Game 20 - Blue Jays @ Padres April 19th Game Recap
Rookie Starter Round 2
I love what we are seeing from Yariel Rodriguez. He looks confident on the mound. He does not back down and rare do I see an at-bat where he gives up a meatball. He did get touched up for a home run in this game but alongside Yimi Garcia, when he was on the mound, I was the most confident in the San Diego Sherbets having a hard time scoring any runs.
His partner, Bowden Francis had a rough start before Rodriguez arrived, but now Bowden has come into back-to-back games with a lead and the team left with a lead. That’s all I ask. I do want to see him work the lower half of the zone. He throws hard and the curve is nasty but I think the tape on him will get better as time passes and hitters will learn how to hit those pitches living high in the zone.
The best part of this round two was the similarity to round one and the ability for the pitchers to keep the lead where it was for the entirety of the game.
We have to talk about the defense. For all of my complaints about the bats; the defense is top-5 in baseball for fielding and I am seeing a difference. It helps when the Red Sox and Yankees are games I see often and they are both bottom-5 in team defense. I see the benefits of good defense and the harm bad defense can bring. It’s like watching a quarterback drop back to pass and having to wonder what team is going to catch the ball. When the ball is in play, I feel like there is a good chance a defense will have a chance to make a play and more often than not, make the out. A huge comfort for a fan desperately waiting for the big bats to get going.
About the Bats
The lineup has done a sneaky job of getting their averages above 200 and a few above 300. Batting average is not what it used to be and frankly, my eyes tell me a lot more about how I feel. Bo and Vald are finding ways to get sloppy hits and I’m fine with that. Anything that gets them on base, into the game, and not thinking about their previous at-bat being an out is what I want. I still want to know why they are 1-2 in the order, or 2-3 when Springer is playing. I 5h*t you not, when we get to the Bo-Vlad part of the lineup, I am still at the point of hoping we get through without ending the inning. Tonight it was Turner and Kiermaier with the early run production. Danny Jansen is quickly getting into the routine. i hope by him taking time behind the plate, Alejandro Kirk can get back into the hit routine.
The rest of the lineup is doing what they need to do. They cycle performance around the lineup and provide enough run support to give this pitching staff a chance to do what they do so well.
Things are coming around. I’m inflated by this being a game one win of a west coast series. I’m inflated by this being against another team, in their stadium who was also playing good baseball coming into the game. This is a measuring moment for this team and what we saw last night was a statement of confidence.
Season (11-9) Player of the Game: Kevin Kiermaier (2)
Season PotG: WINS: Berrios (2), Bassitt (2), Biggio (1), Schneider (1), Turner (1), Kikuchi (1), Varsho (1), Guerrero (1) LOSSES: Varsho (3), Springer (2), Kiermaier (1), Schneider (1), Bichette (1), Garcia (1)
The Rest of the East
Tampa Bay (11-9) - The Rays were really close to making the comeback happen. They had runners on base and the momentum in their favor. They fell short in the end. The problem for the Rays is, they didn’t look like they were going to win this game. Had they scored more runs, this felt like the Yankees playing poorly and giving one away. I feel like this is the narrative cloud building around the Rays that becomes more opaque as the games go by.
Baltimore (12-7) - Are the Royals good? I think they are because they straight up beat the Orioles tonight. I might have to adjust my fear level around the Orioles. They have lost that conveyor belt offense and the good teams are finding ways to score runs against their pitching. I fear the chase because the Orioles will beat the teams they need to. I think the Blue Jays have a chance to hang with them when they share the field.
New York (14-6) - Do the Yankees have an offense problem? Sure, they scored 5 but it was all in one inning and they were helped greatly by some bad defense and a tired pitcher. An underwhelming victory with some flash, but a win is a win.
Boston (11-10) - Went into Pittsburgh and hit home run after home run while the Pirates’ batters made out after out. This is the kind of performance that if repeated, can change the narrative around the team. For now, all we can say is the AL East is really tough, but the Rays and Red Sox are still outside looking in.
Thanks for reading.
