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Sometimes you just get lucky. Anybody heading to the Rogers Centre tonight gets to see what might just be a gem of a game: Halladay vs Greinke. Greinke, as Magpie has pointed out to us, suffers from an affliction entirely out of his hands: too few runs in support, or the "He Just Doesn't Know How To Win" syndrome.

We here on the Batter's Box Roster would like to experiment with a post-game analysis and discussion article we'd like to call "Instant Replays." This is your first Instant Replay article, so feel free to define it however you like by posting your thoughtful reactions to tonight's game.

Keep in mind that this is not a game thread, and as such standards are as high for this thread as for any other on Batter's Box.

Greinke lived up to his advanced billing, throwing a real gem but getting no run support. From the other dugout, Halladay (on an extra day's rest) was the familiar Doc we know and love — that is, one of the best pitchers in baseball.

What goes on in Toronto often stays in Toronto, because MLB, as a sweeping generalization, can easily turn a blind eye to things that happen outside the American borders. (Or so my Canadian inferiority complex tells me.) Halladay is, just about unquestionably, among the top tier of pitchers — I think any fears I may have induced in the Batter's Box Blue Jays 2005 Season Preview have been pretty much allayed — but I don't get the sense that the league's eyes rest on him all that much. For that matter, how much attention did Hentgen and even Clemens get in their Cy years? Obviously enough — they did win the award, after all — but, just maybe, these great players don't get the same level of respect they'd get if they were on the Tigers, or even the Royals. One little border makes all the difference (or does it?)

Which brings us to Orlando Hudson, who made an absolutely unbelievable play tonight, ranging all the way to behind second base, planting, and throwing out the runner. Effortless, like rolling off a log — or so it'd seem — and undoubtedly belongs in highlight reels. O-Dog is making a major run for the Gold Glove, and I hope he doesn't miss it because of the Jays' geography.

Instant Replay: Game 34: THIS is a two dollar game? | 18 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
Magpie - Tuesday, May 10 2005 @ 10:06 PM EDT (#116290) #
I think Hudson will win this year - it's the managers and coaches who vote, right? - and they've seen enough of him by now. (Let's regard Boone last year as a Lifetime Achievement Award.)

Iguchi has been pretty good, but how often do first year guys win a Gold Glove? They need to build a reputation first.

Magpie - Tuesday, May 10 2005 @ 10:16 PM EDT (#116291) #
Elsewhere around the majors, teams are blowing leads late in the game. Oakland took a 2-1 lead to the 9th, but Kevin Millar hit a two-run walkoff HR to beat Dotel.

Houston was up 2-1 going to the 8th, but Carlos homered to tie it and kick off a five run rally.

And this one's still in progress... but Greg Maddux pitched 6.2 of 3-hit shutout, and struck out 10 Mets. Not bad for an old soft-tosser.

Rob - Tuesday, May 10 2005 @ 10:16 PM EDT (#116292) #
Halladay won the Cy Young mostly on his 22 wins. Clemens, 1997: Led the league in wins. Clemens, 1998: Led the league in wins. Hentgen, 1996: One behind the league leader.

If there's one thing writers' eyes will rest on, it's wins.

As far as the Gold Glove, Orlando Hudson's going to win, He built the rep last year, wins the hardware this year. I don't think Bret Boone can slide off a greasy log backwards! (I still have no idea what that means.)

By the way, I clicked on "Reply to this comment" above and was taken to the front page.
Pistol - Tuesday, May 10 2005 @ 10:19 PM EDT (#116293) #
Complete game on 97 pitches. Pretty efficient game for Halladay.

If Wells can win a gold glove Hudson certainly can. Often with the gold glove you win it a year or two after you should and then win it a year or two later than you should on reputation.
Thomas - Tuesday, May 10 2005 @ 10:25 PM EDT (#116294) #
I missed TWJP. Can anyone who heard it gives Box readers a summary of what JP said and if there was any interesting news or responses in the chat?
Magpie - Tuesday, May 10 2005 @ 10:27 PM EDT (#116295) #
Is it just me, or are the Blue Jays actually removing opposition baserunners this year? The other teams are running into outs. The White Sox did lots of it, not that it helped the Jays very much. The Royals do it. Maybe that's just the way they play in the AL Central... maybe this is another aspect of Better Team Defense.
Stellers Jay - Tuesday, May 10 2005 @ 10:30 PM EDT (#116297) #
Has there been any word on the pitching rotation for the upcoming week? The Jays have offdays bookending the Cleveland Series, are they skipping Halladay ahead, or is he going to pitch on extra rest again?

JP addressed this with his interview with Wilner tonight, but I really think they need to drop a pitcher for the next couple of weeks and carry an extra bat for a couple of reasons. Firstly, they have 3 off days in the next 13 days, so the bullpen will get lots of chance to rest. Secondly, although he has come through with timely hits the last 2 nights, they are carrying an offensive sink hole at catcher. Gibbons will need all the offensive options he can find so that Huckaby doesn't see the plate when the Jays are down by a run in the 8th or 9th inning.
Dr. Zarco - Tuesday, May 10 2005 @ 10:30 PM EDT (#116298) #
I don't think there's any doubt Hudson will win the Gold Glove. Since MLB.TV rarely carries the Jays broadcast, I hear every set of announcers rave about how good Hudson is with the glove, and much of it during the lineup announcing, not just the obvious time when he makes a good play. He's getting a lot of respect.

In other news around the majors, the White Sox are doing their best to lose, as they've walked 9 D'Rays and hit another, making 18 baserunners. Tied, Bot9. They led for the 32nd game in a row though!
Thomas - Tuesday, May 10 2005 @ 10:33 PM EDT (#116299) #
Well, today was an example of Angel Berroa's poor baserunning abilities. I have no idea what he was doing halfway to third on a relatively routine flyball to the outfield. There is simply no excuse for that, especially when his run doesn't matter and with zero outs in the inning.

If anyone is not familiar, about 10 days ago the Royals were home and tied in the bottom of the ninth. Berroa was on second with two outs and promptly made the third out of the inning by trying to steal third. You don't need a doctorate to understand how the potential benefit of scoring on a wild pitch or infield single (or really shallow outfield single) is outweighed by the risks of attempting to steal in that situation.
Magpie - Tuesday, May 10 2005 @ 10:34 PM EDT (#116300) #
Re the upcoming rotation - they did some juggling already, and at the moment this is the plan (we posted this about a week ago):

Wed  4 May at Blt - Halladay
Thu  5 May - OFF
Fri  6 May vs Chi - Bush
Sat  7 May vs Chi - Lilly
Sun  8 May vs Chi - Chacin
Mon  9 May vs KC  - Halladay (4 days off)
Tue 10 May vs KC  - Towers (6 days off)
Wed 11 May vs KC  - Bush (4 days off)
Thu 12 May - OFF
Fri 13 May at Cle - Lilly (5 days off)
Sat 14 May at Cle - Halladay (4 days off)
Sun 15 May at Cle - Chacin (6 days off)
Mon 16 May - OFF
Tue 17 May at Min - Towers (6 days off)
Wed 18 May at Min - Bush (6 days off)
Thu 19 May at Min - Halladay (4 days off)
Fri 20 May vs Wsh - Lilly (6 days off)
Sat 21 May vs Wsh - Chacin (5 days off)
Although Gibbons is apparently starting to rethink this a bit...
Magpie - Tuesday, May 10 2005 @ 10:35 PM EDT (#116301) #
As you can see. He already reversed Towers and Doc for these two KC games.
Joe - Tuesday, May 10 2005 @ 10:39 PM EDT (#116302) #
By the way, I clicked on "Reply to this comment" above and was taken to the front page.

Yeah, Geeklog is sadly not bug-free. :( I've worked around it for this page.

Stellers Jay - Tuesday, May 10 2005 @ 10:42 PM EDT (#116303) #
Fordin's notes from today say that Doc will pitch the last game of the Cleveland series on normal rest. Towers will open the next series on 7 days rest.
Magpie - Tuesday, May 10 2005 @ 10:45 PM EDT (#116304) #
So presumably, as far as I can tell, this is the new plan. Ricciardi did say something on the radio that Doc had pitched a few tough games, it wouldn't hurt to get him an extra day of rest. The old idea was to keep Doc going on 4 days rest, and slot everything else around it:
Wed 11 May vs KC  - Bush (4 days off)
Thu 12 May - OFF
Fri 13 May at Cle - Lilly (5 days off)
Sat 14 May at Cle - Chacin (5 days off)
Sun 15 May at Cle - Halladay (4 days off)
Mon 16 May - OFF
Tue 17 May at Min - Towers (7 days off)
Wed 18 May at Min - Bush (6 days off)
Thu 19 May at Min - Lilly (5 days off)
Fri 20 May vs Wsh - Chacin (5 days off)
Sat 21 May vs Wsh - Halladay (5 days off)
Sun 22 May vs Wsh - Towers (4 days off)
Update - Jorge Cantu with a walkoff HR, Tampa beats the White Sox. Minnesota already came from behind to beat Baltimore.

So despite their hot start, the White Sox lead over the Twins is just 3.5 games.

Stellers Jay - Tuesday, May 10 2005 @ 10:51 PM EDT (#116305) #
Magpie, Fordin's notes quoted Gibbons as saying there were too many days off coming up in May and that the only thing he was going to do was keep Halladay on normal rest. So from that I wouldn't be surprised to see Doc and Chacin switch the opening game with Washington.
fozzy - Tuesday, May 10 2005 @ 10:55 PM EDT (#116306) #
hey, since we're talking gold gloves here, when is Doc going to get the honour in the pitcher's spot? He's been at the top or near the top of fielding categories every year for the past three years, and been making some real dandy plays this year. As far as I can remember, it's been almost exclusively Mussina and Rogers winning the awards, but perhaps I'm just overrating them more than they are worth for pitchers.
Grimlock - Tuesday, May 10 2005 @ 11:24 PM EDT (#116307) #
Halladay won the Cy Young mostly on his 22 wins. Clemens, 1997: Led the league in wins. Clemens, 1998: Led the league in wins. Hentgen, 1996: One behind the league leader. If there's one thing writers' eyes will rest on, it's wins.

While me Grimlock agrees with the overall conclusion, that wins are extremly important in CY voting, me Grimlock wouldn't say that the 2003 Cy was won MOSTLY on his 22 wins. He had an absolutely dominating September that probably stuck in a lot of voters minds. He probably didn't clinch it until Loaiza couldn't catch him, but his sizable edge in IP might have been enough anyways. That said, Pedro only having 14 wins likely disqualified him, despite an otherwise solid season.

Clemens 1997 and 1998 also led in ERA AND Ks. It would truly have to be a hard-luck year not to be among the league leader in wins, if not the league-leader, with that type of season.

HippyGilmore - Wednesday, May 11 2005 @ 01:19 AM EDT (#116314) #
Tony Pena has resigned as manager of the Royals. Bench Coach Bob Schaeffer will be running the show on an interim basis, starting with tomorrow's game at the Rogers Centre.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2057603
Instant Replay: Game 34: THIS is a two dollar game? | 18 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.