After a weak offensive 1st season with the Jays, 3rd baseman Scott Rolen really has got his swing together. He made adjustments last year in his swing as he battled through a sore shoulder...
Thus far in the first week of the season, he has benefited from being behind the scorching hot Adam Lind in the batting order. Though he hasn't put up huge power numbers (1 home run, 2 RBI), he has an outstanding batting average, hitting at a .421 clip through 6 games...
His defense last year was simply phenomenal. There was never a doubt about the veteran's glove. Maybe, just maybe, the Jays are starting to get a great return on their investment in the Troy Glaus for Scott Rolen deal...
Somewhere J.P. Ricciardi is smiling...
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Purcey both brilliant & poor in first 2 innings
Through two innings, the '04 first round pick has thrown 46 pitches already! That is simply far too many. Purcey has surrendered 1 run, but the oddity is he's whiffed 4 batters, but has also issued free passes to 3 of them...
Will update as the game goes further along. Hopefully after the Blue Jays offense comes to life...
Will update as the game goes further along. Hopefully after the Blue Jays offense comes to life...
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Blow Jay Ryan
That's right. That's now the nickname for the guy who is supposed to save games and provide stellar 9th inning relief pitching for the best bullpen in baseball in 2008...
Prove me wrong Blow Jay Ryan, prove me wrong big guy...
Prove me wrong Blow Jay Ryan, prove me wrong big guy...
How good is Adam Lind?
With my latest post being a doom and gloom perspective of Blow Jay Ryan (I mean B.J. Ryan), let's talk Adam Lind...
He is unconscious. Incredible. Amazing. Spectacular. Scintillating...
Lind has 3 home runs, 12 RBI and is hitting a stupidly ridiculous .462!
I will refrain from coming down to earth. Now is not the time to think realistically...
Because the Blue Jays are 5-1!!!
He is unconscious. Incredible. Amazing. Spectacular. Scintillating...
Lind has 3 home runs, 12 RBI and is hitting a stupidly ridiculous .462!
I will refrain from coming down to earth. Now is not the time to think realistically...
Because the Blue Jays are 5-1!!!
Jays push their record to 5-1; Ryan almost blows it
Roy Halladay (2-0) put in a typical Doc outing, carving up the Indians lineup, and the Jays scored early on '08 A.L. Cy Young winner Cliff Lee (0-2) The game was all but in hand up 5-1 with 2 outs and nobody out in the 9th. And then B.J. Ryan almost threw the game away...
Ryan coughed up three runs to the Tribe before Jason Frasor whiffed Victor Martinez sealing the victory. After Ryan blew the save in the 2nd game of the season against Detroit, I gave him a free pass for one poor pitch to Brandon Inge. However, after this putrid display, Ryan is quickly establishing himself as a big liability...
We should be rejoicing. The Jays are 5-1! So why is everyone holding their breath in Toronto now? And more importantly, what do do with B.J. Ryan? Just like with Frank Thomas last year (who got off to a horrendous start, and eventually was released), how long can the ball club keep rolling out Ryan in any situation (especially a close one) without being frightened? Is it advantageous to put him on the Disabled List? Cut ties with him? Ryan and the team insists he isn't hurt. Coupling in his horrendous spring performance, Ryan has been an utter disaster...
Be scared. Very, very scared...
Ryan coughed up three runs to the Tribe before Jason Frasor whiffed Victor Martinez sealing the victory. After Ryan blew the save in the 2nd game of the season against Detroit, I gave him a free pass for one poor pitch to Brandon Inge. However, after this putrid display, Ryan is quickly establishing himself as a big liability...
We should be rejoicing. The Jays are 5-1! So why is everyone holding their breath in Toronto now? And more importantly, what do do with B.J. Ryan? Just like with Frank Thomas last year (who got off to a horrendous start, and eventually was released), how long can the ball club keep rolling out Ryan in any situation (especially a close one) without being frightened? Is it advantageous to put him on the Disabled List? Cut ties with him? Ryan and the team insists he isn't hurt. Coupling in his horrendous spring performance, Ryan has been an utter disaster...
Be scared. Very, very scared...
Friday, April 10, 2009
Jays win wacky affair against Cleveland
The Jays pushed their record to an impressive 4-1 after defeating the Indians 13-7 in a extremely wacky and error filled affair...
It's hard to imagine the Jays were once down 3-0 in this contest, but after starter Scott Richmond dug them into a hole, the red hot bats (led by Adam Lind) began the comeback. And then the game was delayed for a Jays record 3 hours, 47 minutes due to rain. You'd think eventually everyone would give up and call it a day. But not for Cleveland's home opener! This was supposed to be a special game. It was, but not for the home squad...
After play was resumed, the madness began in the 7th inning. Up 5-4, Toronto was aided by a throwing error by 3rd baseman Jhonny Peralta. Alex Rios made the Tribe pay with his first 2 RBI of the season (he finished with 4), putting the Blue Birds up 7-4. In the bottom frame, a failed routine double play by Toronto gave Cleveland life, and they turned it into the runs to tie the game up. The 7th run courtesy a Brandon League hit by pitch...
The bizarre turn of events continued. With one on in the 8th, Kevin Millar slipped out of the batters box. What should have been one out and a runner on 2nd turned into Millar reaching first when Ryan Garko couldn't field a routine throw. With the bases loaded Marco Scutaro blooped an RBI single, with a second run crossing the plate on a fielding error by Shin-Soo Choo. In all, 6 runs plated for the Jays in the 8th which gave them their convincing 13-7 margin of victory...
A comedy of errors and misfortunes, couple with Toronto's scintillating hitting (Lind, Hill, Rolen & Scutaro in particular) has Toronto in a position to go 5-1 Saturday against Cliff Lee in the 2nd game against the Indians...
It's hard to imagine the Jays were once down 3-0 in this contest, but after starter Scott Richmond dug them into a hole, the red hot bats (led by Adam Lind) began the comeback. And then the game was delayed for a Jays record 3 hours, 47 minutes due to rain. You'd think eventually everyone would give up and call it a day. But not for Cleveland's home opener! This was supposed to be a special game. It was, but not for the home squad...
After play was resumed, the madness began in the 7th inning. Up 5-4, Toronto was aided by a throwing error by 3rd baseman Jhonny Peralta. Alex Rios made the Tribe pay with his first 2 RBI of the season (he finished with 4), putting the Blue Birds up 7-4. In the bottom frame, a failed routine double play by Toronto gave Cleveland life, and they turned it into the runs to tie the game up. The 7th run courtesy a Brandon League hit by pitch...
The bizarre turn of events continued. With one on in the 8th, Kevin Millar slipped out of the batters box. What should have been one out and a runner on 2nd turned into Millar reaching first when Ryan Garko couldn't field a routine throw. With the bases loaded Marco Scutaro blooped an RBI single, with a second run crossing the plate on a fielding error by Shin-Soo Choo. In all, 6 runs plated for the Jays in the 8th which gave them their convincing 13-7 margin of victory...
A comedy of errors and misfortunes, couple with Toronto's scintillating hitting (Lind, Hill, Rolen & Scutaro in particular) has Toronto in a position to go 5-1 Saturday against Cliff Lee in the 2nd game against the Indians...
Who bats leadoff when Scutaro sits?
On days that manager Cito Gaston decides to give starting shortstop Marco Scutaro a day off, who will be the lead off hitter for the Blue Jays? Aaron Hill? Alex Rios? Sounds crazy, but I've heard Lyle Overbay's name mentioned. Who should it be?
Rios certainly has the most experience batting lead off for Toronto, having done so at varying times throughout the past few seasons. Ideally the ball club would want to keep him 3rd in the order because of his production, not to mention they'd want stability with Rios (He's batted all around the order the past couple years.)
The most intriguing option to me is Aaron Hill. He has looked great so far this year, not missing a beat after being on the shelf for much '08 with a concussion. Additionally, Hill is currently is hitting 2nd, so the jump shouldn't be too difficult. However, in brief stints as the lead off hitter last campaign, he struggled mightily. There obviously wasn't enough to get a full idea of what he could bring to the table, but it might scare Gaston away from going with Hill...
The notion of Overbay batting first did seem nuts at first, but the more it's considered, it might not be too bad. Though he's struggled thus far, a week into the '09 season, he had the highest on base percentage of any Jay last year, and drew the most walks. Lyle is a doubles hitter (when he's actually hitting, which doesn't seem to be much this year), and could really set the table for the heart of the Blue Jays order...
Woah, wait a minute. Did I just say Overbay batting lead off would be a good thing? Yiiiikes!
Rios certainly has the most experience batting lead off for Toronto, having done so at varying times throughout the past few seasons. Ideally the ball club would want to keep him 3rd in the order because of his production, not to mention they'd want stability with Rios (He's batted all around the order the past couple years.)
The most intriguing option to me is Aaron Hill. He has looked great so far this year, not missing a beat after being on the shelf for much '08 with a concussion. Additionally, Hill is currently is hitting 2nd, so the jump shouldn't be too difficult. However, in brief stints as the lead off hitter last campaign, he struggled mightily. There obviously wasn't enough to get a full idea of what he could bring to the table, but it might scare Gaston away from going with Hill...
The notion of Overbay batting first did seem nuts at first, but the more it's considered, it might not be too bad. Though he's struggled thus far, a week into the '09 season, he had the highest on base percentage of any Jay last year, and drew the most walks. Lyle is a doubles hitter (when he's actually hitting, which doesn't seem to be much this year), and could really set the table for the heart of the Blue Jays order...
Woah, wait a minute. Did I just say Overbay batting lead off would be a good thing? Yiiiikes!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
