News
Carlson continues to feel confident in 'pen
Detroit (76-66) vs. Toronto (65-78), 7:05 p.m. ET
By Mike Scott / Special to MLB.com
09/13/09 6:00 PM ET
DETROIT -- For Jesse Carlson, his second season in the Majors has brought some ups and downs, as would be expected. But Carlson, like his bullpen mates, is on a nice run. The left-handed reliever's ERA is at its lowest level since late May and he has allowed just one hit in six appearances throughout the month of September. On Saturday, Carlson allowed just one walk in 1 2/3 innings for his longest outing since May 26 at Baltimore. So Carlson is carrying a high level of confidence into Monday evening's conclusion of a four-game series in Detroit. He is on pace to pitch in more than 70 games after appearing in 69 during 2008, his rookie season. Even better, he feels strong and is ready to help Toronto win more games down the stretch. "I feel good," Carlson said. "We have three weeks left, so we have to go out and try and win as many games as we can. Then after the season, it will be nice to get some rest. But for now, I just have to be ready to pitch every day. Like anyone, I've had my good days and bad days, but I'm preparing myself as best as I can." The Blue Jays' bullpen may not statistically be as strong as it was last year when Toronto led the Majors in bullpen ERA. But with Jason Frasor taking over the closer's role, the roles of such pitchers as Carlson, Brandon League, Scott Downs, Jeremy Accardo and others have become more defined. That has helped spur some improvements in which most of the relievers have lowered their respective ERAs since earlier in the summer. "We feel confident right now in the bullpen, but we pretty much have all year," Carlson said. "We have pretty the much the same guys [in the bullpen] now as we did last year when we were the best in the Majors. Obviously there have been some times when we have struggled, but overall we have kept our team in games." It is largely expected that Toronto's bullpen will have many of the same components again next year, with the Jays' top relief options still under team control in 2010. That could be a sign of an overall improvement in Toronto's record next year, especially if the starting rotation becomes more stable. Carlson, for one, likes the fact that he and his fellow bullpen mates generally know the roles that they will play. "It is good to know that, after being here two years, everyone knows pretty much when they are going to be in the game and [Toronto manager Cito Gaston] does a good job handling that," Carlson said. "I like the fact that we should have the same guys back next year, but still, things can change. You can't worry too much about it and just [have to] come out ready to pitch. Just like any of the guys, I'm going to go in there whenever [Gaston] calls on me." Carlson has a couple of possible anomalies to his statistics this year which are interesting. First, he has struggled at home (1-3, 5.86 ERA) compared to a more consistent road record (2-2, 3.98 ERA). The difference is that he has given up 16 more hits at home in just four more innings. The other anomaly is that he has actually pitched better against right-handed batters, with a 4.72 ERA while allowing 30 hits in 34 and 1/3 innings. His ERA against lefties is 5.23 and he is allowing just over one hit per inning against them. There is an explanation for the splits against right-handers and left-handers, Carlson said, and it has to do with the action on his curveball."I don't change my approach against lefties," he said. "But my breaking ball has been [the] pitch I struggled with for a few months. With the lefties, it was non-existent and wasn't effective there for awhile. It would just kind of sweep across the plate.
"Against the righties, I could still throw that sweeper and it would still appear like a fastball. But I've been able to be more effective recently against lefties with my curveball." Gaston says that Carlson has been better lately against left-handed batters precisely because his curveball has been more effective."As of late, Jesse has had more tilt to his breaking ball, which really matters against lefties," Gaston said. "He was struggling there for a bit with it, but he's come on."
As for the difference between home and road records, Carlson doesn't have an explanation. But he is enjoying the ability to face teams that are still in the playoff hunt on the road in the last month of the season, such as Detroit, where the first three games of the series with Toronto drew nearly a combined 100,000 fans. "It's how our schedule is set up, so we don't have control over who we're playing," Carlson said. "But a lot of these teams are in [the pennant race], so it's fun to be in front of large crowds." Pitching matchupTOR: LHP David Purcey (0-2, 7.01 ERA)
After starting the season with Toronto, Purcey was soon in Triple-A Las Vegas, where he finished the season 9-6 with a 4.46 ERA in 24 starts with 139 1/3 innings pitched. He was recalled after the Triple-A regular season ended. He has made five starts with Toronto this year but was demoted after his April 27 loss to the Texas Rangers. His first start of the season was against Detroit, a no-decision after going seven innings, allowing three runs, two earned, five hits and three walks with five strikeouts. Last year he was 3-6 with a 5.54 ERA in 12 starts with Toronto. The first-round Draft pick (16th overall) from Oklahoma in 2004 made his Major League debut against Detroit on April 18, 2008, and held the Tigers to two hits, one earned run and seven walks in 4 1/3 innings in a no-decision, as the Blue Jays lost, 8-4. DET: RHP Justin Verlander (16-8, 3.24 ERA)
Verlander still has a chance at his first 20-win season, but he's more concerned with helping the Tigers' sew up a playoff berth. The way he's pitching, he's giving the Tigers their best chance to sew up an AL Central title down the stretch. He has given up two runs in 14 innings over his last two starts, but split the decisions at Tampa Bay and Kansas City thanks mainly to run support. His Opening Day loss at Toronto dropped him to 0-2 in as many career meetings with the Blue Jays, who have hit him for 14 runs on 15 hits over eight innings. Tidbits
Gaston spoke in the dugout before Sunday's game on working with his young hitters to improve their hitting techniques. Gaston said he hopes more young hitters will consider playing winter ball now and in the future, in places such as the Dominican Republic. "That gives you a chance to work on some things before you get to Spring Training so you aren't wasting five months," he said. ... Vernon Wells reached base a combined nine times thus far against the Tigers. That is the most times he has been on base in consecutive games since Aug. 23-24, 2008, in Boston. ... Toronto has won eight of its past 13 games at Comerica Park after Sunday's game. ... Rookie starter Ricky Romero has a chance to catch Mark Eichhorn for the team record in wins by a rookie pitcher in a season. Eichhorn won 14 for the Blue Jays back in 1986. Eichhorn won those 14 games as a reliever, during a year in which he appeared in 69 games, had 10 saves and finished with a 1.72 ERA. Tickets
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• Tuesday: Blue Jays (Roy Halladay, 14-9, 3.03) at Yankees (Joba Chamberlain, 8-5, 4.45), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Wednesday: Blue Jays (TBD) at Yankees (TBD), 7:05 p.m. ET
• Tuesday: Off-day
Mike Scott is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
