Among the many reasons that the Toronto Blue Jays were viewed as a favorite to win the AL pennant (at least among the staff here at The Outside Corner) was their lineup’s ability to crush opposing pitching. Playing the role of Wile E. Coyote underneath a piano dropped from the sky in Monday’s Game 4 of the ALDS was Rangers starter Derek Holland.
Toronto jumped on Holland right away, as Ben Revere led off the game with an infield single and Josh Donaldson followed with an opposite field home run for a 2-0 lead.
It appeared that Holland might limit the damage, getting the next two batters out. But Chris Colabello put a third run on the board with another homer. Any thought the Rangers and fans at Globe Life Park had of closing out the ALDS and celebrating the win on their home field were quickly doused, as the Blue Jays flexed their muscles. Toronto wasn’t done hammering Holland either, as Kevin Pillar added a home run of his own for a 4-0 lead, almost assuring a deciding Game 5 back at Rogers Centre.
Texas couldn’t keep Holland in the game to try and eat some innings after the first two Blue Jays batters reached base in the third. Both runners came around to score later in the inning when Colby Lewis came on in relief. Overall, Holland finished with six runs, five hits, one walk and three home runs allowed in just two innings of work. If the Rangers advance to the ALCS, it’s worth wondering whether or not manager Jeff Banister will consider starting Holland in another Game 4 or opt for another starter, perhaps one on short rest.
However, despite the Blue Jays’ offensive onslaught, the lingering topic from their Game 4 victory will likely be manager John Gibbons’ decision to take starter R.A. Dickey out of the game after pitching 4.2 innings, having only allowed one run, and replace him with David Price. Pitching Price in relief wasn’t a questionable decision by itself. Toronto was facing elimination and Price was throwing what was essentially his between-starts side session. But leaving Price in the game to pitch three innings and throw 50 pitches with a large lead is open to criticism.
ARLINGTON, TX – OCTOBER 12: David Price #14 of the Toronto Blue Jays walks off the mound at the end of the seventh inning against the Texas Rangers in game four of the American League Division Series at Globe Life Park in Arlington on October 12, 2015 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
“It wasn’t an easy decision,” Gibbons told reporters after the game, including the National Post‘s John Lott. “It was hard for me to do, but I thought that was the best way to win the game – keep them from coming back, even if they came back a little but late in the game and made (winning) reachable for them.”
Perhaps Gibbons didn’t like what he was seeing from Dickey and thought the Rangers stood a good chance of mounting a comeback against him. But he did have a six-run lead to work with, so wouldn’t it have been better to save Price for a do-or-die Game 5? It certainly appears that Gibbons had already decided to start Marcus Stroman on Wednesday, so he had Price available in relief. But by letting him throw 50 pitches and letting Texas wear him down (totaling three runs and six hits against him) means he’ll be unavailable if Stroman falters early in Game 5.
There’s something to be said for pitching a surer bet like Price in middle relief to keep the Rangers down. And that allowed Toronto to save most of its bullpen, arguably making seven relievers available for Game 5 if Stroman doesn’t last five or six innings. Of course, if Stroman pitches well, the Blue Jays put runs on the board early, and the bullpen holds the lead smoothly, Gibbons won’t be second-guessed for his decision. But if the season is on the line and the Jays’ best pitcher isn’t available because he pitched in a relative blowout? Winter could be even colder in Toronto during the offseason.
Game 5 of the ALDS will be on Wednesday with first pitch set for 4:07 p.m. ET. Yovani Gallardo will start for the Rangers, while as mentioned, Stroman gets the nod for the Blue Jays. The game will be televised on FS1.
