The Texas Series in a Flash

Blue Jays 16, Rangers 10, Friday's Game



Cecil and Harden disappointed as a potentially awesome match-up by neither lasting over 3 and both giving up way too many runs.

As the score would suggest, this was SlugFest 2010. Lyle Overbay had his best game to date this season, going 3 for 3, with 2 runs, 3 RBI, 2 BB, no strikeouts, and no runners left on base.

Congrats Loverbay on your POG!

Blue Jays 6, Rangers 0, Saturday's Game



Ricky Romero did his best Roy Halladay throwing a complete game shut out with 12 K (and only 1 walk!!!!) beating the Rangers. For another slick performance Rick gets another POG.

Blue Jays 5, Rangers 2, Sunday's Game



And the sweep is completed!

I know a little unorthodox but my POG is a three-way tie. Gregg, Downs, and Frasor all pitched scoreless innings surrendering only 1 hit with no walks.

That my friend, is what is expected of those three. Good job.

So the bullpen performance coupled with no one really hitting for the Jays, and Morrow being, well okay but not crazy good, the bullpen was the star of this game.

Jays Quietly in Third, 2 Games Out of Wildcard

Okay, I suppose it's still a little early to start the playoff expectations, but the Jays are quietly sitting in third place, 7 games above .500.

True, we were better last year and fell apart pretty quickly. I don't see how anyone can say that kind of epic fall apart is common for one team, yet alone common in baseball, or really any sport. I'm not saying we stay on pace to be way above .500, but so far, this rebuilding process has been okay.

While our rotation may not have as much experience as every other team, they are looking pretty stellar. Outside of Eveland and Tallet, our pitching has shown a ton, and look to be solid MLB starters.

The hitting is harder to get too excited about because most of the players in the lineup are not expected to be in Toronto's long term plans. Lind, Hill, Wells and Snider will unquestionably be around for awhile, but everyone else just seems to be inflating their stats to earn more than they should next year.

Anyways, I will stick by my predicted 4th place finish. Finishing 5th is going to be a disappointment regardless of a re-building year or not. Best place finish is 3rd, which would be sweet, but let's stay grounded.

Eveland Comes Back To Reality With A Crash

Dana Eveland lived up, er, down to our expectations tonight and showed us that, no, his sparkling ERA would not last. 7 ER over 3 innings will not do it.

We lost to my least favorite, no, most despised team in the league, but there are some pluses we can take out of this!

The Jays had 16 hits, and half were singles. My god, I have never been so happy to see the singles coming! I mean, yes, it was a game that also saw 8 extra base hits, but what the hay, we lost, but we hit. Also, Lyle Overbay gets his first POG award for finally having a good game! 3 for 5, with 2 runs, 4 RBI, and perhaps more importantly only 1 strikout. Yay.

Now, the bad.

One could read and deduct that if we got 16 hits, 8 for extra bases, and lost, the bad must be the pitching. Well, yes you are correct, but let's look for something shinny in this steaming pile of crap!

There's one! There's another!

Downs had a solid outing! 1 inning, 2 strikeouts, and zeroes across everything else.

Kevin "Chacin" Gregg had another solid outing. To this point and date, including today which cancels out Camp, Gregg has hands down been the best reliever thus far. Imagine that mid-offseason.

Jeff Blair Has Never Heard of You

Jeff Blair of the Globe and Mail had an article about Jays hats being a top 3 seller in New York that I posted on a couple days back. Now I know that there is one reader because they asked if it was true.

Well, not I was not lying, and found it after looking a little harder. It was hiding here.

Well, Mr. Blair, here are my issues:

Are you going to seriously tell me that the Blue Jays have a "no-name roster?" Even if you are going to tell me V-Dub sucks, everyone has heard of his 3 years of JD Drewness. Aaron Hill and Adam Lind, who are Silver Slugger winners are not no-namers. What ever team you cheer for, if you are even a baseball fan, would welcome those two. So, no-name? No.

"Marketers are aware of the importance of “hook-ups” - matching the colours of one piece of sportswear with another." Holy fucking shit, whoever thought to match the colours of the things you are wearing? No more pick shirts and yellow pants with my Jays lid, I'm going to hook-up!

“The phenomenon of hook-ups is very much in play in Canada,” Blair says. So, matching the colours of what you are wearing is a phenomenon now?

Jesus.

Find something real to write on, sport or fashion, preferably fashion.

Enough is Enough

At this point, I'm not really sure who I am more upset with.

Lyle is having a pretty awful year at the plate. They aren't getting better either, and that worries me. Loverbay doesn't really seem like a bad guy. Not much to go on, but I met his brother-in-law in Seattle a couple years back, and being decked out in my Jays gear he asked if he could give us Lyle's autographed card.

I can't help but almost feel bad for Lyle, I mean, how badly does Cito want him to crash and burn? Cito cannot seriously think at this point leaving him in the game, and in the five hole is showing his fucking confidence in him. Loverbay is in a pretty foul funk right now, and whatever we can say about him, we have all seen him hit before.

But Lyle was booed today. Lyle also played the role of Buzz Killington in an eighth inning rally. 43 AB this year for Lyle, and what does he have to show for it? 3 measly hits, and an astounding 13 strikeouts. Complete strikeout list here.

It's not like Cito doesn't have another option either. Randy Ruiz, who went large today while DHing, is praying for a shot. Randy is a .300 hitter in his small MLB career, but in 4103 Minor League at bats, he has hit .300 there too.

All I'm saying is that Lyle sucking is on himself, but Cito is not helping. Cito should be protecting him. Sit him, and let him figure out whats wrong, not letting him hit five and get fucking booed. As he did with Snider, Lyle should be sat for a game - one game is all I ask.

I for one, cannot see Lyle being grateful at this point for Cito's "faith" in him. So, Cito, do Lyle, myself, and all other Jays fans, and give Lyle a rest.

So he doesn't get lonely on the bench, maybe take Jose Bautista out of the lineup with him.

Tonight's game was tough one to watch. A decent outing from Marcum, long balls from Ruiz (!!!!), Lind and Wells, some hits from Gonzo, and a bunch of strikeouts from the rest. Player of the Game was Wells for going 3 for 4.

I really hope that Cito is the second person to ever read this blog, and goes with my lineup for tomorrow against the lefty Saunders.

1. Lewis
2. Gonzo
3. Lind
4. V-Dub
5. Ruiz
6. Snider
7. EE
8. Molina
9. McCoy

Eveland Sets New Record

Tonight Eveland set a new Jays record for longest shutout streak for a new Jays pitcher. For that, and for proving me wrong once again, Eveland gets the Player of the Game award.

Gonzo almost made the POG a push between the two, but to be honest I was pretty impressed with Eveland tonight. If he can keep locating maybe he will stick around with the team and be a successful pitcher. Then again maybe not.

Gonzalez is taking full advantage hitting in front of Lind and V-Dub while Hill is out. Of course it would be foolish to think that he will hit like this for the year, even though Tabler and Martinez seem to think so. Does anyone else have trouble sleeping at night because of Hill hamstring? Pray to whoever you pray to that it ain't all that bad.

Snider also had a good game, nice to see. His homerun was obviously sweet, but so was his diving catch. Do I smell a Gold Glove?

Lyle Overbay Stays Out Of The Sun Under His Sombrero, Of The Golden Variety

Cito is very much like a father to Jays fans. While we may kick and scream at some of his decisions, at the end of the day we have unconditional love for him. Even if we don't want to love him, we have to. Right? That being said, Cito is making it hard for even the truest of Cito fans out there by leaving Lyle in the lineup again.

Lyle got the Golden Sombrero today, and unfortunately for him that is by far his biggest accomplishment this year. Ruiz didn't save the Jays from a whoppin' Wednesday, but he did a shit tonne more than Lyle! Cito, please, please, please, give Lyle a seat. I mean, you put him on any other team and he's benched by now! At least put him lower in the lineup. I mean, come on!

And speaking of the lineup, what the fuck is up with T-Snides hitting behind fucking Jeremy fucking Reed?! Jesus!

MLBTR on Loverbay and New Blue Jay

MLBTR has this discussion on Lyle, and it basically points out that those that did want him, already found people, and those that may, also have the option of Carlos Delgado. However, they fail to mention that what Lyle was worth is no more.

Lastly, the Jays traded for Fred Lewis today. Really don't see this being much of an impact move. In one full season he didn't do much, his stats are here.

The only thing I could say about Lewis, is that maybe the brass think he could lead off? He seems to basically spell Jeremy Reed.

We Will Feel Better About This One In The 'Morrow

Morrow threw BP today for the White Sox. His line was 4 IP, 7 ER, 3 K, 1 BB, and 8 hits - 2 of which were homeruns. Marco quoted saying "at least he only walked one, I guess."

The Jays have seemingly made it their mission to show everyone that Andruw Jones is still a good MLB hitter.

Finally Randy Ruiz gets a start, nice to see him break up the no-no bid, and swipe a base. I don't care how out of reach the game is, good for Ruiz taking advantage of the defense. As for player of the game, the award goes to Randy Ruiz for playing OK and not totally sucking shit like every other player on the Jays this night.

Anyone else see the fly out to RF in Ruiz's third AB? I can't hold my breathe that long! Let's hope he gets some serious ABs so we can see what he can do.

I have an issue with something Tabler or Martinez said today. One of them pointed out that Lyle ran hard to beat out a double play in yesterday's game, and that, as Cito told him, is a way to earn respect and allows him to stay in the lineup despite being off to a "slow" start at the plate.

You know what? Fuck his hustle. I am not willing to seriously listen to anyone that is going to tell me his defense and Charlie Hustle enthusiasm is reason enough for him to start ball games at the moment. At the very least he needs a night off. Maybe at shortstop or catcher a player can get away with being solid defensively and hustling over hitting, but first base? Defensive retards play first base. People with "eating disorders" play first base.

Early still? Yes. But He is not getting better by the AB here. Every AB is useless, and even if he works the count a little, he swings a loops a little dinky thing to first base, or strikes out.

I fear that today's game may happen all too often this year. Not to the extent of course, I expect the pitching to hold the bleeding to a slight gush, but when Gonzo and Buck have cooled down (which is looks like they have), the Jays have Lind and Hill (when he's back) as "scary" hitters. I mean Wells too hopefully, and maybe Ruiz. The Jays lineup seems to have HR potential, but show me some average outside of Wells, Hill, and Lind.

More and more it looks like JoBau will not cut it as lead-off, but I guess we don't really have anyone else.

Yes I did this before the game was over. It is a shitty game, I'm in exam period and I have studying that isn't a complete waste of time.

In the 'morrow is Eveland against Garcia, see you then.

The Weekend Edition

As I'm just starting out, I don't really have set days when I can write, but it is more and more looking like Monday to Thursday will not be a problem, but the weekends may be condensed into a weekend edition covering Saturday and Sunday games, and sometimes including Friday.

The Comeback: Part I


This game's POG was Travis Snider, and here's why: Snider went 2 for 3 with 1 clutch RBI, 1 R, 1 BB and perhaps most importantly no strikeouts. Snider, who has not been off to a great start managed a clutch hit that tied the game, and was on base 3 times in 4 trips to the plate. While the long ball seems to be how we produce runs, getting on base is important, so for that, well done Travis.

Morrow was much as I expected. Flashes of greatness, with lots of walks. Walks piss me off - if a pitcher is getting rocked hard, fine, but when he gives up walks I have a short patience. Let your defense play behind you, and let the other team put it in play. Take out those 5 BB my Morrow, and give him 1, or maybe 2 and its a much different game. All in all, could have been worse, I'm nervously excited to see his next start.

Eveland 7 Scoreless, Molina Cashes in Two

Jose Molina was the hero of this game, and justly so is awarded his first POG award. Sharing the honour for this game is Dana Eveland. Molina had a great day at the plate going 2 for 3 with 2 huge RBIs and threw out the one potential base stealer. While Eveland put up 7.1 scoreless innings, I'm not totally sold, but there can be little to say about what may happen later down the road, as 7.1 scoreless innings is worthy of a POG anytime.

I'm definitely not going to hold my breathe until his next 7 plus innings of scoreless ball, and I still do not think he will finish the year with the team, but keep proving me wrong Dana! I'm going to be a little concerned about Eveland playing against the Red Sox, Yankees, or the Rays, but until then I'll keep it to keep it up.

The Comeback: Part II

Wow. The Blue Jays finished up the series in Baltimore with the second come from behind win today. The Jays are proving to be a team that you can never count out, and I know why. Cito said that seven hitters on the team had 20 HR potential, and so far, several people are off to a good start, and between Hill and Lind is only 1 HR. V-Dub and Gonzo have combined for 7 HR thus far, and EE (I'll refrain from E5 for a little longer) and JoBau had their first today. Teams that mash, can never be counted out, but I am still not sold the Jays are a mashing team.

My POG for today is Gonzo and McDonald.

Gonzalez today had one error that looked pretty bad until his second jack of the game tied it up at 2. Hard to not give serious consideration to a 2 HR effort, but in my opinion, McDonald had a game that was just as important. McDonald went 3 for 4 with 1 R. Okay, okay, not necessarily the most impressive of games, but lets consider that of the Jays 7 hits, 4 were HR, the other three hits were two singles and a double by J-Mac. Like I said a couple posts back, to live and die by the HR is dangerous, so nice job to J-Mac for getting on base.

Homerun = Bad?

Okay I am not naive enough to say that a HR is a bad thing. But the Jays look like they will win only when they hit HR. For example, today was 2-1 (and only because of a HR, by Gonzo), and the Jays won because of 3 more HRs. Now, if the Jays keep up this pace, they should finish the season rather well, but what happens when the Jays hitters inevitably go cold for a bit, and the HRs dry up and all of a sudden we are losing a bunch of 2-1, 2-0, 1-0 games? OK if the pitching holds up to, but I think regardless I have a point - the Jays need to have useful ABs the entire game, and I would love to see some singles and doubles.
Teams that are considered good hitting teams always hit for average and power. We do not want a team of Adam Dunn-type players who can hit their fair share of HR, but can't must up an average above .240. Case in point Rod Barajas last year. 19 HR and 71 RBI nice, but .226 AVG and .258 OBP baaaaaaaaaaaaad.

Time to Free Willy

My perscription for Cito on the flight back to Toronot tonight is to watch Free Willy. Now, substitute Ruiz for Willy.

Ahhhh, much better. Ruiz finally gets to play (yes, that's both italicized and bolded to show stress). Loverbay has played awful* this year. He has not: been hitting the ball hard, collecting walks, been getting robbed by the defense, and instead has been striking out rather pathetically, popping up in foul territory, or grounding out weakly. I'm a realist in that I know everyone has their ups and downs, and that striking out will happen - even for the best.

However, why we haven't seen Ruiz yet is baffling. This situation is getting pretty frustrating, so I'm not going to rant forever because I'll never get out of here, but all I say, is free Ruiz, sell Disney the rights to a movie, and get Loverbay to shave.

Sorry, I promise no rant on this, but Ruiz is the one Jay not to have an AB this season. Not one. Loverbay keeps going oh-for or one-for - what exactly do the Jays serve to lose by inserting Ruiz? And do not, I repeat DO NOT tell me his defense or remind me he is a LHP.

*minus two clutch hits

Home Opener Tomorrow

Okay, not really my home, but nonetheless Jays open their 2010 home schedule tomorrow. It will be The Weatherman starting tomorrow, so I'm hoping that Ruiz will play as compensation. Of course Im hoping that Tallet pitches well again, however I would be okay with a 5th inning ejection for his second beaning of Rios. Is it just me or does anyone else think Rios would be the guy to do a double-fingering of the crowd in Toronto?

Why do we hate Rios?

How To Get More People to the Ballpark? Don't Ever Air These

While we have not had great ball teams in the past couple years, we have always had one thing to help our cause - good ads. Does anyone remember the Frank Thomas commercial a couple years ago? The Roy Halladay one? (Note: my extensive resources of YouTube could not find these videos, but we all remember Frank cracking a kid with a pillow for a homerun? Or Doc knocking the beehive over? Or V-Dub making a catch? But attached is a link for your convenience to YouTube. You're welcome)

However, this year's ad campaign to get people to the ballpark is an utter failure. Men in costumes, they aren't funny, and they make the Jays seem desperate for attendance. Remember when Hillenbrand said "this (the Jays) are a sinking ship?" To me these commercials say "would you come if we give you free peanuts (I actually thought the end of the commercial would say they were), free foam feet (WTF?!) or hot dogs? Or what about if we let you play an inning?"While the Blue Jays team is rebuilding, perhaps the ad people are in the process of rebuilding as well.

But don't take my word for it.

Peanuts.

Hot Dogs.

Foam Feet.

I know we have all been waiting for the player of the games from the last two games and today's game, and they will be posted later today.

Welcome to the V-Dub Show, co-Starting Rick

Well, as much as I am a firm believer that ties belong in soccer and only soccer, today's game has a the first ever tie for POV. Vernon Wells, with his homerun number 4, and Ricky Romero with 7 innings of 5 hit baseball, surrendering only 1 run, lead the attack against the Rangers today.

Well perhaps more accurately, they were the attack. Nice to see Romero only give up 2 walks - that will be key this year, for not only him, but the entire pitching staff. Worked his way nicely out of some jams, looking much more like the a savvy veteran than young sophomore. Wells continues his assault on nay-sayers and V-Dub haters alike - this time with a clutch homerun, coming in the 9th inning, down one. Fuck. Yes. Wells.

Let explore...
Wells + clutch situation + 2009 = utter failure
Wells + clutch situation + 2010 = success
I'm sure my equations breaks some very fundamental Newtonian laws, but what the heck. V-Dub is playing some serious baseball, in the four hole, in clutch situations. 'Nuff said.

The game probably shouldn't have been as close for as long as it was - another 20 LOB, but nice to see some hits from the first 6 hitters. The last three spots are kind of turning Bermuda Triangle on us, which is where I pose the following question:

In a year when rebuilding is obviously obvious, why not change shit up when the line isn't rolling?

Snider isn't hitting in the nine hole after Buck/Molina and Gonzo? OK - he has had some sub par ABs, he isn't get a heck of a lot in that spot either. I think with the team the Jays have, Cito cannot play favorites, or play it from the book. Somethings not working lets switch it up, and fast. Probably a premature idea because it's only 3 games in, but just... well we don't have the Phillies lineup - if someone's not hitting, sit 'em down.

Speaking of sitting down, how long do I have to hold my breathe to see Ruiz? I'm starting to turn a little blue, Cito. Maybe Texas changed pitchers minutes before the game to a lefty and Cito didn't want to give Ruiz short notice on starting.

That blown save stung really bad Monday afternoon, but today's comeback win was the quick ripping off of the bandage from Monday, as that game would have represented the sweep. On the road. In a season that, well lets be honest doesn't look all that bad at this point, but could be bad, sweeps may be hard to come by.

But hey, a 2-1 start to the season with 3 solid starts from Marcum, The Weatherman, and Rick coupled with Wells' show for his pap is more than enough reason to celebrate.

Introductions

A few months ago I would not have been able to tell you what exactly a blog was. Today I sit at my computer chair ready to admit to anyone that will listen that I am an addict. What started out as a accident, has turned into part of my daily routine.

I cannot get enough of baseball, and in particular, the Toronto Blue Jays. After searching the internet for anything and everything Jays, I found a gold mine of blog sites devoted to baseball, and my beloved Blue Jays. Hallelujah.

After a few months of reading I realized that any fool and his computer can start a blog, so here I am (jokes). I am the new guy in the Blue Jays blogosphere, and being new I am hoping just not to get beat up on my first day of school.

I have basically run out of people to talk Blue Jays baseball with, so I am hoping that by opening this blog I can bat around ideas and opinion to the real experts out there - yes, you, the fellow baseball blogger. I hope to present new posts every couple days, and hopefully with a west coast spin, should there be such a thing.

While I cannot attend a Jays game at Rogers Center whenever I like, I have the privilege of having every game (OK most) being an afternoon game - which is perfect as first pitch is the same time as end of work/beer time. I guess there is no "home team" in British Columbia. Many flock into Mariner's Nation, and rather sickly many join the Evil Empire, or Red Sox Nation without really knowing why. My calling has always, and will forever be, to Canada's team. My passion for this team is only equaled by my hate for the Red Sox and Yankees.

Happy readings! And most importantly, go Jays!