Jays thrive on Tulowitzki’s D
Shortstop’s defensive prowess has strong trickle-down effect on team’s pitching, offence
ANAHEIM, CALIF.— Third baseman Josh Donaldson drifted into foul territory, looking up into a cloudless Sunday sky at Angels Stadium, battling the high sun.
As he fought the glare, quietly at his left elbow in the coaching box was shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, ready to help, to take over if Donaldson lost the ball or bailed at the last second.
It was a routine play, but apparently no game detail is too small for Tulowitzki.
From first pitch to final out, the Jays’ new shortstop never takes a play off, even if the ball isn’t hit in his direction. He’s forever looking for an edge for his team, a way to contribute, to make a difference. If the Jays look back and examine their 21-4 record since Tulo- witzki made his debut on July 29, the reality is it’s not about his bat as much as it is his towering presence as a defender.
Toronto’s pitchers have become better since the deadline — starters and in the bullen — and the team is winning.
“It’s been huge,” Jays pitching coach Pete Walker said of the team’s defensive improvement.
“From a pitching standpoint, you know you just need to make pitches. You can force contact and when they hit the ball on the ground you know there’s a good chance that play is going to be made. That’s a real comforting feeling for a pitcher.
“I still am of the mind, and a lot of people are, that pitching and defence win championships.
“Obviously, we’re better in those areas.”
Tulowitzki is the reason for such improvment.
On Sunday against the Angels, it was already 5-1 in the first inning and starter R.A. Dickey admitted he was walking a tightrope. With Kaleb Cowart on second base, Grant Green lashed a hard grounder up the middle. Tulowitzki reacted quickly to his left and dove full length with no chance for the out but kept the ball from going to centre field, thus holding Cowart at third. Dickey got the next out. The shortstop saved a run but with nothing to show on the scoresheet.
“The team realized that,” Tulowitzki said, when asked if the pitchers understood his subtle contribution.
“When I got back in the dugout, everybody told me that was a good play. That’s what I’ve tried to do, bring it on a daily basis, do whatever I can defensively to help us win.”
There’s more. Leading off the Angels’ fifth with the Jays leading by four, David Murphy smashed a ball high off the wall in right-centre. Kevin Pillar’s throw went to second as Murphy was already sliding in safely. But Tulowitzki received the throw, laid his glove firmly against Murphy’s leg and hip, maintaining the tag all the way through the the play. But the play was not over.
The Jays’ shortstop understands the subtleties of the new review process, so as Murphy executed a sweet pop-up slide, his foot elevated ever-so-briefly off and over the base. Tulowitzki was staring at the separation with glove clearly in place. As Dickey asked for a new ball to work the next batter, Tulowitzki calmly signalled to manager John Gibbons for a review. And yes, the call was reversed. “I didn’t believe him because I had never been part of a play like that,” Dickey said with an admiring shake of his head. “So I thought, maybe (in his mind) he thought he did (get the out). I’m glad he was right because it took me three (more) pitches to get out of that inning and then I was able to throw another one, so it was a great family, community win. “It was fun to be a part of.” The other Tulowitzki contributions on Sunday were more evident.
There was a play up the middle on Mike Trout, fielding the ball on the grass in centre, spinning and blindly firing a one-hop bullet that Justin Smoak swept up for an out. And there was the rarity of Tulowitzki’s own two hits, a walk and another rocket hit to third base with the bases loaded that squeezed its way out to left field for two key runs. Not a rarity because he isn’t capable, but because he hasn’t done it. The hits will come.
Dickey knew this was not one of his better pitching efforts, but also knows that his team won the game. He understands the importance of the revamped defence that has been the single biggest factor in the renaissance of the Jays starters and bullpen.
He also believes if you pitch it, they will field it.
“There’s not many teams I’ve been on in my 19 years that rival our infield when we’ve got those guys out there,” Dickey said. “They’re really, really good at what they do. They have such great game-clocks. Their game-clocks are always on time. They know how fast a guy’s running down the line, they know how much time they have on a double play turn.”
Unlike hitting, an aspect of the game that can run hot and cold, speed and defence never rest.
The Blue Jays are hoping that rule will apply to them come late into October.