No-No Jo-Jo

Reyes's stuff has not faired well in
the American League.

It was his first career start in Yankee Stadium and like most first timers Toronto Blue Jays left-hander Jo-Jo Reyes was eaten alive. Entering his start Wednesday afternoon in the Bronx, Reyes had not won a game in 27 straight starts dating back to 2008 with the Atlanta Braves. That put Reyes only one winless start away from tying the major league record of consecutive starts made without a win, a record shared by two different pitchers.

    The Boston Braves right-hander Cliff Curtis was the first to go winless in 28 straight starts way back in 1910-1911. Then almost seventy years later in only his second year in the major leagues right-hander Matt Keough tied Curtis's infamous record from 1978-1979 while pitching for the Oakland Athletics.

    The last pitcher to come close to equaling this feat was a Texas native by the name of Anthony Young. Young also went 27 straight starts without recording a win while playing for the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs. Young's streak continued for more than two years from April of 1992 until May of 1994.

    After pitching only three innings against New York while surrendering five runs on five hits, all for extra-bases including three doubles and two home runs, the 6-foot-2 lefty from West Covina, California was headed for a piece of history he wanted no part of. New York Yankee outfielder Andruw Jones, who had tagged Reyes for a two-run home run earlier, hit his second of the game in the sixth inning increasing the Yankees lead to 7-1 at the time.

    New York would go onto win the game by a final of 7-3, saddling the southpaw with his 28th straight start without a win dropping his record to 0-4 on the year.

    Heading into the start Reyes was 0-12 with a 5.66 ERA in his previous 27 starts, but that does not tell the full story. Reyes's last time out he threw seven shutout innings against the Houston Astros, punching out seven in the process only to have the bullpen blow the lead, surrendering five runs in the final two innings in a 5-2 Astro victory.


    The Blue Jay left-hander is still only twenty-six years old, with a chance to turn his career around. Toronto finds themselves in a sticky situation though as Reyes is out of options and they could risk losing him in a wavier claim or the Rule 5 Draft if they chose to option him to the minor leagues.

    Reyes spent his first four seasons in the big leagues in the National League under legendary manager Bobby Cox.

    In his career, Reyes has gone 5-19 with 6.06 earned run average while opponents have posted an unbelievable .299 average against him. With his spot in the rotation in doubt, we are unsure if Reyes will get another shot to start for John Farrell's Blue Jays. If and when the next time Reyes takes the mound, he will be looking to avoid history and set a new major league record for consecutive starts without tallying a victory at 29.