Jays slink off to Reno to try to turn the tables
SHAWNA RICHER
Sports Reporter
Thursday, August 19, 1999
Toronto -- There was a surprisingly detached manner in the Toronto Blue Jays' locker room after their 5-1 loss yesterday afternoon to the Seattle Mariners, the slumping team's seventh consecutive defeat.
Jim Fregosi, the Jays' brash and barrel-chested manager, was not nearly as truculent as he has been at points this past week during his team's slide. Players were not moping, but eagerly packing their suitcases for a trip and happily anticipating today's day off -- not necessarily well earned, but definitely badly needed.
Everyone was headed to Reno, Nev., to spend some time relaxing before opening a four-game series at Oakland tomorrow.
Maybe everyone was just happy to be leaving Toronto for a week. Little wonder. A day spent in a casino may chart the Blue Jays' luck on a different course.
They need all the help they can get. For only the third time in club history, Toronto finished a homestand 0-6. That hadn't happened since June 20 to 26, 1994. Their seven consecutive losses is a season high, the most since Aug. 29 to Sept. 4, 1997.
A few weeks ago, the surging team looked as if it could catch the New York Yankees, who lead the American League East. Now, even the AL wild-card seems to be slipping farther from reach.
The Jays, who are 2� games behind the Boston Red Sox in the wild-card race, squeezed out only one run from six hits yesterday.
"Hopefully, with a day off, and I sure need it, we can start getting things back together," Fregosi said. "We had numerous chances to win this game. But we just didn't get a key hit."
A crowd of 38,224 gathered at the SkyDome to see left-hander David Wells, back on the mound after missing his previous scheduled start because of a sore back, give up six hits in the second and third innings but hold the Mariners to three for the next five innings. Wells struck out seven batters -- six were caught looking.
But unlike many of the past few defeats, this loss had less to do with shaky pitching and more to do with a lack of offence.
Seattle's Jay Buhner opened the scoring with a home run to centre field that scored Edgar Martinez. The 397-foot blast, the outfielder's 11th homer of the season, gave the Mariners a 2-0 lead in the second inning.
"He took it right out of my hands," Wells said. "It hurt us and I take responsibility for that. Their pitching this series was outstanding. But we just have to regroup and go from here."
In the Seattle third inning, Brian Hunter doubled to right field and David Bell followed with a two-base hit that scored Hunter and gave the Mariners a 3-0 lead.
Then Ken Griffey Jr. clubbed one into the hole in right field just beyond first base. Bell scored, bolstering Seattle's lead to 4-0, and Griffey advanced to second base on an error by catcher Mike Matheny, who let the ball pop out after the catch. With two out, Martinez then singled deep to the left field corner to bring Griffey across the plate.
Toronto's lone run came when Matheny hit a hopper through the centre of the infield for a base hit to score Tony Batista from second base in the fifth inning.
The Blue Jays had their chances. Shawn Green singled in the Toronto sixth inning and then beat a close throw at second for the steal to move into scoring position with one out and Carlos Delgado at the plate. Delgado grounded out and Green moved to third. Seattle's Freddy Garcia walked Tony Fernandez to place runners on the corners. He loaded the bases walking the next batter, Batista.
That brought in former Blue Jay Steve Sinclair, who went to the Mariners in a trade for David Segui last month, to face designated hitter Willie Greene. Sinclair struck him out to end a potentially disastrous inning.
"I had to get him out," Sinclair said later. "I was a little surprised they didn't bring in a pinch-hitter with the bases loaded."
Then Tom Davey, also sent to Seattle in the Segui trade, came in for some relief work and struck out Matheny and Shannon Stewart and got Homer Bush to ground out.
"It was more like a normal game [yesterday's]," Davey said of facing his former team, which he did for the first time on Monday. "I appreciate he [manager Lou Pinella] wanted me in there for big outs."
The Jays had an opportunity to tie the score when Davey gave up a single to Green, then hit Delgado and allowed a single by Fernandez. But Jose Paniagua struck out Batista and Greene flied out to the warning track.
REUNION TIME:
Tuesday August 171999
A couple of ex-Jays made their first trip to the SkyDome in an opponent's jersey last night. Hard-throwing right-hander Tom Davey and lefty Steve Sinclair arrived in Toronto with the Mariners. They were traded in late July for David Segui. Davey hooked up with a few former teammates Sunday night when he got in.
"It feels weird," Davey said, referring to his return. "I came in here (to the SkyDome) and I didn't even know where to go. I knew the (visitors') clubhouse was down there somewhere but I didn't know where I was going."
Seattle has been good for Davey and Sinclair. Both were well aware of Seattle manager Lou Piniella's reputation for being hard on pitchers, particularly relievers, but neither has seen any proof of that.
"No, he has been great. He's like any manager. You do your job and you'll have no problem with him," Davey said.
Sunday August 15 1999
- BOSTON (Ticker) -- Alex Rodriguez homered and scored three runs and rookie Gil Meche pitched seven innings in his best start as the Seattle Mariners avoided a sweep with a 4-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox.
Rodriguez, who homered in all three games of the series, launched a 1-1 pitch from Mark Portugal 415 feet over the center-field fence to snap a 2-2 tie with two outs in the sixth inning. He gave the Mariners a 4-2 advantage with an RBI single in the eighth.
"I'm not sure what the pitch was, I just got it up and into the strong wind," Rodriguez said. "Fenway's a really special place, it's where I started my career."
Meche, making his seventh major league start and first against Boston, allowed two runs and three hits with three walks and four strikeouts. The 20-year-old righthander, who went seven innings only once before, threw 62 of 108 pitches for strikes.
"Throwing strikes really helped," said Meche. "I haven't been doing that lately. I've been falling behind and the batters have been sitting on the fastball. I wasn't getting my offspeed stuff over (early). My curveball was good, my slider was being thrown for strikes."
"For a 20-year-old kid to pitch like that at the major league level, he's doing very well," added Seattle manager Lou Piniella. "Pitching with that composure bodes well for his future. If he can (throw first-pitch strikes) with the arm he has he can be very tough. He can turn into an outstanding pitcher. With experience, he can get better."
Tom Davey allowed a run in the eighth and Jose Mesa gave up a hit and struck out two in a scoreless ninth for his 25th save in 28 chances.
Portugal (7-10) went 7 2/3 innings, allowing two earned runs and seven hits. He walked one and struck out five as the Red Sox had a four-game winning streak snapped.
"I threw strikes early but in the second, third and fourth I lost command of the strike zone," Portugal said. "But I calmed down after that. Unfortunately I got a ball up and over to A-Rod and he hit it over the fence." Nomar Garciaparra had two hits and two RBI for Boston, which is one game ahead of Oakland for the American League wild card berth. Boston hosts the Athletics Monday in the opener of a pivotal four-game series.
Seattle held a 1-0 lead on Jay Buhner's first-inning sacrifice fly before Meche walked Jose Offerman with one out in the third. One out later, rookie Brian Daubach, who had 11 RBI in the first two games of the series, doubled to score Offerman. Garciaparra followed with a double off the "Green Monster" in left field to plate Daubach and put Boston ahead.
Rodriguez led off the fourth and reached when Garciaparra misplayed his ground ball. Two outs later, Rodriguez stole second and Ryan Jackson delivered a run-scoring single to tie it at 2-2.
Portugal retired the first two batters in the eighth before Raul Ibanez reached first when left fielder Troy O'Leary misjudged his line drive. Ken Griffey Jr. and Rodriguez followed with singles to chase Portugal and give Seattle a 4-2 lead.
Offerman singled off Davey to start the eighth and two outs later Garciaparra delivered an RBI double to make it 4-3. But Boston got no closer as O'Leary fouled out.
Pitching trio helps Mariners sweep Sox
Thursday, August 12, 1999
By TYLER KEPNER
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER
When 1999 began, Paul Abbott had one good knee and no baseball contract. Tom Davey was Toronto Blue Jays property, with no experience above Class AA. Todd Williams was employed by the Cincinnati Reds, desperate to leave an organization he felt had given up on him.
The three pitchers got together yesterday, dressed themselves in Mariners midnight blue and beat the Chicago White Sox 11-2. A crowd of 45,194 -- the 16th sellout in 21 games at Safeco Field -- saw the Mariners complete a three-game series sweep.
Abbott, Davey and Williams are three of the pitchers who will be given extended looks over the season's last seven weeks. The playoffs are disappearing from view, but for a team that already has used a franchise-high 26 pitchers, auditions are on for the future.
"You can look at it two ways," said Davey, who threw three scoreless innings in his best outing since being acquired in the David Segui trade last month. "You can worry about it and say, 'Oh, I've got to stay in there and do the job,' or you can say, 'I know I'm getting an opportunity, and if I throw the ball well, I'm going to get innings.'
"I've had two good outings and one bad one here. They're looking for you to be consistent, and the guys that are are the ones that are going to get the ball. I know I'm probably more of a long man now, but you've got to be ready for anything."
Nobody knows that better than Abbott, who allowed two runs in five innings to improve to 3-0. The 31-year-old right-hander went 3-1 in four September starts last year, and figured into the rotation plans this year. Then he tore his right anterior cruciate ligament in winter ball, and spent more than a month without a team. The M's re-signed him to a minor league contract in mid-January, and by June he was in the majors.
As a starter. For one turn.
When rookie Gil Meche was promoted, Abbott went back to the bullpen. There he thrived, using a screwball-like change-up that moves away from left-handed hitters to establish himself as a dependable setup man.
Now, with Jeff Fassero in the bullpen, Abbott is a starter again. His role changes, but Abbott, who passed through three organizations over four full minor league seasons from 1994-97, said he's eager to reward the Mariners for their confidence.
"That's probably the most satisfying thing," Abbott said. "I didn't get many opportunities the last few years. A lot of that had to do with injuries, but I've got an opportunity here to show everybody that maybe they made a mistake."
Abbott said he's trying to solidify his spot for next year. He went seven years between major league victories (1991-98), but never questioned himself.
"I don't think I would have gotten back in the first place if I had any doubts," Abbott said.
Davey came on for Abbott in the sixth. Williams, a right-hander acquired in a minor league trade last month, worked a scoreless ninth in his second Seattle outing.
The Mariners offense made the pitching conditions more comfortable, scoring six times in the first inning off Jaime Navarro (7-10). Two walks, a wild pitch, a stolen base, an error and an infield single by Alex Rodriguez brought in the Mariners' first two runs, and one batter later Edgar Martinez's first Safeco Field homer gave the M's a 4-0 lead. Raul Ibanez added another two-run homer to make it 6-0.
Martinez has 11 hits in his last 21 at-bats since Friday, and batted .364 during the homestand. He has been fooled by Safeco Field before, so he wasn't sure if his opposite-field fly would make it over the fence. The direction of the flags, a giveaway on wind conditions at most parks, makes no difference at Safeco, he said. Martinez said the wind provides a daily surprise.
"You can't tell exactly what the wind does out there," Martinez said. "In the past, I've hit balls to right field that I thought were hit pretty good and they didn't go out. Today I hit a ball good, and who knows if it's going out or not?"
Rodriguez added a two-run single and a two-run homer for his second five-RBI game in five days.
"Right now, it feels like the team is really playing with enthusiasm," Rodriguez said. "That's what I'm most proud of. That's what's different between this year and last year."
That, and the pitching staff. Jamie Moyer is the only member of the rotation who did not make his M's debut in the past 12 months.
"They're all pitching well and they're all gaining confidence in their position," pitching coach Stan Williams said. "They've got some experience, and each and every one of them is starting to get sharper. We've got some nice arms down in the bullpen now, too. It could be a lot of fun here over the next few weeks."
Pennant race or not.
REVOLVING DOOR
When Tom Davey, acquired from the Jays in the Segui trade, took the mound Wednesday, he was the Seattle Mariners' 25th pitcher this year, most in the majors and tying the 1996 club record. Davey was also the 13th Mariners rookie to pitch this year, including three in the rotation, Gil Meche, John Halama and Freddy Garcia, who leads all big-league rookies with 11 wins.
MARINERS TRADE DAVID SEGUI TO TORONTO FOR BULLPEN HELP
July 28, 1999
Seattle Mariners Vice President of Baseball Operations Woody Woodward announced today that the Mariners have acquired left-handed pitcher Steve Sinclair and right-handed pitcher Tom Davey from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for first baseman David Segui.
Sinclair, who will turn 28 on Aug. 2, has been pitching with the Jays triple-A Syracuse team in the International League. Pitching as the Skychiefs closer, Sinclair has posted a 2-2 mark with 18 saves and a 2.06 ERA in 34 games. In 39.1 innings pitched, he allowed 24 hits and nine earned runs while striking out 31. Opposing hitters were batting just .171 off him. Sinclair appeared in three games with the Jays big league club this season, and was 0-0 with a 12.71 ERA.
Davey, 25, started the year in the Toronto bullpen. In 29 big league games, Davey was 1-1 with a 4.70 ERA. He allowed 40 hits in 44.0 innings pitched, striking out 42 and holding opposing hitters to a .241 average. Since being optioned to AAA, he has made six starts with Syracuse, posting a 1-2, 3.48 mark. In 33.2 innings pitched, he's allowed 30 hits while striking out 20.
"Both of these pitchers will be added to our Major League staff," Woodward said. "Sinclair gives us a young left-hander for Lou to use and Davey is a power arm. Segui has done a nice job for us, but we feel we can afford to deal offense to improve our pitching. This is a deal that makes us better now, and in the future."
Sinclair and outfielder Shane Monahan, who has been playing with Tacoma, will join the Mariners in Kansas City tomorrow. Davey will join the club Saturday in Seattle.
Sinclair, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound lefty, was born, and still resides in Victoria, British Columbia. He appeared in 24 games with Toronto in 1998 and was 0-2, 3.60 in 24 games, all in relief. He held opposing Major League hitters to a .232 batting average against, including a .184 (7x38) mark by opposing left-handers, and did not allow a home run.
Davey, a 6-foot-7, 230-pound righty, was 5-3, 3.87 in 48 games, nine starts, with double-A Knoxville in 1998. Following the season, he pitched with Grand Canyon in the Arizona Fall League where he was 1-0 with one save and a 0.82 ERA. Pitching in 20 games, all in relief, Davey held opposing hitters to a .173 batting average against. Following the 1998 season, Baseball America named Davey the Jays seventh best prospect.
Segui, 33, was hitting .293 in 90 games with the Mariners this season with nine home runs and 39 RBI. The switch-hitting Segui was hitting .226 vs. left-handers and .307 vs. right-handers.
Blue Jays acquire David Segui from Mariners
The Associated Press
TORONTO (AP) -- First baseman David Segui was dealt from the Seattle Mariners to the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday for pitchers Tom Davey and Steve Sinclair.
Segui, 33, is hitting .293 this season in 90 games with 22 doubles, three triples, nine home runs and 39 RBIs.
"Clearly he's going to help our lineup," said Blue Jays general manager Gord Ash, who for the first time since being hired as the GM in 1994 is not dumping players before the July 31 trading deadline.
`He's an experienced bat, an experienced player," Ash said, "and any time you can add that kind of experience as you're going down the stretch, that's a very positive thing."
Segui, in Kansas City where the Mariners were playing the Royals, refused to talk to reporters as he left the clubhouse. The Blue Jays weren't immediately able to talk to him either.
"He's going to be a free agent at the end of the year. We got a couple of good young pitchers for him," Mariners manager Lou Piniella said. "I talked to David when he got to the ballpark and informed him of the trade. I thanked him for his contribution here and wished him well. He's a good player. I told him he's going to a contending club and he'll enjoy that for the next couple of weeks."
Segui has a .284 career average with 97 homers and 474 RBIs in a 10-season career with Baltimore, the New York Mets, Montreal and Seattle.
Toronto manager Jim Fregosi said Segui will see playing time at first base, designated hitter and in the outfield. As a result, first baseman Carlos Delgado will see some time at designated hitter.
"Personally I'd like to be out there as much as possible, but I'll do anything to help the club win," Delgado said. "I think Segui is going to help us. I'm happy the front office is showing the commitment to win."
On Monday, Seattle traded outfielder Butch Huskey to the Boston Red Sox for minor league left-hander Robert Ramsay.
Davey, 25, has split the 1999 season between the Blue Jays and Syracuse of the Triple-A International League, going 1-1 with one save and a 4.70 ERA with Toronto before he was sent down June 28. He was 1-2 with a 3.48 ERA at Syracuse.
"We're getting two good young arms from the Toronto organization," Piniella said. "Both have big league experience. They're going to come in and join our bullpen in the next several days."
Sinclair, 27, appeared in three games with Toronto this season and was 0-0 with a 12.71 ERA. He went 2-2 at Syracuse with 18 saves and a 2.06 ERA in 34 games.
"Sinclair gives us a young left-hander ... and Davey is a power arm," Mariners general manager Woody Woodward said. "Segui has done a nice job for us, but we feel we can afford to deal offense to improve our pitching."
A Well-Rounded Effort
By Matt Michael
Syracuse SkyChiefs pitcher Tom Davey, who started Tuesday night's game against the Pawtucket Red Sox at P&C Stadium, admits he didn't have his best stuff Tuesday.
"Luckily," Davey said, "they (the Red Sox) were hitting the ball right at people."
And, luckily, the SkyChiefs were catching it. The Syracuse batters were hitting the ball right at people, too, but the Red Sox had a little harder time hanging on to it.
Pawtucket made three errors that led to all the Syracuse runs as the Triple-A SkyChiefs downed the Red Sox 4-2 before 8,021 fans at P&C. The SkyChiefs, meanwhile, made several defensive gems that prevented big innings by Pawtucket.
"I think the pitchers have to be comforted knowing we've got a pretty good defense out there," SkyChiefs third baseman Casey Blake said. "They're not afraid to let them hit the ball."
Blake made a "SportsCenter" highlight play in the second inning, when he made a diving stop of Cole Liniak's hard grounder, then from his knees bounced the throw to first baseman Kevin Witt for the out. The Red Sox did score their second run of the game in that inning, but Blake's play saved a double and potential big inning.
In the eighth inning, the Red Sox loaded the bases with one out against Syracuse reliever Jim Mann. Liniak blooped a fly ball to shallow center field that off the bat appeared like it was going to drop in for a single.
Center fielder Vernon Wells, in just his second game since being promoted from Double-A Knoxville, didn't see the ball at first and took a step back. But he switched gears and made a running catch for the second out of the eighth.
With Wells in center, the SkyChiefs moved center fielder Anthony Sanders to right field. In just two games in right, Sanders has already flagged down a bunch of fly balls and line drives in the right-center field gap.
"It's an unbelievable confidence builder when you know if you make a mistake and somebody hits it hard in the gap, somebody will run it down," Mann said.
After Wells' catch, Mandy Romero smoked a line drive at second baseman Chris Woodward, who calmly grabbed it for the third out. Mann pitched the ninth to earn his third save, and Davey (1-2) earned his first win in six starts since joining Syracuse from the Toronto Blue Jays.
With Wells and Sanders together in the outfield, and with converted shortstop Woodward now playing second base, the SkyChiefs' defense is as strong as it has been all season. And it has been solid all year, with 90 errors in 105 games.
"I've said it once and I'll say it again," Davey said, "they're making plays here they weren't making up in Toronto."
Shortstop Gavin Jackson's throwing error, and right fielder Keith Mitchell's error on a fly ball enabled the SkyChiefs to score three runs in the first inning. Wells delivered the big blow, a two-out, two-run single for his first Triple-A hit.
"It lets the guys on our team know that I'm going to be able to go up there and do that and help the team in any way possible," Wells said.
Syracuse added a run in the sixth, when Pawtucket shortstop Chad Fonville couldn't coral Rob Mummau's pop-up and the ball rolled to the left-field fence for a triple. Mummau scored when Red Sox starter Bob Wolcott threw the ball into the stands along the first-base line after he had Juan Melo picked off first base.
Cool Ash biding time
Jays GM gearing up for July 31 trade deadline
By MIKE RUTSEY -- Toronto Sun
CLEVELAND -- The air was choked with humidity, but Gord Ash sat chilly and refreshed at the end of the Blue Jays bench, seemingly like a man without a care in the world.
Nine days from now, Ash and his counterparts around the major leagues will not be playing it as coolly. The July 31 sweepstakes day will arrive and the trade frenzy will be at a fevered pitch. But this day, it was all calm for the Jays president.
"My guess is (trade talks) will heat up after the weekend," Ash said yesterday, hours before the Jays took to the field against the Indians. "Every day the clock ticks."
Whether the clock strikes for Ash and the Jays, time will tell, but the atmosphere is decidedly different than it was a year ago at baseball's trade deadline. This year Ash is a buyer, not a seller and in the end it's quite likely he may do nothing at all.
The players and the fans, however, are waiting for something to happen.
"This year everyone's excited about them going out and strengthening our team, rather than which high-priced guys get shipped out," outfielder Shawn Green said. "Now's the time that guys start speculating, everyone plays GM. It's a fun time.
"It's better than speculating which guys are going to go in a fire sale (the route the Jays took last year)."
Ash and company are making preliminary calls, but nothing of substance is taking shape as it is too early in the game. Adrenalin and panic have yet to set in among general managers. But it will.
The Jays' needs are well established. They would like an experienced hitter, preferably from the right side, and failing that, some bench strength.
They have established that they won't give up veteran left-hander David Wells or their young pitchers -- Chris Carpenter, Roy Halladay, Kelvim Escobar and Billy Koch. All have been sought and all suitors have been rebuffed.
"We've had a few calls about David and we've always given the same answer -- he's not available," Ash said. "The biggest stumbling block (to making a deal) is the asking price. It's always the same. They want us to give up the solid young pitchers. I've spent the better part of the year resisting that temptation. I think we're going to continue to do that."
That makes it hard to get it done, as the sellers usually are trying to dump salary for prospects.
Will they settle for the likes of Tom Davey or Pete Munro?
"There won't be any major shifts to our lineup," Ash said.
"But there are pieces that, if they become available, you would like to have."
Syracuse 9, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre 8
Sunday July 11 1999
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) -- Casey Blake hit a three-run homer in the first inning to give the Syracuse SkyChiefs a 4-0 lead on the way to a 9-8 win over Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons in the International League Saturday.
Anthony Sanders also homered in the first inning.
The SkyChiefs (47-43) led 8-3 going into the top of the eighth inning before the Red Barons rallied. Scranton scored five times in the eighth to tie the game before Syracuse scored once in the bottom half to win.
Winning the game for Syracuse in relief was Steve Sinclair (2-1). Syracuse starter Tom Davey went five innings giving up only two earned runs on six hits.
Ken Ryran (1-1) took the loss for the Red Barons (47-40). Starter Andy Shumaker pitched six innings giving up seven earned runs on seven hits.
SkyChiefs win 9th in a row
Casey Blake hits two home runs, and Chris Jones and Kevin Witt also homer.
News service reports
There is hot, and there is just plain sizzling.
The Syracuse SkyChiefs blasted four home runs to provide all the scoring needed in a 8-2 victory over the Columbus Clippers in the first game of a four-game series.
Syracuse (43-37) has won nine consecutive games, and has taken a one-half game lead in the International League Northern Division. Pawtucket, which had been tied with the SkyChiefs for the lead coming into Wednesday, was idle.
After an 8-0 homestand, Syracuse bats quickly adjusted to the road and a new natural grass surface at Cooper Stadium.
Singles by Luis Lopez and Casey Blake in the second inning were followed by a Chris Jones home run off Columbus starter Chris Nichting (4-4) for a 3-0 Syracuse lead.
A pair of two-run home runs by Blake built a 7-0 advantage for the SkyChiefs. Blake was 4-for-4 and he has hit 17 home runs and driven in 58 runs for the season.
Kevin Witt hit a solo home run for Syracuse in the seventh. Lopez was 3-for-4 while scoring three runs. Lopez has 95 hits.
"This is a good test for us, all season long (Columbus) has been playing well. It's a chance to see where we stand," SkyChiefs manager Pat Kelly said. "The way they pitch and hit, there should be some good ball played in the next few days."
Tom Davey made his first start for the SkyChiefs after being assigned from the parent Toronto Blue Jays.
Davey held the Clippers (49-29) to one hit through four innings and scoreless until the fifth inning, when the Clippers scored two runs.
"He (Davey) was on a 70-75 pitch count, he was at 72 pitches and one out from being able to get the win, but there is no sense in pushing him just to get it," Kelly said.
Mark Lukasiewicz (2-4) replaced Davey. He worked two innings to get the win with relief help from Brian Smith, who picked up his first save.
DAVEY SENT DOWN:
Tuesday July 29 1999
As expected, reliever Tom Davey was optioned to triple-A Syracuse yesterday to allow RHP Chris Carpenter to come off the disabled list and start for the Blue Jays last night.
Davey has never pitched at the triple-A level and manager Jim Fregosi said he should not view the move as a demotion.
"I told him his stuff is good enough to stay in the majors," Fregosi said.
"All he lacks is the consistency. He has to look at this (his time in the majors) as a good learning experience ... I want him going down there saying, 'I'll prove that s.o.b. wrong.' If I'm that s.o.b., then perfect."
In 29 games with the Blue Jays, Davey had one win, one loss and one save in 441/3 innings. His ERA was 4.70.
DAVEY'S SWAN SONG?
Monday June 28 1999
With Chris Carpenter to be activated from the disabled list tonight, the Blue Jays have to send someone back to the minors.
The likely candidate is reliever Tom Davey, since Carpenter's return pushes Roy Halladay back into the bullpen. Davey is the only reliever who could be sent down without being put on waivers.
Davey would remain with the Jays only if manager Jim Fregosi opts for a 12-man bullpen. That scenario seems unlikely given the lack of offence that has plagued the club recently.
Davey came into the game yesterday with none out and the bases loaded in the third inning. He almost got out of the jam by getting Paul Sorrento to pop out to shallow left and inducing Mike DeFelice to line out to first base, but Kevin Stocker brought in two runs with a sharp single up the middle.
Davey pitched three innings, giving up only Stocker's hit, three walks, and one unearned run.
FORGOTTEN MAN:
Wednesday June 24 1999
Rookie reliever Tom Davey pitched last night for the first time since June 12 in Philadelphia. Davey retired the two Cleveland batters he faced in the ninth inning.
Since the acquisition of John Frascatore and the return of Paul Quantrill, Davey has been shuffled into the bullpen's background after being in the forefront.
"I used to be the first guy up for a right-hander, now I'm the third guy behind Frascatore and Quantrill," Davey said with a laugh. "It's not a case of being frustrated, though. I think you can look at it (his situation) two ways. Because I'm not throwing I can mope around or I can try to learn from the other pitchers, watch guys like Quantrill and the way they go after the hitters."
Davey also revealed that after his outing in Philadelphia, he developed "a little problem" in the rear deltoid between his shoulder and triceps. "I had a little impingement there but after being off for a few days I was ready to go again last Wednesday," he said.
Saturday, June 12, 1999
Phillies 7, Blue Jays 2
Byrd sends Blue Jays reeling
By KEN BERGER -- Associated Press
PHILADELPHIA -- Paul Byrd, making a strong case to go from waiver-wire pickup to All-Star, had a career-high nine strikeouts for his ninth victory Saturday night as the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-2.
Byrd (9-3) won for the seventh time in eight starts and passed Curt Schilling for the club lead in victories. Scott Rolen, Bobby Abreu and Marlon Anderson homered for the Phillies, who have won five of six and trail NL East-leading Atlanta by 4 1/2 games.
Commandeering the inside corner with his less-than stellar fastball, Byrd continued to baffle hitters in both leagues. He allowed one run and four hits in eight innings following his victory over the Yankees with another impressive outing. Byrd walked one and hit a batter.
Byrd, claimed on waivers from the pitching-rich Braves last August, is 14-5 with a 2.82 ERA with the Phillies.
Blue Jays starter Kelvim Escobar (5-4) allowed four runs -- three earned -- and five hits in five innings, walking two and striking out seven. Tony Fernandez was 2-for-4 and is batting a major league-leading .394.
The Phillies continued to thrive after manager Terry Francona juggled the batting order. Abreu got his first hit since being moved up to the No. 3 spot, a towering two-run shot in the fourth, his 11th, to make it 2-0. Ron Gant had two doubles, an RBI and scored a run and is 4-for-8 with four RBIs since moving to the second spot.
Rolen, moved from third to fourth, crushed a 3-2 pitch from Tom Davey off the facing of the upper deck in left for his 13th homer. The two-run shot capped a three-run seventh that gave the Phillies a 7-1 lead.
Byrd lost a bid for his first shutout since the one he tossed against Randy Johnson last season in the sixth. Pinch-hitter Dave Hollins singled, Homer Bush was hit on the elbow and Shawn Green singled to load the bases.
Carlos Delgado hit a sharp bouncer in the hole between first and second that was snared on the
run by second baseman Marlon Anderson. He whirled and bounced his throw on the carpet to
first baseman Rico Brogna for an incredible out, allowing Hollins to score and make it 4-1.
Philadelphia got a run in the third when Doug Glanville doubled and scored when Carlos
Delgado simply missed shortstop Chris Woodward's throw to first after a force play at second.
Anderson's solo homer in the fourth made it 4-0.
Delgado hit a solo homer, his 15th, off Jim Poole in the ninth.
Queen may be fall guy for Toronto's pitching
woes
By BOB ELLIOTT -- Toronto Sun
The precedent has been set. The Los Angeles Dodgers fired pitching coach Charlie Hough May 26. Then, in the Bobby Valentine's Day Massacre, New York Mets pitching coach Bob Apodaca was one of three coaches fired Saturday after a second-consecutive loss to the Yankees. Will Blue Jays pitching coach Mel Queen be next?
Some Jays officials are disappointed with the progress of their young pitchers. They don't see the improvement they expected. They see the same mistakes repeated. In Kelvim Escobar, Chris Carpenter, Roy Halladay, Billy Koch and Tom Davey, the Jays have five flame-throwers -- the envy of baseball.
Yet only Carpenter, with a 3.63 earned-run average, and Koch, with 14 strikeouts in 161/3 innings, have blossomed.
You have to walk before you can fly with the eagles, but these young arms have been making too many one-winged, early landings in the showers.
Escobar has been south of consistent, getting his ERA under 6.00 on Sunday and averaging six innings a start. Halladay has been more down than up, with a 4.85 ERA. Queen's staff ranked ninth in the American League with a team earned-run average of 5.33 entering last night's play.
Meanwhile, Jays starters -- the best in the AL, we were told once or twice this spring -- had a combined ERA of 5.52, also ninth best. The average ERA among starting staffs is 5.28. But this rotation was supposed to be better than average.
Red Sox starters have been the stingiest with a 3.85 ERA, while the Twins have been the worst at 6.64. When Hough was canned, replaced by Claude Osteen, the Dodgers were 22-22. Their starters were fourth overall at 4.74 and the staff was sixth overall at 4.47.
The Jays are below .500 and like most AL teams, when you consider the DH, have a higher ERA. It's by no means a done deal that Queen will take the fall. But rather than firing managers, changing pitching coaches is a new avenue open to teams trying to shake up their organization. Blue Jays president Gord Ash and assistant GMs Dave Stewart and Tim McCleary are watching the progress of their young pitchers.
The difference from other years is that some time in the future Queen will be assessed by Stewart, who had great success as a pitching coach himself. The constantly circulating spotlight of blame certainly isn't going to focus on manager Jim Fregosi and Ash isn't going to turn it on himself.
Fregosi will celebrate his third month on the job next Monday. He has brought stability to a volatile situation since replacing Tim Johnson March 17. It's not Fregosi's fault the team, which he took over with 15 spring-training games remaining, has had a series of injuries to dependable players like right fielder Shawn Green, on his way to an all-star season, or shortstop Alex Gonzalez. Fregosi inherited the coaching staff hired by Ash and Johnson. His only change was Terry Bevington, who was scheduled to manage triple-A Syracuse. Fregosi asked for Bevington after watching third-base coach Sal Butera send one runner after another to a base-path death. Things will change eventually.
It used to be a pitching coach's job was tied to his manager's fortunes. As the Hough and Apodaca firings have shown, that is no longer the case in baseball.
