The Blue Jays Thread: 2008 Season

[CaramonLS]

We need a bat. Right now.

[CrispyGriz]

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

Damn, the pitching staff is tight.

Ithis tea was only an average team offensively, which shouldn't be out of the question, they would be dam near unstoppable. They might have the best pitching in baseball. 5 starters deep all pitching well, 2 top notch closers and 3 or 4 other good relief guys.

With Wells, Rios, Stairs, Stewart, Eckstien, Hill and Rolen, this team should be able to produce some run support. Where is it? I want playoffs i actually care about this year. The pitching is good enough to get there if the rest of the team can remove the sand from their vagina's and hit a baseball on occasion.

[habernac]

the fewest runs allowed in baseball right now. Halladay and co. have the right to be choked that the bats aren't scoring more runs for them.

[Sylvanfan]

The two guys in the starting rotation with the worst ERA's have the best win-loss records in terms of % for Litsch and Burnett....go figure. Good to see McGowan continuing where he finished last year. Dude has great stuff and needs to have confidence in that because I see no reason why he couldn't be as good or better than Burnett and be closer to Halladay. I think he's a key guy for that Jays starting rotation. If him and Marcum continue to pitch like they did in the second half of last year and the beginning of this year the Jays do have 4 very good starting pitchers.

[Machiavelli]

Well, 3-0 now thanks to a terrible inning.

If the anemic offense overcomes this, I'll eat my hat

[zukes]

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

Well, 3-0 now thanks to a terrible inning.

If the anemic offense overcomes this, I'll eat my hat

almost, but nope. Marcum is dealing so far tonight. 4 straight K's, last guy in the 1st and 3 straight in the 2nd. Come on offense!

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

Marcum is pitching solid so far this game.

This game might be a real turning point in his career, so far:

4.0 IP - 8Ks, 1 Hit, 1 BB.

He has never in his career mixed his curveball into his regular pitch rotation. Now he is throwing it once per AB this game, in good counts - and the results are amazing.

He is completely obliterating hitters.

I'm just going to pat myself on the back for calling this. Exceptional game to follow up. He is mixing in that curve (I haven't watched the entire game, only bits), But I like what I see.

8.0 IP - 1 hit, 1 BB - 9Ks.

[Machiavelli]

So, kind of an offensive breakthrough tonight.

[Saint Troy]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

I'm just going to pat myself on the back for calling this. Exceptional game to follow up. He is mixing in that curve (I haven't watched the entire game, only bits), But I like what I see.

8.0 IP - 1 hit, 1 BB - 9Ks.

He's like a baby Maddux, when his control is on he is damn tough to hit. Man Scott Rolen makes third base look easy, exceptional fielder.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by Saint Troy

He's like a baby Maddux, when his control is on he is damn tough to hit. Man Scott Rolen makes third base look easy, exceptional fielder.

It is kind of unfair to comp him to Maddux, especially at this stage in his career, but if you judge someone by their best performances - Marcum is the guy you want. He has probably taken more 1 hitters or 2 hitters into the 4th/5th innings more than any other member of the Jays staff, but he has shown exceptional ability to keep hitters at bay for stretches - something which is rare among pitchers. No other pitcher save Burnett/Halladay really have that ability and none have done it with the frequency that Marcum has.

The thing is, he doesn't rely on "stuff" - his only 'plus' pitch is his changeup (which is exceptional, one of the best in the AL right now).

I'm not sure if there are any pitchers in Recent memory who are decent comps to Marcum. Maddux had an amazing 2-seamer and tons of movement on his pitches. While he didn't throw hard, they danced around the zone with exceptional command. Maddux worked off his fastball.

He is a softer tossing righty with above average control/command. But the "cerebral" aspect of the game, that is something you can compare him with Maddux on. He knows how to pitch and is really wrecking the hitters with pitch selection.

[ricoFlame]

wow...marcum...just wow. great outing.

[habernac]

is anyone else mad they sent him out with such a long layoff after the 8th inning offensive burst by the Jays? Seemed stupid to ruin a good outing like that.

Rolen was fantastic. The bat was working and his fielding was superb.

[Saint Troy]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

It is kind of unfair to comp him to Maddux, especially at this stage in his career, but if you judge someone by their best performances - Marcum is the guy you want. He has probably taken more 1 hitters or 2 hitters into the 4th/5th innings more than any other member of the Jays staff, but he has shown exceptional ability to keep hitters at bay for stretches - something which is rare among pitchers. No other pitcher save Burnett/Halladay really have that ability and none have done it with the frequency that Marcum has.

The thing is, he doesn't rely on "stuff" - his only 'plus' pitch is his changeup (which is exceptional, one of the best in the AL right now).

I'm not sure if there are any pitchers in Recent memory who are decent comps to Marcum. Maddux had an amazing 2-seamer and tons of movement on his pitches. While he didn't throw hard, they danced around the zone with exceptional command. Maddux worked off his fastball.

He is a softer tossing righty with above average control/command. But the "cerebral" aspect of the game, that is something you can compare him with Maddux on. He knows how to pitch and is really wrecking the hitters with pitch selection.

Well I referring to style wise, of course a guy in his first full year of starting isn't going to be Greg Maddux, hall of famer, duh.

[CaramonLS]

Originally Posted by habernac

is anyone else mad they sent him out with such a long layoff after the 8th inning offensive burst by the Jays? Seemed stupid to ruin a good outing like that.

Rolen was fantastic. The bat was working and his fielding was superb.

Yeah, that layoff was extremely long. Felt like at least 20 minutes - anything extended, you should pull him.

Really tough to send a guy out there, especially after you told him he was done (handshakes, it was pretty apparent he was getting pulled). Mentally, you aren't ready to go back out there.

[Sylvanfan]

Yeah, Marcum doesn't have the greatest stuff, but he does have good command of his pitches and he flat out knows how to pitch. Moreso than any other Jays pitcher he can go out there when he doesn't have his best stuff and figure out how to battle through 5 innings. If a guy like AJ Burnett has Marcums ability to think on the mound he'd be a Cy Young calibre pitcher.

[zukes]

I have mixed emotions. As a former pitcher, I know that if I have a shut-out going I would want back out there. I understand the decision to go to a closer who is just getting back in form, but when it was 6-0, I would have wanted back out there as well. The lay-off was tough for sure, but when you are up by 6, it's a luxury you can afford. Hell of a game by Marcum, hopefully Litsch keeps the line moving tonight and the finally beat the Rays in a series. It's been a while. Plus a win tonight and the Jays are tied for 2nd in the AL East.

[JayP]

It probably had a lot to do with the fact that Marcum has never pitched a complete game before.

[habernac]

wow, a bottom of the ninth comeback! They've tagged Percival for the first 3 runs he's given up this season. A monster homer by Wells to make it 3-2. Inglett scores on an Aaron Hill single to tie the game. Inglett pinch ran for Overbay, who hit a nice double, and looked like Donovan Bailey on the base paths.

[habernac]

come on guys, don't screw this up. The Rays intentionally walking Rolen with Rios on third and one out.

[JayP]

Man, Shannon Stewart is terrible. How do you watch a mistake fastball right down the heart of the plate for strike 3?