Game 44 – 3-HR Game

Sadly, it was another loss to a LH starting pitcher for the Jays. This time it was the 70-yr old Jamie Moyer who held them in check. I don’t know how he is still successful at his age when he doesn’t even hit 85 on the radar gun. At least Tim Wakefield throws a knuckleball, Moyer relies on a fastball, change, and I think he has both a curve and a slider. Although he hasn’t enjoyed the same success as guys like Maddux and Glavine, especially early in his career, he is a perfect example of pitching being about location and changing speeds. It doesn’t matter if you’re throwing 95 and 80 or 85 and 70, it is all relative, as long as you are hitting your spots. That is the one big difference, the harder you throw the more likely you get away w/a mistake pitch. Moyer’s late blooming career just shows how sometimes it can take a player a long time to truly develop into a pitcher and not just a thrower.

Although the Jays got blown out, at least they managed to go 2 for 5 w/RISP. Its just when your opponent goes 5 for 7 things aren’t good.

Werth’s 3-HR game was now the 3rd time I have seen one live. I saw Vernon hit 3 against BOS and Beckett in 2005, and I saw the Big Hurt hit 3 against BOS and Wakefield in 2007.

What was Coste thinking on the flyball to Stewart in the 6th? My only guess was he never picked up the ball b/c he couldn’t have thought it was going to drop and I can’t see him mixing up the # of outs given there were none. Of course when you are up 9-2, I guess it doesn’t really matter.

Obviously not a good start for Purcey, and the control problems were once again there, but this was only one start regardless of outcome and maybe it just shows he still needs time in the minors. On the other hand he has been very good in Syracuse and it may be more a matter of him trusting his stuff at the Major league level and not being afraid of the hitters, not unlike the struggles McGowan went through when he 1st came up. If the fans learned anything from McGowan it should be that 2 starts doesn’t prove anything about a pitcher. Pitchers tend to take a lot longer than position players to truly develop into the players they can be.

I know both of Purcey’s starts have simply fallen on a day where they needed an extra starter but interesting to note they have come against 2 ageless lefties, first Rogers and now Moyer. You can only hope Purcey learns a little something from these 2 guys seeing how long they have managed to stick around.

As for the stats: I don’t like to count CS as a Mental Error, but when you attempt to steal a bag that another runner already occupies like Victorino did, I have to give one to him. Speaking of that play, how often do you see a CS2U (that’s Caught Stealing, catcher unassisted for you unfamiliar w/scoring)?

Adv+: Werth
P-Adv+: Purcey (1)
NAdv: Moyer
P-NAdv: Litsch (1)
WG: Rolen (4), Mench (1)
ME(r): Victorino, Coste