On this, the evening of Brad Mill’s second start of the season, I renew my claim that anything can happen in this starting rotation.
A guy named Brett Lawrie also takes his first career at bats this eve.
Seven straight balls from Brad Mills in the third inning. I digress, or not.
If the wind does not blow in Mills’ direction tonight, does Litsch then rejoin the rotation?
Luis Perez is also in the running. Jays management would seem to want to have a look at him in the rotation, or so it has been suggested by the Jays Talk. Since Mills has already thrown a few starts over the past three seasons, he now needs a string of quality starts to stick around.
One out, two on, bottom of three. Blue Birds four, Orange ones two.
If and when he does join the rotation, Luis Perez will have a slightly longer leash than Mills, given that it would be his first opportunity.
One gets the sense that this will be the last best chance for Brad Mills to permanently join the ranks of MLB starters.
If only in shades, does watching Brad Mills pitch remind you of a young Jimmy Key?
He’s out of the third. Two runners left on.
Brett Lawrie to take his second at bat. No longer batting 1000.
Mills survives the fourth.
Alan Ashby and Jerry Howarth speak in ominous tones about Mills’ shaky control, leaving pitches well above and up in the zone. Can he settle in for another few innings?
Three up, three down in the fifth. Mills in position for the win.
Jerry Howarth just called Brad Mills a magician. Alan Ashby corrects himself on having judged Mills too harshly.
It’s clear Alan Ashby does not get a good feeling watching Brad Mills, pitching high with a fastball of 86 mph.
Mills then walks two, loads the bases, and allows another run.
Jays 4, Orioles 3.
In comes Perez to get the Jays out of the sixth.
Jays jump ahead to a 5-3 lead in the top of the seventh.
Litsch comes in to get the Jays through the seventh.
It looks like neither Perez or Litsch will fill Villanueva’s rotation spot.
Could it be the second coming of Kyle Drabek? Or the first coming of Henderson Alvarez?
Frank Francisco continues his streak of effectiveness with a clean eighth inning.
Brad Mills will earn the victory on 5.1 IP and 3 ER, 4 BB and 5 SO, if John Rauch can lock it down in the ninth.
Rauch has been our most reliable closer of the season, and that’s not saying much at all.
I look forward to saying goodbye to this man, though not as excruciating as Kevin Gregg, he is less effective and certainly a place holder with a very limited shelf life in Toronto.
He did it. Rauch the save, Mills the win and most likely another whirl (start), despite not pitching nearly as well tonight as he did in his last outing.
He may be one of these guys who can buck the trend. Maybe he can get away with throwing up in the zone, said Ashby.