Music: {allcanada} Alvarez shines again in defeat

Free Standard Shipping on Purchase of Limited Edition Detroit 874s (728x90)

CHICAGO – Henderson Alvarez was two starts into his big-league career when he said something that both surprised and impressed Toronto Blue Jays manager John Farrell.

Headed to Oakland on a West Coast swing in August, the right-hander told his coaches that he needed to start throwing the ball in more to hitters on both sides of the plate. The 21-year-old then proceeded to allow just one run in six innings against the Athletics in what ended as a 5-1 loss.

"That was a pretty mature statement for a guy who at the time had (two) starts at the big-league level and he had already felt that," Farrell recalled. "Then to go out and execute it and then continue on with that approach I think speaks volumes to his awareness on the mound and his willingness to pitch in, which some guys are reluctant for fear of hitting a guy and putting him on base.

"He's confident in his fastball command, and knows he's got to pitch in to make his changeup that much more effective, and to take advantage of an above average sinking fastball."

Alvarez was back at it on a rainy Tuesday night in his team's penultimate game of the 2011 season, throwing seven strong innings in a hard-luck 2-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox.

Once again there was a lot to like from the impressive Venezuelan, who predominantly uses a hard sinking fastball and excellent changeup to work over opposing hitters. In his previous start against the Los Angeles Angels and on Tuesday against the White Sox, he also worked in a cutter, a pitch he mothballed earlier in the year because of the pain it caused in his elbow.

Subbing it in for his work-in-progress slider, the cutter was an effective weapon for him.

"The last few starts I didn't have my slider so I needed something to move away from right-handed hitters," he said in Spanish comments interpreted by coach Luis Rivera. "I worked on the cutter in my last start, it worked good for me, so I continued to use it today.

"Before it used to bother my elbow, but in the last two starts, I threw it and it didn't bother me at all."

The two runs he allowed – on a Tyler Flowers solo blast in the second and an A.J. Pierzynski RBI single in the sixth – marked the seventh time in 10 starts he's surrendered three runs or less, and he's lasted six innings or more eight times.

For a rotation that hasn't been anywhere near that consistent this year, that's been a boon. His perfomances have caught the attention of his teammates, all impressed by his stuff and poise, and of course Farrell, who sees Alvarez (1-3) as a strong candidate for next year's rotation.

"He's certainly made a strong statement, there's no doubt about it," said Farrell. "You look at the overall stuff, he certainly gives off the presence and feeling that he belongs here. There's no question he believes in himself, and it's evident by the way he pitches."

Asked he felt like a big-leaguer, Alvarez didn't hesitate in saying: "Yes."

Still, Alvarez's fine work – he also matched a season-high with six strikeouts and didn't walk a batter – wasn't enough for the Blue Jays (80-81) to avoid a fourth straight loss. They must win Wednesday's season finale to ensure a .500 season.

That was due to seven outstanding innings from Mark Buehrle (12-9), who a day after Ozzie Guillen vacated the manager's seat, made what may have been his last start with the White Sox (79-82).

The left-hander is eligible for free agency in the fall and acting manager Don Cooper, the club's pitching coach, sent him out to the mound for the eighth on his own, then came out to pull him from the game as the remnants of an announced crowd of 23,934 feted him.

Buehrle walked to the dugout serenaded by the Foo Fighters' "My Hero" and tipped his hat to the crowd, bowed and then was greeted by hugs from all his teammates. He then came out for another curtain call to the crowd's delight.

Toronto-born right-hander Jesse Crain replaced him and surrendered a solo shot to Mike McCoy that ate into Chicago's lead, but the Blue Jays got no closer.

"We've got one more opportunity (to reach .500)," said Farrell. "We've hovered around this mark pretty much all year and it would be a significant way to finish the season, and particularly for the guys in this clubhouse to go out on a winning note, and use it all as a positive step into the off-season."

---

MEETING TIME

Farrell praised his coaching staff prior to the penultimate game of the 2011 season but said their status for next year won't be determined until organizational meetings later this week.

Decisions must be made on hitting coach Dwayne Murphy, pitching coach Bruce Walton, bench coach Don Wakamatsu, first base coach Torey Lovullo, third base coach Brian Butterfield and bullpen coach Pat Hentgen.

All were part of what was one of the Blue Jays' deepest and most talented coaching staffs in recent memory.

"We haven't addressed them individually or specifically. That will be taken care of, and all are aware of that, when we go back to Toronto," Farrell said Tuesday. "I think it's important to include with that it's a group that was brought together with some guys that have had relationships here, a history here. I have been very satisfied with the work that's been done.

"The working relationship and mutual respect we all have for one another – they're all about the right thing, which is the player first. Their approach is one that I feel very good about putting our players in position to be successful."

The club's season-ending meetings are Friday in Toronto.

The staff was put together by Farrell and GM Alex Anthopoulos last year, with Murphy, Walton and Butterfield the holdovers from Cito Gaston's 2010 crew. All remain popular with the players.

One interesting situation is that of Murphy, who like Gaston preaches to hitters that they go to the plate looking to attack a certain pitch. At times this season Murphy has been critical of the way his batters have been too aggressive at the plate, while earlier this month Farrell spoke of how he'd like to see his players grind out opposing pitchers more.

In discussing that Tuesday, he noted the two philosophies need not be mutually exclusive.

"What we want to do is be aggressive in a disciplined strike zone up and down the lineup," said Farrell. "If you run a deep count and take a base on balls, then it's a matter of passing the baton onto the next guy.

"Our goal is to have nine tough outs in the lineup and if that means running up pitch counts of the opposition … that's a real part of the game today.

"If you are able to reach that point by mid-innings, then hopefully you're into their bullpen earlier in the game and that has an effect on tomorrow's game and the three-game series. I don't think what we're talking about is revolutionary, but at the same time we're trying to be a tough out from top to bottom."

The Blue Jays offence entered Tuesday's play fifth in the AL in runs with 739, but 10th in batting average at .250 and ninth in on-base percentage at .317. Worth noting is that the Blue Jays carried lots of roster filler at the start of the season no longer with the club.

The pitching staff, meanwhile, has also seen lots of movement over the season, and it carried a 4.34 ERA that ranked 11th in the AL.

The bullpen's ERA of 3.89 ranked 10th.

Wakamatsu interviewed for a handful of managerial openings last year, including the one in Toronto, and may be a sought after commodity this fall as well.

---

INJURIES: The season is over for shortstop Yunel Escobar and it may be too for DH Edwin Encarnacion, who is receiving treatment for pain in his neck and left shoulder.

Encarnacion hurt himself Sunday from "swinging too hard," he said, and was receiving treatment.

Farrell was hopeful that he will play in Wednesday's season finale, but they will not risk any further injury.

"He had some images taken, no structural problems," said Farrell. "He's got some inflammation in a nerve that runs through that left shoulder."

Escobar, hit by a pitch on the left elbow on Sept. 10, and hasn't played since. He swung off a tee and in the cage Tuesday, but will not be ready for action Wednesday.