Even if Roy Halladay had to wait until the fourth inning to get into the MLB All-Star game, there's a slight amount of solace for us in seeing that Jays farmhand David Purcey got the start for the International League in last night's Triple-A All Star Game in Louisville.Purcey pitched two strong innings, allowing no hits, no walks, and no runs while striking out three Pacific Coast Leaguers.
Though Purcey's two spot starts for the Jays this season have been something less than spectacular, he continues to pitch well for Syracuse and offers a glimmer of hope that there is something in the back closet for the Jays should the rotation's ranks continue to thin out through injuries and/or trades.
Purcey told a local Syracuse new channel that the experience of being called up has prepared him for his next opportunity with the big club. Moreover, he sounds as though he's maturing in his approach to pitching: "I'm finally starting to realize that I don't have to overthrow every pitch, and that I can stay in a certain range," Purcey told News 10.
If there is one thing that you could accuse Purcey of in his first two starts, it was overthrowing, as he walked 11 in 7.1 inning over those first two starts. Here's hoping that his stated realization translates into a palpably better performance when the next opportunity comes his way.
I certainly hope Purcey pans out - I remember the excitement (relatively speaking) when he and Jackson were drafted together, it would suck if neither got past the 'fringe major-leaguer' label
ReplyDeleteTime's a-wasting for Purcey...he's already 26, and will be 27 in April 2009.
ReplyDeleteEven given the fact that he's had some injury problems, he's approaching now or never time.
i didn't know purcey was so old.
ReplyDeletei think if litsch keeps shitting the bed - he's been getting hit HARD recently - purcey deserves another shot.
BJ Ryan didn't become a "good" ML reliever until age 27. Brian Tallet, 28. Jesse Carlson, 27. Scott Downs, 29. Lefties are a different breed, but even Marcum/McGowan didn't really put it together until they were 25.
ReplyDeleteFrankly, if guys develop a bit slower it's less difficult watching them walk as FAs in their early 30s knowing their best is most likely behind them.
So says the 29-year-old guy who has been staring at the same unfinished PhD dissertation for the past 4 years...