Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - Brandon Morrow Take a Bow

In case you are living under a rock, Brandon Morrow just finished a 1 hit, 2 walk, 1 error 17 strikeout complete game shut out. The single was a weak one that Aaron Hill had and lost, and came with 2 outs in the 9th. After a visit from Cito Morrow managed to strike out Dan Johnson to end the game, and then was assailed unmercifully with shaving cream pies.

It was also, according to Bill James Game Scores, the best start in Blue Jays history, narrowly edging out Roger Clemens. It also narrowly edged Roy Halladay's perfect game for game of the year using the same measure.

That is all.

Posted by Anders on Sunday, August 08 2010 @ 04:01 PM EDT.

Brandon Morrow Take a Bow | 43 comments | Create New Account

The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.

Jdog - Sunday, August 08 2010 @ 04:18 PM EDT (#220143) #

Incredible game, strong finish and great team to watch. No reason to think we can't compete next year.

jerjapan - Sunday, August 08 2010 @ 04:29 PM EDT (#220145) #

Wow. Shades of Dave Stieb there - I haven't seen a Jays pitcher that dominant since Stieb lost that perfect game against the Yanks with two down in the ninth. That sound you hear is Seattle fans crying.

Great to see Morrow rebound after the soft hit to get strike out number 17. I was a bit worried about the pitch count at that point, but can understand Cito letting him try and finish off the shutout - his delivery looked smooth and easy and he didn't seem to be labouring at all.

FranklyScarlet - Sunday, August 08 2010 @ 04:32 PM EDT (#220146) #

I didn't think it was a weak one, Anders. Hill was playing towards the middle and had to cover some ground.
Lots of chances to advance in the standing if we keep playing like this. :)

smcs - Sunday, August 08 2010 @ 04:41 PM EDT (#220148) #

Sonnanstine must hate pitching at the Rogers Center. In his first career start, his team lights up Halladay and then their bullpen implodes in the bottom of the 9th. Today, he throws a good game, allows just 1 run, but Morrow was an absolute tour de force. That was great to watch. Hard to decide which game I enjoyed the most out of this series, the best hitting display of any team this season, or one of the best (if not the best) pitching displays this season.

The best part of all this? Morrow is probably the 3rd or 4th best starter that the Jays have.

Chuck - Sunday, August 08 2010 @ 04:43 PM EDT (#220149) #

I didn't think it was a weak one, Anders.

Dewey - Sunday, August 08 2010 @ 04:44 PM EDT (#220150) #

I don't think anyone can get a no-hitter in the Skydome.

Well, Dave Stewart did it when he was with the A's.

Ryeguy - Sunday, August 08 2010 @ 04:49 PM EDT (#220151) #

The best part of all this? Morrow is probably the 3rd or 4th best starter that the Jays have

Maybe, but he has the best natural stuff. Its like having the cheap version AJ all over again

Spifficus - Sunday, August 08 2010 @ 04:51 PM EDT (#220152) #

This has been a fun weekend all the way around, with Arencibia's stunning debut, and now Morrow figuring out a way to top that with his beyond-brilliant outing. From the sounds of the crowd, these would have been awesome games to see at the dome... I think I'd end up broke if I actually lived in Toronto.

The Rays would have to have felt particularly snake-bit if Morrow had no-hit them as well.

Wells earned a hat-tip the hard way with that catch at the wall. Hopefully it doesn't cost him too much time.

Ducey - Sunday, August 08 2010 @ 04:57 PM EDT (#220153) #

The "cleanest" 17 strikeouts in Jays history

LouisvilleJayFan - Sunday, August 08 2010 @ 05:11 PM EDT (#220154) #

Gotta wonder how this game might have been different if Arencibia would've caught like so many on Twitter and Facebook were calling for before the start of the game. Way to go, Jose!

whiterasta80 - Sunday, August 08 2010 @ 05:24 PM EDT (#220155) #

Chuck, I'd agree that its a play that Hill makes more than he doesn't... except this season. His defense has been down as much as his offense has been this season.

I don't mean to say that we should expect the average second baseman to make that play, just that its a play that Aaron Hill would have made last year.

Fantastic weekend to be a Jays fan, makes you feel aweful optimistic about the future..

Matthew E - Sunday, August 08 2010 @ 05:28 PM EDT (#220156) #

T.O.: Morrow? He'll be perfect.

TamRa - Sunday, August 08 2010 @ 05:29 PM EDT (#220157) #

anyone else notice the Jays are 18-9 since their low point on July 6?

Mike Forbes - Sunday, August 08 2010 @ 05:31 PM EDT (#220158) #

Brandon Morrow may currently rank as the 3rd or 4th best pitcher on the current staff. However, as shown today, he has the potential to be one of the absolute best in baseball if he can find some more consistency with his control.

P.S. Best game I've ever seen by a pitcher! Congrats to Brandon!

mathesond - Sunday, August 08 2010 @ 05:48 PM EDT (#220159) #

I was at the game, and it ranks right up there with the best pitching performances I have seen. The others that come to mind - Juan Guzman's beating someone (Baltimore maybe?) 1-0 in his last start as a Jay (and the only other 1-0 game I have seen), the Halladay-Buehrle game where the Jays won 2-0 on 2 solo home runs - and no other base runners, and Kerry Wood striking out 13 Braves in 7 innings, in his first home start since his 20K game. That last one wins for loudest crowd, although today's was a clear second

Parker - Sunday, August 08 2010 @ 07:04 PM EDT (#220160) #

I keep forgetting that we're supposed to be looking towards the future here - the last two games have been the two most exciting Jays games I can ever remember seeing. This team is just plain fun to watch.

TimberLee - Sunday, August 08 2010 @ 07:10 PM EDT (#220161) #

Well, when you were watching yesterday's game, today's game was part of the future you were looking forward to.

You're welcome.

ayjackson - Sunday, August 08 2010 @ 07:13 PM EDT (#220162) #

What was wrong with Friday's game?

Moe - Sunday, August 08 2010 @ 07:18 PM EDT (#220163) #

Over at fangraphs there is a short article about Morrow's gem, discussing the high pitch count. Clearly we don't know whether this game will be costly or not.

But one thing the article mentioned was just how careful the Jays have been with his arm. I knew that they had been but I didn't know just how extreme: his season's high was 116 and there were only 5 more over 100. He topped his previous high by more than 20 pitches! I think 129 would have been enough.

lexomatic - Sunday, August 08 2010 @ 07:31 PM EDT (#220164) #

like others i was concerned about the pitch count,
i don't think if i was the manager id have let him back out to start the ninth. I think it'd be "hell of a game kid". i understand why cito of all people would let him try to go for it, but it was absolutely horrible mismanagement to not have someone (Downs?) ready as soon as there was a baserunner. If you're going to be a player's manager you have to be smart about not putting the game AND the player on the line
there was NO reason to let him throw 140 pitches. NONE. i don't care if tons of pitchers did it in the past, i don't care if it's casey stengle managing, it is inexcusable to even remotely put an assett like Morrow's future at risk through throwing that many pitches.
I hope Morrow at least gets an extra day off, or even a skipped start, or at the very least a hard pitch count for next start.

For anyone that wants to argue he didn't look tired, or that the odds are he wont'get hurt - you're missing my point. You shouldn't even entrertain thoughts of these types of decisions unless it affects a chance at a championship. that's not where the team is, you don't do it. END OF DISCUSSION.

robertdudek - Sunday, August 08 2010 @ 07:36 PM EDT (#220165) #

The ball actually hit the heel of Hill's glove, rather than nicking off the pocket, beyond his reach. I think, but won't presume that that is what Anders is referring to. The ball was in Hill's glove, just not squarely. To me, it's a play he makes more than he doesn't (and he makes such plays because of his terrific range to his left).

Given that the ball was not hard hit, I think it's an 80% chance that Longoria, a fairly quick runner, beats it out because Hill would have to throw from the ground.

wdc - Sunday, August 08 2010 @ 07:38 PM EDT (#220166) #

I don't agree with this argument. He has a no hitter going into the 9th. His pitch count was high to be sure, but not beyond range. He was pitching a dominant game. A manager has to let him have a shot at the no-hitter. The manager spoke with him after the hit. And Morrow probably said that he wanted to finish it. Ptiching games like these don't come often, if at all, in a career. You have to let the pitcher have his day.

robertdudek - Sunday, August 08 2010 @ 07:41 PM EDT (#220167) #

there was NO reason to let him throw 140 pitches. NONE. i don't care if tons of pitchers did it in the past, i don't care if it's casey stengle managing, it is inexcusable to even remotely put an assett like Morrow's future at risk through throwing that many pitches.
I hope Morrow at least gets an extra day off, or even a skipped start, or at the very least a hard pitch count for next start.

For anyone that wants to argue he didn't look tired, or that the odds are he wont'get hurt - you're missing my point. You shouldn't even entrertain thoughts of these types of decisions unless it affects a chance at a championship. that's not where the team is, you don't do it. END OF DISCUSSION.

No evidence that a one-off 140 pitch outing increases injury risk. It's even possible that this can help him build arm strength in the future. We just don't know.

Throwing a baseball is inherently unhealthy - that's about all we know at this point.

TamRa - Sunday, August 08 2010 @ 07:49 PM EDT (#220168) #

I can agree there out to have been someone warming up.

I don't agree with being so compulsive about risk-management that you have to kill the joy of the game. Sometimes the "moment" IS the point of the game.

Magpie - Sunday, August 08 2010 @ 08:02 PM EDT (#220169) #

No evidence that a one-off 140 pitch outing increases injury risk. It's even possible that this can help him build arm strength in the future. We just don't know.

Indeed. Nobody knows anything!

Doesn't stop anyone from having an opinion, though. Y'all probably know mine. A 137 pitch outing in a game that took less than 2 and a half hours doesn't bother me one little bit. These guys are not made of glass. That's not pitcher abuse.

However, sending him out there to do it again in five days, and again after that, and again after that, and again after that - that would concern me. Even Roger Clemens was known to slump after consecutive 150 pitch outings...

ayjackson - Sunday, August 08 2010 @ 08:09 PM EDT (#220170) #

With an extra day off, and Rzep starting yesterday in Vegas, it would be a good opportunity to do the tandem starter thing next turn for Morrow. He can start and throw 5, Rzep can relieve and throw 4.

Now somebody hide the soapbox before MG turns up.

Chuck - Sunday, August 08 2010 @ 08:13 PM EDT (#220171) #

Given that the ball was not hard hit, I think it's an 80% chance that Longoria, a fairly quick runner, beats it out because Hill would have to throw from the ground.

True enough. Further looks at the video replay certainly confirm your position. Longoria was much closer to the base than I had originally thought.

Magpie - Sunday, August 08 2010 @ 08:16 PM EDT (#220172) #

This was evidently Dave Perkins' third game as the official scorer. No pressure!

Not that anyone or anything could possibly intimidate Perkins....

Mike D - Sunday, August 08 2010 @ 08:20 PM EDT (#220173) #

I don't think Hill had a play with Longoria hustling either. But let's reflect on the Game Score of 100 -- 4th best since 1920?!

T.O.: Morrow? He'll be perfect.

Genius, Elmslie.

grjas - Sunday, August 08 2010 @ 08:42 PM EDT (#220174) #

What's all the hype. 1-0 pitchers duel. BORRRING

Ok just joking. Long time since I was at the edge of my seat for a Jays game, but this was right up there with Alexandre Bilodeau's moguls run.

Well almost.

brent - Sunday, August 08 2010 @ 09:14 PM EDT (#220175) #

I think the real question is how much buzz will it take for Toronto and the rest of Canada to really embrace the Jays once again? I mean, more people will lead to more payroll.

Dave Till - Sunday, August 08 2010 @ 09:14 PM EDT (#220176) #

After thinking about it a bit, I realized that Morrow's game was the second-best game I have ever seen (on TV). The first is Kerry Wood's 20-strikeout game. But that's the only one that was better.

I hope they monitor Morrow closely for the next few starts and/or give him lots of extra rest here on in. But there's no question that you have to let Morrow go for the no-hitter.

And Wells's catch was one of the best I've seen, too. For a moment there, he was the Wells of old.

It's great to see the Jays do so well against the big guns of the East. Bring on the Red Sox!

DaveB - Sunday, August 08 2010 @ 11:41 PM EDT (#220177) #

Kudos to Morrow today. Pure brilliance. It bugs me a bit to see people's enjoyment of a spectacular performance spoiled by their preconceived notions of the "right way" to do it. Letting Morrow try to finish that game was absolutely the right decision, in my opinion.

Morrow, Romero and Cecil have all thrown gems the past week, two complete games and a gritty seven-inning stint. The final eight innings of Romero's CG he gave up one hit; the final six innings of Cecil's game he surrendered one hit, and Morrow had the one hit allowed ... 23 pressure packed innings against the league's two best teams: three hits, no runs, 28 strikeouts. That doesn't sound like three "middle rotation starters" to me. It sounds like three emerging number one starters, all about the same age and pushing e

ach other to excel. Perhaps not coincidently, they've all recently received a break in their work rate as the Jays stretched out the rotation. In Morrow's previous three starts he pitched after six, eight and six days off. Since June, Morrow has started on four days rest only twice. Cecil h

ad ten days off in July. Romero twice had six-day breaks among his last four starts. In my opinion that's the best possible approach to building up and preserving young arms while at the same time leaving them fresh enough to go deeper on occasions that warrant it, such as last week in New York for Romero and today with Morrow. The Jays have been patient and cautious with these three guys all year and complaining about 20 pitches too m

any is to be out of touch with both baseball history and this afternoon's reality. This was an incredible physical and mental challenge for Morrow and the fact he was allowed to complete one of the best-pitched games in ML history will do him a world of good. This was a one-off, demanding game; it doesn't fit the pattern of pitchers who are chronically overworked or are pitching with injuries or a tired arm.

China fan - Monday, August 09 2010 @ 01:11 AM EDT (#220178) #

Slightly off-topic, but what happens if Vernon Wells goes onto the DL on Monday? Does it have to be boring old Mike McCoy who is called up to fill his roster spot? Why not a (somewhat) fresh face -- maybe an Emaus or a Jacobs or a Mastroianni or a Thames?

Sigh. I suppose it will be McCoy.

tstaddon - Monday, August 09 2010 @ 02:37 AM EDT (#220182) #

No chance. Call up McCoy to offer his blend of super utility and be content that you can play Snider and Lewis every day in more traditional spots in the lineup. Still a pretty sharp starting nine, if Vernon goes down:

Lewis / Escobar / Snider / Bautista / Lind / Hill / Overbay / Arencibia / Encarnacion

Also, I'd back off Morrow's next start. Arizona did it after Jackson threw 149. Rzepcynzki's on schedule to match up with Morrow, anyway. So call up McCoy now, then call up Rzepcynski to start a one-off for Morrow, then replace him on the roster with either Roenicke (extra arm for 5 days) or Hoffpauir (extra glove for 5 days)

TamRa - Monday, August 09 2010 @ 04:04 AM EDT (#220183) #

Rzepcynzki's on schedule to match up with Morrow, anyway.

How ya figure?

Zep started last Thursday, his next turn is Tuesday. He'd have to go on three days rest to sync up with Morrow.

The only way i see you could get close to Zep's regular turn and pad Morrow is if he started against boston on Thursday (on his seventh day - but you have to do that because Rick-Ro and Marcum are already going on their seventh day) and thereby push all three of Cecil, Mills, and Morrow back a day.

that would mean you'd have six consecutive games started by a pitcher with six days rest - I'm uncertain what that does to a pitchers schedule for the off days.

Still, if you were going to do that you wouldn't fool with McCoy for just a few days - Go ahead and call Zep and then flip him bback for McCoy or whoever on Thursday.

--------------------------------------
On another subject - anyone here thing Bautista could play CF for a couple of weeks? He made 46 starts out there for the Pirates in 2007 - and seven since (3 last year)

If you do that, snider stays in RF and Lewis in LF.

Really, what are the odds that JB would do worse in CF than Lewis?

ComebyDeanChance - Monday, August 09 2010 @ 07:30 AM EDT (#220185) #

there was NO reason to let him throw 140 pitches.

I think he had a no-hitter going until the last batter. Perhaps Morrow and everyone else in the park thought that was a reason. As for the last batter, it was a win or lose situation and Cito Gaston showed him he was his win or lose guy in the moment. Good call.

Gaston has been very careful all year long with pitch counts. I think pretending that there's any evidence that a single event of 137 pitches is of any detrimental consequence to a 26 year old pitcher in August. There's a difference between legitimate caution and pseudo-knowledge. Gaston has exercised the former all year. His critics are exercising the latter.

brent - Monday, August 09 2010 @ 09:23 AM EDT (#220190) #

Good call, China fan. It would be nice to keep seeing someone new all of the time.

whiterasta80 - Monday, August 09 2010 @ 10:54 AM EDT (#220201) #

I think pretending that there's any evidence that a single event of 137 pitches is of any detrimental consequence to a 26 year old pitcher in August.

A 26 year old pitcher, pitching INDOORS, in a controlled environment, with no extended innigns, and who had maintained his velocity throughout the game. One who could stand the confidence boost gained from knowing how dominant he can be when he maintains his mechanics.

I'd consider skipping his next turn in the rotation (throw a short side-session), but you have to let him try for the NO-NO and I personally liked having him face Johnson afterwards.

That said, someone should have been up in the bullpen. It was a 1-run game and your starter had thrown 120 pitches.

John Northey - Monday, August 09 2010 @ 12:03 PM EDT (#220214) #

The radio guys were talking about Gregg being up in the 9th - don't know if he started at the start of the 9th or if he jumped up when the hit was allowed.

FYI: Jerry was talking about the no-hitter around the 7th inning very enthusiastically. I knew it was one in the 4th, then missed the 5/6 and checked my cell phone to see when Morrow lost it (figuring that would happen). I was glad Jerry remembered us radio listeners don't normally have anything to check. Made for a fun ride home.

As to pitch counts, from what I've read Cito told Morrow he had one last batter after the hit. Shows confidence in Morrow while putting a leash on him as well.

ZekeBella - Monday, August 09 2010 @ 12:44 PM EDT (#220223) #

I didn't see it mentioned as I skimmed thru the comments, but you have to wonder about Cito's thought process when he came to the mound, Was his mind made up? Did he come out just to settle Morrow? The big question: If he had Mariano Rivera in the pen instead of Kevin Gregg, what would he have done? In the end, all's well that ends well. Well, fairly well anyway. Eight games from the wildcard? Nah.... but let's at least try to catch the Red Sox then see what happens.

BTW, isn't the pie in the face thing getting kinda tired now? Especially when Gatorade is mixed in. Morrow wasn't exactly laughing at it, was he? Can't wait till the first "pie injury"! Time for the boys to come up with some new ideas.

Moe - Monday, August 09 2010 @ 12:47 PM EDT (#220224) #

"Can't wait till the first "pie injury"!"

Already happened. Although it was the pie thrower: C. Coghlan a few weeks ago:
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Pie-gone-awry-Marlins-Coghlan-tears-up-knee-in?urn=mlb-258344

ZekeBella - Tuesday, August 10 2010 @ 10:47 AM EDT (#220294) #

Oops....not paying close enough attention! I heard about the Coghlan celebration injury but presumed it was another walk-off celebration at the plate!

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