News
Purcey continues audition for 2010 rotation
Toronto (66-83) vs. Baltimore (60-89), 7:07 p.m. ET
By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com
09/20/09 6:24 PM ET
ST. PETERSBURG -- As far as Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston is concerned, rookie Ricky Romero is the only pitcher beyond ace Roy Halladay who has a spot waiting for him within the 2010 rotation. The rest of the roles will be up for grabs for a handful of arms.That includes left-hander David Purcey, who spent the majority of this season with Triple-A Las Vegas after a rough showing in April with Toronto. If Shaun Marcum returns successfully from his right elbow injury, Purcey will vying for one of two vacancies in a group that includes Brett Cecil, Marc Rzepcynzski, Scott Richmond, Brian Tallet and Brad Mills, among others.
"Right now," Gaston said, "the only guy that you could say that doesn't have to really compete that hard for a job is Ricky. The rest of those guys have to compete for it. No one is ahead of the other one."
On Sept. 14, the 27-year-old Purcey -- a first-round pick by the Blue Jays in the 2004 First-Year Player Draft -- made his return to Toronto's starting staff after spending four months with Vegas. In a no-decision on the road against Detroit, the big lefty allowed two runs on five hits and finished with four strikeouts and four walks over 5 2/3 innings.
Gaston was mostly pleased with the outing.
"He did OK," Gaston said. "He struggled mostly with -- when he struggled in the first part of the game -- it was just control. Then, he pitched pretty good after that."
Command issues have been the main problem throughout this season for Purcey.
After making the Opening Day roster as the No. 3 starter for the Blue Jays, Purcey labored through five April outings, issuing 17 walks across 25 2/3 innings and posting a 7.01 ERA. After being sent back to Triple-A, the left-hander went 9-6 with a 4.46 ERA over 24 starts, during which he compiled 109 strikeouts and 78 walks through 139 1/3 innings.
"All our kids have got little control problems," Gaston said. "It's hard to pitch up here pitching behind all the time, especially with good teams. They'll make you pay. You go 2-0 and 2-1 and 3-1, and then you turn around and walk guys, those walks end up scoring for some reason. If you make them put it in play, you at least have a chance to perhaps get them out."
That's something Gaston will be looking for Purcey to do when he takes the hill against the Orioles on Monday.
Pitching matchup
TOR: LHP David Purcey (0-2, 6.32 ERA)
Purcey is 0-0 with a 5.63 ERA in three outings at home this year.
Tillman is 1-2 with a 4.97 ERA in five starts on the road this year. Bird feed
Right-hander Shaun Marcum, who underwent Tommy John ligament-replacement surgery on his throwing elbow at the end of last season, is scheduled to pitch in the Blue Jays' three-week instructional league, beginning Monday. Marcum is on pace to rejoin Toronto's rotation in the spring. ... On Saturday, designated hitter/outfielder Adam Lind became just the 15th player in Blue Jays history to reach 300 total bases in a single season. Second baseman Aaron Hill also achieved that feat this season. ... Left-hander Jesse Carlson rejoined Toronto's bullpen on Sunday after serving a three-game suspension for his part in Tuesday's bench-clearing incident with the Yankees in New York. ... Left-hander Scott Downs is still considered day-to-day with a right hamstring issue, according to Gaston. ... Entering Sunday, the Blue Jays ranked fifth in the American League with 78 home runs since the All-Star break. Tickets
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• Tuesday: Blue Jays (Brian Tallet, 7-9, 5.31) vs. Orioles (Mark Hendrickson, 5-5, 4.47), 7:07 p.m. ET
• Wednesday: Blue Jays (Scott Richmond, 6-10, 5.31) vs. Orioles (Jeremy Guthrie, 10-15, 5.05), 7:07 p.m. ET
• Thursday: Blue Jays (Ricky Romero, 12-9, 4.28) vs. Mariners (Felix Hernandez, 16-5, 2.45), 7:07 p.m. ET
Jordan Bastian is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
