Felix Hernandez pushing for AL Cy Young
While Seattle’s young righthander has his sights set on winning the first of possibly many Cy Young awards, Cito Gaston and the Toronto Blue Jays are just trying to win back their fans.
It’s been a strange season for Cito Gaston and the Toronto Blue Jays. Darlings to a lot of MLB fans early in the season when they raced out to a lead in the AL East, the Jays’ slide since mid-May has made them redheaded stepchildren to their own fans who are staying away from Rogers Centre in droves.
Check out the turnstile figures from their most recent contests at their home arena:
The all-time low for the franchise was set 30 years ago in old Exhibition Stadium when just 10,074 paying customers showed up for an April 1979 contest against the ChiSox. Tom Underwood started for the Blue Birds that day, and it’s pretty sad when a guy like Halladay can only draw a thousand more than one of the Underwood Brothers.
Earlier this week Gaston talked about the team needing to put together a strong close to the season, win some games and, in so doing, win back some fans as the club plays its final homestand of the season. His players responded with a three-game sweep of the Orioles this week, outscoring Baltimore 22-10. They will now face a tougher opponent in the Seattle Mariners who are also hoping to close their campaign strong and complete a better-than-expected season.
Thursday’s series opener is a pitching rematch from July 27 in Seattle, a game won easily by the Blue Jays, 11-4. Felix Hernandez was battered for seven earned in 5.2 innings while Ricky Romero tossed six and surrendered all four Mariners plate crossing.
This series has seen a huge home field advantage with the Blue Jays 10-5 in the Rogers Centre since the start of the 2006 season. In Seattle back in late July, the Mariners took two of three to up their record to 10-5 at home over Toronto in the same time span.
King Felix has pitched well under the Toronto top in his career, posting a 2.89 ERA in four starts (28 IP) though Seattle has managed to win just two of the four games. Ricky the Rookie has done ok at home in his first season, with the Blue Jays 8-5 in his 13 assignments at Rogers Centre. He’s held opponents to less than a hit per inning, but has been plagued by control trouble at home more than on the road, walking 42 in 75.1 innings in Toronto compared to 30 in 84.1 road frames.
Hernandez and the Mariners are drawing the -150 chalk for this one. Seattle 4-1 in his last five starts while Felix has allowed just two runs over his last four outings covering 31 innings (0.58 ERA). So I’m not about to go against the King as he looks to crown his excellent 2009 effort with the AL Cy Young Award.
STARTING PITCHERS
Game 1, Thu, Sep 24, 7:07 p.m. (ET): Felix Hernandez (22-9, 2.45) vs. Ricky Romero (13-13, 4.28)
WEATHER
It’s going to be chilly, at least by South Texas standards, with a game time temp around 62°F (17°C), but there isn’t much chance for rain so I’m guessing the roof at the Rogers Centre will be open. Any wind that gets in will be coming out of the North at around 5-10 MPH (in from CF).
While Seattle’s young righthander has his sights set on winning the first of possibly many Cy Young awards, Cito Gaston and the Toronto Blue Jays are just trying to win back their fans.
It’s been a strange season for Cito Gaston and the Toronto Blue Jays. Darlings to a lot of MLB fans early in the season when they raced out to a lead in the AL East, the Jays’ slide since mid-May has made them redheaded stepchildren to their own fans who are staying away from Rogers Centre in droves.
Check out the turnstile figures from their most recent contests at their home arena:
- Wednesday, Sep 9, vs. Twins: 11,159
- Thursday, Sep 10 vs. Twins: 11,461
- Monday, Sep 21 vs. Orioles: 11,598
- Tuesday, Sep 22 vs. Orioles: 11,869
- Wednesday, Sep 23 vs. Orioles: 13,743
The all-time low for the franchise was set 30 years ago in old Exhibition Stadium when just 10,074 paying customers showed up for an April 1979 contest against the ChiSox. Tom Underwood started for the Blue Birds that day, and it’s pretty sad when a guy like Halladay can only draw a thousand more than one of the Underwood Brothers.
Earlier this week Gaston talked about the team needing to put together a strong close to the season, win some games and, in so doing, win back some fans as the club plays its final homestand of the season. His players responded with a three-game sweep of the Orioles this week, outscoring Baltimore 22-10. They will now face a tougher opponent in the Seattle Mariners who are also hoping to close their campaign strong and complete a better-than-expected season.
Thursday’s series opener is a pitching rematch from July 27 in Seattle, a game won easily by the Blue Jays, 11-4. Felix Hernandez was battered for seven earned in 5.2 innings while Ricky Romero tossed six and surrendered all four Mariners plate crossing.
This series has seen a huge home field advantage with the Blue Jays 10-5 in the Rogers Centre since the start of the 2006 season. In Seattle back in late July, the Mariners took two of three to up their record to 10-5 at home over Toronto in the same time span.
King Felix has pitched well under the Toronto top in his career, posting a 2.89 ERA in four starts (28 IP) though Seattle has managed to win just two of the four games. Ricky the Rookie has done ok at home in his first season, with the Blue Jays 8-5 in his 13 assignments at Rogers Centre. He’s held opponents to less than a hit per inning, but has been plagued by control trouble at home more than on the road, walking 42 in 75.1 innings in Toronto compared to 30 in 84.1 road frames.
Hernandez and the Mariners are drawing the -150 chalk for this one. Seattle 4-1 in his last five starts while Felix has allowed just two runs over his last four outings covering 31 innings (0.58 ERA). So I’m not about to go against the King as he looks to crown his excellent 2009 effort with the AL Cy Young Award.
STARTING PITCHERS
Game 1, Thu, Sep 24, 7:07 p.m. (ET): Felix Hernandez (22-9, 2.45) vs. Ricky Romero (13-13, 4.28)
WEATHER
It’s going to be chilly, at least by South Texas standards, with a game time temp around 62°F (17°C), but there isn’t much chance for rain so I’m guessing the roof at the Rogers Centre will be open. Any wind that gets in will be coming out of the North at around 5-10 MPH (in from CF).
