April 2009

2-3

The Jays are 2-3 since my last post. So I had better get back to posting!

Anyway, the Jays won six straight series with the series win over the White Sox. Now the best they can do is tie the series against the Royals.

This afternoon, LHP Brian Burres (0-1, 12.46) will face RHP Kyle Davies (1-1, 4.88).

Toronto Blue Jays (Game #18 Away #8) at Chicago White Sox

I only started watching in the sixth during Adam Lind’s AB. He doubled, getting Vernon Wells to third. Vernon singled (line drive to center) to start the inning. Scott Rolen grounded out to 5-3, so that kept the runners on their respective base. Lyle Overbay was intentionally walked. Rod Barajas singled, Travis Snider singled, Marco Scutaro singled (a ball that was bobbled by Alexie Ramirez after fielding, he would have had to get the force at third, it was ruled a hit, therefore he avoided his second error of the game), and Aaron Hill doubled down the left field line. Then Alex Rios was out on a sacrifice fly, and Vernon was back around again to end the inning 6-3.

That (six run) inning brought the score up to 12-0. They scored a couple more to win 14-0!

Bottom line, everyone swung the bats well. Only 6 strikeouts out of 47 total Blue Jay at bats! Of the starters, only Overbay was without a hit, but he did get a couple sacrfice walks, not so much in the Barry Bonds way, at least not the second, but to have a double play opportunity in place, and a force at any base/home.

The last Jays run to plate was Jose Bautista (replacing Rolen at 3B in the bottom of the sixth) hitting his first home run. Now 12 different Jays have at least one home run!

John McDonald came into the game in the bottom of the sixth to replace Scutaro, he made a nice 6-4 force at second that looked like he was up tohis old tricks again!

Oh, and Brian Tallet went 5.2, giving up only 4 hits, 3 BB, and striking out 5. Bill Murphy and Bryan Bullington finished the job.

Tomorrow is LHP Brian Burres (0-0 -.–) against LHP Mark Buehrle (2-0 3.00). Burres is up from Triple-A.

Texas Rangers at Toronto Blue Jays (Game #17 Home #10)

Missed tonight’s game, but good to see I missed a win. Winning their fifth straight series.

Looks like Scott Richmond had another good outing, giving up only 2 ER over 6 IP, and striking out 8. Brandon League, Jesse Carlson, Shawn Camp and Scott Downs finished the game. Between the four relief pitchers, only Jesse Carlson gave up a hit. Scott Downs was in for the save.

Alex Rios hit his first home run this year, a two run shot after Aaron Hill doubled with two outs. Vernon Wells and Lyle Overbay also homered. All three Jays home runs were off Kevin Millwood, who only surrendered one home run prior in his three starts.

Both B.J. Ryan and Ricky Romero were placed on the 15 day DL today. Ryan with muscle tightness in left trapezius, and Romero with a strained right oblique. The Jays purchased the contract of RHP Bryan Bullington from Triple-A Las Vegas also.

Bullington is 6’4″ 210 from Indianapolis, IN, having gone to David Letterman’s Ball State. He throws right (and bats right). In four appearances for the Las Vegas 51′s, he has pitched 9.2 innings, giving up only 2 ER.His longest appearance was 4 IP, and on April 20, he pitched 3 innings. Over that time he has 10 strikeouts.

The Jays pen should be alright without B.J. Ryan for now, perhaps if he comes back healthy he’ll be his usual self again, again however it is early on. The Jays pitching rotation suffered a minor loss with Romero out, alongside Jesse Litsch who is already out since April 14 with right forearm tightness. It could be much worse, but injuries will occur. It should prove to be a good test for the pitching depth, as well as continuing the offense, especially if the need arises to ensure run support.Litsch is also on the 15 day DL.

Tomorrow at Chicago, LHP Brian Tallet (0-0 4.26) will face RHP Gavin Floyd (2-1 4.74). Tallet started last Saturday against Oakland, he went 5.1 innings giving up only 1 ER, and earned a no decision.

Ricky Romero was scheduled to start Saturday in Chicago, it is still to be announced who the Jays will send to the hill to face Mark Buehrle. Taller

Jays on the All-Star Ballot

We are only approximately 15 games in, and it is already time to start voting for the All-Star Game. I feel it is a tad early. Deserving players may end up not getting into the All-Star Game because they started playing very well after the ballot was announced. Most likely the case for lesser known players. Possibly they may get the chance to replace an injured player, or be a reserve, however that is not a guarantee. Also players that make the ASG could potentially end up not deserving if said player has a slow first half.

I suppose it is inevitable, as they want all the publicity, sponsorship money, but I definitely feel the voting should start later, perhaps at least mid May, which still gives almost two full months.

So on the ballot for the Jays are eight players. Again, it is very early, but many of them are deserving at this point.

C: Rod Barajas
1B: Lyle Overbay
2B: Aaron Hill
3B: Scott Rolen
SS: Marco Scutaro
OF: Alex Rios, Travis Snider, Vernon Wells

I think I’ll do my part and not vote until much later on, if at all.

Texas Rangers at Toronto Blue Jays (Game #16 Home #9)

Starting off with the positives, it is a win. The Jays won 8-7 in 11 innings. Rod Barajas hit his first and second home runs of the season. In his two first at bats, both with Kevin Millar on base. Also both gave Toronto the lead, 2-0 in the second, and 4-2 in the fourth. Now 10 different Jays have all hit at least one home run.

Actually as a whole the game was not so bad, the negative point is B.J. Ryan blowing his second save. Both times however the team bailed him out with walk-off wins, tonight, Kevin Millar’s walk-off single to left, and the second game of the season, hosting Detroit, Rod Barajas’ walk-off sacrifice fly. Tonight in the eleventh, and the Detroit game in the bottom of the ninth. Tonight was 3 ER given up by Ryan, as was the case in Cleveland, although that was not a save situation. The Detroit game was just one run, a homer to Brandon Inge, so that can happen, and he does have 2 saves, going 2 for 4 in SVO. Also it is still early. I am not worried.

Tomorrow (again, today, Thursday) is RHP Kevin Millwood (1-1 1.17) vs RHP Scott Richmond (1-0 3.48).

Texas Rangers at Toronto Blue Jays (Game #15 Home #8)

The Blue Jays lost 5-4. Roy Halladay was credited with his first loss, bringing his record to 3-1.

Late in the game the Jays definitely had the chance to take the lead, or at the very least tie.

The Jays were down 5-3 going into the bottom of the eighth when Alex Rios was brought in on an Adam Lind single with one out to bring the score to 5-4. The bases then were loaded and Rod Barajas lined out to 3B Michael Young. That surely would have at least tied the game.  Travis Snider then hit a fly out on the first pitch he saw to Josh Hamilton.

In the bottom of the ninth, with one out, Aaron Hill doubled, then moved to third on a ground out by Rios. Vernon Wells ended the game popping out to SS Elvis Andrus.

Toronto’s record is now 10-5. Tomorrow’s (rather today) starters will be LHP Matt Harrison (0-2 8.44 ERA) vs LHP David Purcey (0-1 6.46 ERA) for Toronto.

| back to blog home |
Theme: MLB “retro” | Get a free blog at WordPress.com
Follow

Get every new post delivered to your Inbox.