The "At Least We Didn't Get No-Hit" Post
Soon after the Blue Jays dropped the season opener to the Tigers 2-0 in extra innings at home today, my immediate reaction was, "Okay, at least we didn't get no-hit."
(Technically speaking, it could have been a perfect game by Detroit starter Jordan Zimmermann, with Teoscar ending the bid with a two-out hit in the 7th, but you get the point.)
The first pitch was scheduled for 3:37 p.m. EST, and 4:37 a.m. on my end. I set my alarm at 3:50 ish a.m. so I could wake up, watch some other games while getting my bearings and be ready for our boys to play the first game of the season. Hey, this is what fans do.
Plus, I had to be up by 5 a.m. anyway for work. Korean pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu got the Opening Day start for the LA Dodgers and that game began at 5:10 a.m. The Jays game was delayed and didn't begin until just after 5. And even though it went 10 innings, it took less than 2.5 hours because A) we only managed two hits and the teams combined for 6 and B) both pitching staffs worked quick innings (though this is somewhat related to the first point, with there being some easy outs).
With daylight saving time in effect, there is now a 13-hour difference between Toronto (and East Coast) and Seoul, as opposed to 14. For the Leafs and the Raptors, 7 p.m. starts mean 8 a.m. games here. There are pros and cons to the earlier start on my end. Given the Leafs' position in the NHL, we'll get all the prime time slots in the playoffs, though we'll probably be bounced out of the first round. The Raptors, though we'll be in the top two, could get an odd day game here and day during the playoffs.
At least those two teams don't play a lot of day games during the regular season. The Jays, like a lot of other ball clubs, play a ton of afternoon games. I don't think I'll be getting up at 2 a.m. or 3 a.m. for a random June game (I did little of that during our 2015-2016 runs and only watched wee-hour games during the playoffs. There is even less incentive to do that this year). But if it's Opening Day, count me in.
I know this season isn't going to be a pretty one for the Jays, but frankly, I am just giddy that baseball is here. My expectations for the 2019 Jays are super low. I am just hoping we won't lose 100 games, that's all. As long as we win more than 62 games and finish above the Orioles (the one team I hate with passion in baseball, kind of like the Senators in hockey), I will be okay.
The main reason I won't mind so much losing is that I'll get to watch our top prospects grow on the big stage. Our starting lineup today featured Danny Jansen, Lourdes and Tellez, all virtual rookies. Vlady will soon be here. Maybe Bo will arrive later this season, too. Guys like Borucki, Luciano (born in 2000, the first big leaguer born in this millennium. How about that...) and Reid-Foley will have their turns on the mound.
I am taken back to just before the 2013 season, with the reigning NL Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey in the mix, along with other names like Reyes, Josh Johnson and Melky Cabrera. That was a veteran club expected to do some damage. But we won just 74 games, only one win better than the previous season despite all that money spent and prospects given up.
But if this group of guys wins 74 games, I'll be ecstatic. That will qualify as overachieving.
Marcus had a very good start. 7 IP, two hits, 7 Ks, 4 BBs. I thought he was a bit too excited in the early going and got carried away but he settled down soon enough. Struck out the side in the 5th and didn't give up a hit until the 6th.
And an outing like this will only increase his trade value. He can be a useful, back-end starter on a contender. He's a ground ball pitcher (induced a couple of DP balls today though we only turned one) and a contending team with strong infield could do worse than going after Stro.
So basically, this is how the season is going to shape out. For in-between veteran-esque, late-20s players like Marcus, Aaron Sanchez and Ken Giles, the first half of the season will be an audition for other teams. We'll dump those guys for younger assets and bolster our farm even further.
Speaking of Giles, he struck out all 3 batters he faced. As did Biagini. Daniel Hudson struck out two, but he served up that game-winning HR in the top of the 10th.
All told, 15 Ks and 10 innings by our four pitchers today. I am a K/9 geek. I don't care who the opponents are. That's an awesome K/9 rate right there.
How many years are we away? Hard to tell. Maybe 3 years until we get to sniff a wild card spot? Hopefully no more than 5.
(Technically speaking, it could have been a perfect game by Detroit starter Jordan Zimmermann, with Teoscar ending the bid with a two-out hit in the 7th, but you get the point.)
The first pitch was scheduled for 3:37 p.m. EST, and 4:37 a.m. on my end. I set my alarm at 3:50 ish a.m. so I could wake up, watch some other games while getting my bearings and be ready for our boys to play the first game of the season. Hey, this is what fans do.
Plus, I had to be up by 5 a.m. anyway for work. Korean pitcher Hyun-Jin Ryu got the Opening Day start for the LA Dodgers and that game began at 5:10 a.m. The Jays game was delayed and didn't begin until just after 5. And even though it went 10 innings, it took less than 2.5 hours because A) we only managed two hits and the teams combined for 6 and B) both pitching staffs worked quick innings (though this is somewhat related to the first point, with there being some easy outs).
With daylight saving time in effect, there is now a 13-hour difference between Toronto (and East Coast) and Seoul, as opposed to 14. For the Leafs and the Raptors, 7 p.m. starts mean 8 a.m. games here. There are pros and cons to the earlier start on my end. Given the Leafs' position in the NHL, we'll get all the prime time slots in the playoffs, though we'll probably be bounced out of the first round. The Raptors, though we'll be in the top two, could get an odd day game here and day during the playoffs.
At least those two teams don't play a lot of day games during the regular season. The Jays, like a lot of other ball clubs, play a ton of afternoon games. I don't think I'll be getting up at 2 a.m. or 3 a.m. for a random June game (I did little of that during our 2015-2016 runs and only watched wee-hour games during the playoffs. There is even less incentive to do that this year). But if it's Opening Day, count me in.
I know this season isn't going to be a pretty one for the Jays, but frankly, I am just giddy that baseball is here. My expectations for the 2019 Jays are super low. I am just hoping we won't lose 100 games, that's all. As long as we win more than 62 games and finish above the Orioles (the one team I hate with passion in baseball, kind of like the Senators in hockey), I will be okay.
The main reason I won't mind so much losing is that I'll get to watch our top prospects grow on the big stage. Our starting lineup today featured Danny Jansen, Lourdes and Tellez, all virtual rookies. Vlady will soon be here. Maybe Bo will arrive later this season, too. Guys like Borucki, Luciano (born in 2000, the first big leaguer born in this millennium. How about that...) and Reid-Foley will have their turns on the mound.
I am taken back to just before the 2013 season, with the reigning NL Cy Young winner R.A. Dickey in the mix, along with other names like Reyes, Josh Johnson and Melky Cabrera. That was a veteran club expected to do some damage. But we won just 74 games, only one win better than the previous season despite all that money spent and prospects given up.
But if this group of guys wins 74 games, I'll be ecstatic. That will qualify as overachieving.
Marcus had a very good start. 7 IP, two hits, 7 Ks, 4 BBs. I thought he was a bit too excited in the early going and got carried away but he settled down soon enough. Struck out the side in the 5th and didn't give up a hit until the 6th.
And an outing like this will only increase his trade value. He can be a useful, back-end starter on a contender. He's a ground ball pitcher (induced a couple of DP balls today though we only turned one) and a contending team with strong infield could do worse than going after Stro.
So basically, this is how the season is going to shape out. For in-between veteran-esque, late-20s players like Marcus, Aaron Sanchez and Ken Giles, the first half of the season will be an audition for other teams. We'll dump those guys for younger assets and bolster our farm even further.
Speaking of Giles, he struck out all 3 batters he faced. As did Biagini. Daniel Hudson struck out two, but he served up that game-winning HR in the top of the 10th.
All told, 15 Ks and 10 innings by our four pitchers today. I am a K/9 geek. I don't care who the opponents are. That's an awesome K/9 rate right there.
How many years are we away? Hard to tell. Maybe 3 years until we get to sniff a wild card spot? Hopefully no more than 5.
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