 6?). The last three spots of the lineup, no change but I can’t wait for Scott Rolen to be fine. His presence would surely call for a bigger shuffle. And we would have even more hitting skills to piece together…….

by Marco1978 on Jun 8, 2009 6:50 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

We can debate this until we are blue in the face (incidentally I disagree with Overbay batting cleanup).

But the whole thing is a mute point, Cito isn’t gonna mess with things unless people are getting a day off here and there.

I believe in Karma. That means I can do bad things to people all day long and I assume they deserve it. - Dogbert

by JohnnyG on Jun 8, 2009 8:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

More on Doc but also on Vernon Wells and a category we lead the AL in!!!

Doc leads the major leagues in wins, ranks second in complete games with three and sixth in strikeouts with 88. His 2.52 ERA is just a bit higher than his career-best 2.41 ERA in 2005. This May, he went 4-0 with a 1.76 ERA. So far in June, he’s 2-0 with a 2.00 ERA. Unfortunately on the other hand, Vernon Wells has just two hits in his last 21 plate appearances with just four RBI. Aaron Hill is finally, hopefully for good, out of that awful 0-for-25 slump. The good news is: we lead the AL for number of players with at least 25 RBI. We have 7 guys over 25 RBI (Aaron Hill has 40, Adam Lind has 39, Lyle Overbay has 31, Rod Barajas has 29, Vernon Wells has 28, Alex Rios has 27, Marco Scutaro 26).

by Marco1978 on Jun 8, 2009 7:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Want to thank Norm and Marco

for the only support I have gotten on this site thus far. Maybe it’s where I came from, but if you are not the best, than it isn’t good, despite that fact that the ride was fun and entertaining the whole time.

By the way Marco, Overbay should be in the 2 spot because of his OBP, Hill 3rd, Lind 4th. Wells should be hitting 9th at this point. I’m not slamming him, but with good speed and lowest batting average of starters, that’s 9th my friend.

by Chesapeake Ron on Jun 8, 2009 10:11 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

you often make good points on the site

I appreciate your contributions. I think you would find more people would express their appreciation for your contributions if you showed more respect for other people’s opinions. For example, by not mischaracterizing them the way you did when you said people on the site thought third place was good enough. That’s just an example, though not the only one I could come up with.

Someone once said you can judge how intellectually honest someone is by the way they characterize the arguments of those with whom they disagree, and you haven’t always passed that test in your arguments here.

"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 Jun 8, 2009 4:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hugo

Appreciate you reaching out, so let me clarify. I have been disciplined in my postings as to not try to show anyone up or boast. The only one I disagree with is the manager of the team, as my postings have made clear.

It just seems that too many folks have decided that since they can’t spend with Boston and NY(which is reasonable), that it is alright to finish with 87 wins and not make the playoffs. I’m not quoting anyone, but several have made these overtures. My point is that unless you make the playoffs, it is not a good season. I’m trying to permanently raise expectations for everyone here, you included. Let’s not settle for alright. This team is a playoff team! We need more aggressive managing.

by Chesapeake Ron on Jun 8, 2009 7:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

While I often don't like the way you put your arguments

I am of a mind that disagreement is critical in ANY endeavour. So your contributions are always valuable, if not accepted by the majority. It gets us thinking to defend our position to you, which is good.

Being said, I’m with you that we should never be “happy” with doing OK. We should be asking for the playoffs every year. When we don’t make it, we need to look at fixing our problems.

Again, with that being said – the way this season was supposed to play out had many people expecting a last place or 4th place finish. In this division, whoever is in 3rd is a good team – that’s just the way this division is structured – so we’re content knowing we aren’t out of the race by a long shot and know that one or two breaks is the difference between 1st and 3rd right now. 2.5 games back isn’t much to fuss over – a single series sweep against the Yanks or Red Sox makes up that difference and even playing them 2/3 for the rest of the season corrects that.

I don't want to play golf. When I hit a ball, I want someone else to go chase it. ~Rogers Hornsby

by wroth91 on Jun 8, 2009 7:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks

I can’t speak for anyone else, but I certainly don’t need you or anyone to “raise my expectations.” Of course the goal is to make it to the playoffs. I’m not suggesting that merely getting close to the playoffs should be considered a successful season, so sorry if you took it that way for some reason.

What I’m saying is that if the Jays are within striking distance as the season goes on, they have more than enough games with Boston, New York, and Tampa to win it, so I think the goal as the season is progressing is to play great baseball and to be in contention. Of course the ultimate goal is to make the playoffs and nothing less.

"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 Jun 9, 2009 12:02 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would agree with you, Chesapeake Ron

Lyle in the 2 spot, Aaron in the 3 spot and Adam Lind as cleanup. Very interesting, I wish we could see it! As far as Vernon in the 9 spot….wouldn’t we be a bit weak from 5 to 8 if Scott Rolen isn’t in the lineup? Maybe Alex Rios can bat in the number 5 spot if Scott Rolen isn’t in the lineup but I feel the best idea would be Rolen 5th, Wells 6th and Rios in the 7 spot. I would be happy to read everybody’s opinion on possible lineup shuffles :)

Best wishes to everybody.

by Marco1978 on Jun 8, 2009 12:53 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Marco

In my dream lineup I posted a couple of weeks ago, Rolen is definitely in there. I like him #5, and Barajas could be #6. Rios and Wells somewhere in the bottom 3 unless they get going, then move them up. The people I coached with never had a problem changing the lineup often, with the exception of the top 3. But if someone is under performing, a change must be made at some point.

by Chesapeake Ron on Jun 8, 2009 7:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I do agree about Scott Rolen hitting 5th but.....

since Adam Lind is hitting 5th, I could envision Scott Rolen hitting 3rd with Alex Rios 7th and Lyle Overbay 6th (or viceversa, with Rios 6th)…..what do you all think? Glad to see that Adam Lind’s 11 long balls do tie his career high set in 2007! I think Rod Barajas is fine in the number 8 spot but I do see (luckily) plenty of inter-changeable skills between the 3 and 7 spot. I mean, if you want to keep Aaron Hill in the 2 spot and that’s great for me although I feel he would do fine in the 3 spot as well. Best wishes to everybody!

by Marco1978 on Jun 9, 2009 5:18 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs