Where was Brandon League?

The most curious element of the Jays demoralizing loss Wednesday in Baltimore was the fact that Brandon League was not in the ball game trying to close things down for the Blue Jays.

In the 11th inning, with the Jays up two, Manager Cito Gaston brought in B.J. Ryan, who gave up a lead-off single and then induced a fly out. Instead of sticking with the club's former closer (that was a bit suspect, but shouldn't be questioned considering how bad Ryan has been) the Jays skipper yanked him out in favour of the relatively inexperienced Brian Wolfe. Really? Wolfe over League?

Is League really that far down on the depth chart now? I can't imagine so. He had a rough start to the year, but has pitched fairly well as of late, and he certainly is miles better than Wolfe. Why didn't Gaston put him in the game? I wonder if he is nursing an injury or illness. At least that's the only plausible explanation.

Wolfe ended up giving up an RBI single followed by a walk off 3 run homer to rookie Nolan Reimold. Game over. Jays swept again. Losing streak hits 9.

Where the heck was League when all this was going down?

Aaron Hill's heroics not lost upon us

Though he didn't ultimately end up being the hero to halt the Jays 8 game losing skid, props must be given to Aaron Hill for coming through in a clutch situation in extra innings Wednesday in Baltimore. The Jays 2nd basemen has had a season's worth worth of big hits that the likes of Vernon Wells and Alex Rios will have already this year.

After the brutal Jays bullpen squandered a 5 run lead, forcing the game into extra innings, Hill lifted a Danys Baez offering over the left field wall for, at the time, a huge 2 run blast to give the Blue Birds the lead in the 11th inning. Unfortunately, his efforts went unrewarded, because the Jays gas can 'pen lost in the bottom of the inning. The timely hitting by Hill should not be lost upon us.

Hill is currently in 3rd place in All-Star balloting amongst American League 2nd basemen (behind Ian Kinsler of Texas and Dustin Pedroia of Boston.) He is currently riding an 11 game hitting streak, and has put up gaudy numbers so far this season; .344 average, 12 home runs, 37 RBI and 32 runs scored. If he keeps up his tear, along with his propensity to get the big hit, he should be making his first All-Star appearance July in St. Louis.

Carlson securing Halladay's ticket out of town

Jesse Carlson is single handily becoming the man that will will be booking Roy Halladay's ticket out of Toronto. Could you blame Doc for wanting to leave after the headaches this rubber armed Carlson has caused?

Carlson will be the most despised Blue Jay of all time, knowing he shoulders the burden for Halladay's exit after royally screwing him over all the time. Not only he did allow 5 runs in the 8th to piss away Halladay's attempt at his league leading 9th win against Baltimore Wednesday, but he also was the big loser in Halladay's previous start in Atlanta, where he gave up the winning run.

Don't forget he surrendered the eventual game, and series winning home run to Hideki Matsui and the Yankees, and a game tying 2 run shot he served up on a platter to Jim Thome in the most recent home stand.

After taking 6 seasons to finally break into the Major League's, and then performing well last season, the league has caught up to him because he's a meat ball fanatic, serving up healthy doses of crap sandwiches.

Put simply, Carlson is junk. And he needs to leave. NOW!

Jays bullpen screws over Halladay

Roy Halladay was well on his way to his Major League Baseball leading 9th win against the Orioles until the Jays bullpen gagged all over themselves, which is quickly throwing away a solid season.

Doc handed a 5 run lead over to his bullpen after 7 innings. Easy stuff, game over right? WRONG. The porous bullpen threw up all over themselves once again, surrendering all five runs the Orioles needed to tie up the contest. How this is even possible is beyond me.

Manager Cito Gaston decided against sending Halladay back out for the 8th inning with his pitch count over 100. It was a smart decision, because the club can't afford to overwork Doc. It's just too bad everyone in the bullpen has been garbage as of late.

Halladay's contract is over after next season, and he has said he wants to see what direction the club is headed before he commits to anything long term. Understandably, the guy wants to win a championship, or at least have a good shot at even making the playoffs. With colossal choke jobs like this one, it sure will make him think twice about re-upping with the Blue Jays.

What a disgusting loss, and an even more pathetic 9 game losing streak.