NewsCloser struggles plague Jays' season
Toronto (71-84) vs. Seattle (80-75), 1:07 p.m. ET
By Jordan Bastian / MLB.com
09/26/09 5:58 PM ET
TORONTO -- When the Blue Jays look back on this season, analyzing what went awry, the team's record in close contests will undoubtedly stand out. There are a number of reasons to account for Toronto's struggles in tight games -- one being a lack of stability at the back end of the bullpen."Our bullpen had a tough year this year," Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi said.
Playing into that is the youth and inexperience of the starting rotation, but missing a defined closer has hurt as well. Earlier this year, the Blue Jays released a struggling B.J. Ryan -- signed to a five-year deal prior to the 2006 season to be the club's closer -- forcing Scott Downs and Jason Frasor into late-inning duty.
Downs, who served as one of the game's top setup men over the past few seasons, is currently nursing a right hamstring injury and has battled health issues throughout the year. That has led to inconsistency from the lefty, creating more of an opportunity for Frasor -- in the midst of a career year -- to take the ball in the ninth inning.
"He's done a great job for us this year," said Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston, referring to Frasor. "Especially since Downs has been out hurt and B.J. wasn't able to close when he was here. He's done a great job for us. He's been steady all year for us."
As Toronto begins planning for 2010, when the Jays will still be on the hook for the $10 million remaining on Ryan's contract, Ricciardi believes both Downs and Frasor will see time as the team's closer.
"It might be a situation where they both share it," Ricciardi said. "At times, they have both done well in the role, and at times, they both have hit a wall a little bit. So maybe it's a spot where we can mix and match a little bit. They both have done a good job, it's just I don't know if either one of them in the course of a whole season, time will tell, if they'll be able to hold up."
Losing an effective Ryan stripped the Jays of a known commodity at the back of the bullpen. Heading into Toronto's final home game of the season on Sunday against the Mariners, Toronto has notched a Major League-low 23 saves this season in just 39 chances. Frasor (10) and Downs (nine) -- both free agents after 2010 -- have shouldered much of the load.
Saturday's 5-4 win over Seattle in 10 innings -- aided by two shutout frames from Frasor -- was a rare close victory for Toronto this year.
The Jays have posted a 29-44 record in games decided by one or two runs. There is more behind that than just the trials of the bullpen, but 16 blown saves and a 7-12 record in extra-inning games does show the value of having a reliable closer.
Toronto is hoping that heading into next year with Frasor and Downs set to split the duties, will help bring back some of that stability.
"We've got Frasor and Downs," Ricciardi said. "It's a comforting thought knowing that both of them can pitch in that role."
Pitching matchup
TOR: LHP Brian Tallet (7-9, 5.39 ERA)
Tallet has posted a 6.00 ERA in four career appearances against the Mariners.
Rowland-Smith is 1-0 with a 4.20 ERA in four career games vs. the Blue Jays. Bird feed
Left-hander David Purcey will likely make one more start this season for the Blue Jays, according to Gaston. Purcey would take the mound again on either Oct. 2 or Oct. 3 in Baltimore, assuming the rotation spot of lefty Brian Tallet or right-hander Scott Richmond. ... Dating back to 2002, Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay has logged a Major League-leading 45 complete games and 12 shutouts. In fact, his 45 complete games over than span are more than 17 different teams have produced as a whole. ... Entering Saturday, the Blue Jays were tied for first in the Majors with 30 home runs in September. ... The Jays' pitching staff has posted a 4.27 ERA with catcher Rod Barajas behind the plate, representing the 11th-highest catcher's ERA in the Majors through Friday. ... The Jays have cycled seven different players in and out of the cleanup spot this season. Going into Saturday's play, Toronto's production from the fourth hole of its lineup ranked 10th in the American League in runs (86) and 13th in home runs (17) and RBIs (77). ... The 212 combined RBIs by designated hitter Adam Lind (109) and second baseman Aaron Hill (103) are the most by Jays teammates since 2003 (Carlos Delgado/Vernon Wells, 262). ... Wells error in center field in the eighth inning on Saturday was his first since June 22, 2008, ending a run of 207 errorless games. Tickets
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• Monday: Blue Jays (Scott Richmond, 7-10, 5.32) at Red Sox (Josh Beckett, 16-6, 3.78), 7:10 p.m. ET
• Tuesday: Blue Jays (Ricky Romero, 12-9, 4.28) at Red Sox (Clay Buchholz, 7-3, 3.21), 7:10 p.m. ET
• Wednesday: Blue Jays (Roy Halladay, 16-10, 2.90) at Red Sox (Tim Wakefield, 11-4, 4.33), 7:10 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.
