The Sun on our Side: Jays Salvage Final Game vs Yankees



The Jays lost two in a row before finally salvaging the third game. The season ended. The world ended. And somehow, the Jays are now only half a game back.

The difference today between salvation (1/2 game back) and damnation (2.5 games back) was the sun. Had Carlos Beltran made a play on that ball hit by Tulowitzki, that whole inning changes.

"As soon as the ball was hit, I saw it all the way," Beltran said. "I lost it when it was basically getting close to me. I couldn't do anything. The ball hit me in the back. Unfortunately, it would have been a different story if I had caught that ball."

Severino is insanely talented, but really showed his youth. A more veteran guy will often find a way to tighten it up and bail his boy out after a misplay. The frustration was evident on his face.

"I think I'm doing pretty good, and I'll keep working hard so I can do it better," Severino said through an interpreter. "I just try to hit the glove most of the time. Hit the glove and everything's going to be OK."

Gibbons had pretty high praise for Severino.
Six games of the "13 remaining against the Yankees" have been played. The Jays lead it so far 4-2. Both loses over the weekend were tight and the Jays did hold the Yankees scoreless over much of both series. The Jays can have this, but they can't get complacent.

That was made abundantly clear this weekend.

Going into the weekend, many were wondering why R.A. Dickey wasn't called upon to pitch versus the Yankees on short rest- that certainly looked to be the plan until Drew Hutchison pitched well against the A's. And it was important to show some faith in him, because he is still needed down the stretch.

Also, while Dickey's been pitching really well, he still needs rest. If all goes the way the Jays plan, they need these guys to pitch another ten weeks.

Hutchison spoke after the game about all the speculation and how he is trying to stay focused.

"When it comes to things that are out of my control, I don't really pay any attention to that," Hutchison said. "I'm not going to talk about it. I'm focused on what I can control and if it comes from outside, it doesn't have anything to do with me or what I need to do to prepare."

Hutchison is obviously someone who cares very deeply about his work and that he has taken these struggles to heart. He has a lot of talent. It's very apparent when he's pitching well. And it's very easy to forget how young he is because he's been around so long. He's been a pitcher for the Jays longer than any other guy in the starting rotation. He was drafted and developed by the Jays. Hutch rehabbed with the Jays when he had Tommy John a few years ago. Hutchison is a Blue Jay. 

"He's a tough kid. He's had his struggles this year. That's obvious. You can't hide from that. But he's been great at home," manager John Gibbons said. "And he was again today. His last two starts he's had, when he's been under the gun, maybe not from us, but from [the media] -- but that's reality, that's the baseball world. He responded. I've seen him do that before."

The difference for Hutch is fastball command. From that he can use his slider and without it, he's lost.

Bautista hit his 29th homer today against Severino. He also had high praise for the crowd's energy over the home stand.

"It's awesome. I've never experienced anything like that so I'm going to continue to enjoy it. ... I guarantee that the fans are enjoying it, they're loving it. We really get to feel that energy from the crowds and how into the games they've been getting lately."

We are so ready.

There was a celebration of the 1985 Toronto Blue Jays, who clinched the AL East for the first time 30 years ago. The 1985 outfield threw out first pitches to the 2015 outfield. 


George Bell making the catch and falling to his knees as Tony Fernandez runs out is probably the most iconic image in Blue Jays history after Joe Carter being lifted by his teammates in 1993 and Roberto Alomar's touchdown arms after his homer off Dennis Eckersley in the 1992 ALCS.


Speaking of the 1985 Blue Jays, here is a Bob Elliot article describing how Damaso Garcia burned his uniform in 1986. And generally how he hates Jimy Williams.

I haven't heard any player say that John Gibbons is the puppet of Alex Anthopoulos to the press. In the Toronto Sun comment section, yes.

Bobby Cox helped a kid lie to his father at McDonald's. Also, I want one of those white panel caps for $1.99. They looked really sweet on the field today.




I don't think Bobby Cox made it to the ceremony today. Does Cox just pretend he was never managed in Toronto? Do we all just pretend Cito Gaston (who showed up today) was the manager rather than the hitting coach? Is Bobby Cox ok? Am I the only one to think this is weird?

Does Jesse Barfield have a picture of himself on his sweatbands in that picture above?

So many questions.