In his next start Aug. 22, he went seven innings, allowing a run and three hits to improve his record to 10-5 and his ERA to 3.52. He passed the audition. The day after his 10th win, Colorado picked Lynch from a list of six Toronto minor-league pitchers available to complete the Aug. 9 trade that sent outfielder Brian McRae to the Blue Jays. At the time, McRae was hitting .179. Although Lynch grew up dreaming of pitching for the Blue Jays, the deal could accelerate his ascent toward the major leagues.
Nobody needs pitching more than Colorado.
Pat Lynch, who's still in Class A, wants to be in the major leagues in two years. That may be a stretch, but it's fair to say that by changing organizations, his stock just went up. He'd just finished his second pro season in Medicine Hat, Alberta, but those summer wages weren't enough to let him luxuriate by the fireplace all winter. So he took a job as a car jockey at an auto auction in Milton, figuring he'd spend his days driving cars around the huge lot. There were thousands of cars in this field, and the snow and the drifts would build up to my waist, so I'd have to get behind the cars stuck in the snow and lift and push at the same time.