Downs heading to DL; Cito fuming

Scott Downs injured his left foot running out of the batters box last night against the Phillies. Downs, unaccustomed to taking hacks at the plate, broke toward first after making contact, appearing to roll his foot. He took himself out of the contest, and afterwords X-rays came back negative. An MRI today revealed Downs has a sprained left toe, so he will be yet another Jays pitcher part of the walking wounded.

Manager Cito Gaston was not a fan of interleague play in National League ball parks before the game, and he was even more livid afterwards. The normally stoic Gaston spoke with conviction, lamenting that his pitchers are not used to swinging the bat, making them much more susceptible to injury when batting. The loss is crippling to a Jays pitching staff that has been ravaged by injuries to Dustin McGowan, Shaun Marcum, Jesse Litsch, Casey Janssen, Ricky Romero and most recently Roy Halladay.

With Downs going on the shelf the Jays could entertain slotting reliable Jason Frasor into the 9th inning to close out games. In 2004, he shut down 17 games for Toronto. There is also former stopper B.J. Ryan that could at some point slide back in the role (he hasn't given up a run in 7 straight appearances), or call up Jeremy Accardo to tab him as the team's closer. Accardo has 9 saves and a 3.38 ERA for AAA Las Vegas this season and previously, saved 30 games for the Jays in 2007.

Rolen's statistical oddity

Blue Jays third baseman Scott Rolen has quietly put together a good season at the dish, though it's not without a head scratching statistical oddity. His average has been outstanding, yet his power numbers and RBI total are very low. With the Jays lacking production from the clean-up spot in the order, manager Cito Gaston has handed the responsibility over to Rolen.

On the surface, that would appear strange, but not when you consider that in 55 games, Rolen has hit at a .323 clip. In the month of June, Rolen has been scorching the ball with a stellar .416 batting average but has no home runs and just 2 RBI to show for it. Taking that further, his home run (3) and RBI (20) totals on the campaign would seem to indicate he leaves a lot to be desired. But does he?

In Tuesday night's ball game against Philly, Rolen, in his first game as the clean-up hitter, socked a single in the 9th inning, allowing Vernon Wells to move to 3rd, where he eventually scored the tying run. Then in the 10th frame, he came up huge again, poking a single to drive in the game winning run.

Rolen changed his swing in light of his persistent shoulder troubles that have plagued him the past couple of seasons. It seems to be paying off, at least in terms of his batting average. Now that he's been given a bigger role, perhaps those home run and RBI totals will jump so the only oddity then will be his batting stance.

Alex Rios is a buffoon

I've thought Alex Rios has been a bonehead this season countless times, and has been an awful player, but last night's base running gaffe in the 8th inning takes the cake for the dumbest screw up he's made all year.

In the 8th inning, with the Jays trailing 3-2, they have the bases juiced with only one out. Rios is standing 90 feet away from tying the contest. Marco Scutaro lifts a fly ball to left, easily deep enough for a sacrifice fly to score Rios. But there's just one problem. Stupefyingly, Rios breaks for home, then realises he's a pylon so he retreats to 3rd. Subsequently, he doesn't score, and the Jays failed to tie score in the inning. WHAT...WERE...YOU...THINKING?

Luckily, the Jays ended up squaring the game in the 9th and won in extra innings so it's not as big a deal. But you can bet manager Cito Gaston lambasted him for that colossal base running blunder.

I'm so sick of writing about how Alex Rios is a terrible baseball player. Really, I am. But how can I not keep bringing it up when he constantly messes up?

Carlos Tosca jersey for sale at Rogers Centre!

With the Marlins in town this weekend, and former Blue Jays Manager Carlos Tosca now Florida's bench coach, it reminded me of the strangest merchandise item being sold at the Rogers Centre.

A Toronto Blue Jays Carlos Tosca jersey. HAHAHA! Really. Why in the world would anyone buy that? This seems made up, but it's true. There's actually a Tosca jersey to be had. Presumably for the price of one beer? Or maybe a package of Twizzlers.

What has this world come to?

Jays need to put up or shut up

What an absolutely pathetic series by the Blue Jays. That's the best they can do? Disgusting. Vile. Rank That was the worst gong show sad sack despicable series of the season so far. One that might have just screwed us out of a shot at doing anything this year. It's time for the Blue Jays to suck it up and win. Now.

I don't give a crap if they've historically fared brutally against the Marlins. Besides, remind me again why that's the case to begin with? You can't get swept against an inferior team like Florida. If the Jays want to be taken seriously by Major League Baseball, they can't, under no circumstance, get pasted in their own barn to the likes of those schmucks.

I also don't want to be read stories painting the Jays in a good light. Not until they get their head out of their ass. I don't want to be told that Alex Rios has picked up his play, how Vernon Wells will soon break out of his "funk" or how it's wonderful that Dustin McGowan might be two months away from returning. I want the truth. The truth is the team sucks right now.

Instead of talking a good game, how about PLAYING a good game. Is that too much to ask?

Jays shouldn't rush Halladay back from injury

I think I speak for everyone when I say "phewwwww" regarding the status of Roy Halladay. When he was yanked in the 4th inning against the Marlins Friday with an apparent groin injury, Jays Nation held their collective breaths. Would he be gone for a long time?

Well, it turns out the Jays ace is nursing a mild groin strain, however "mild" a strained groin could possibly be. He will not be heading to the disabled list, at least for now, and the team is remaining optimistic he'll be able to start Saturday against Washington after missing his scheduled Wednesday trip to the hill against Philly.

I think that's being a little too hasty, especially if the club wants him to be around for the long haul. Doc shouldn't start in Washington simply because he'll be in a National League ball park and will have to bat. There's no reason to have him running any more than he has to at this point, risking further injury. No reason at all.

The fact the Jays are slipping down in the standing at an alarming rate (7-17 in their past 24 contests) might force the organization's hand in rushing him back to the rotation, even if it's not necessarily the smartest thing.

DON'T DO IT!

Alex Rios is the next Vernon Wells

An optimist would suggest that Alex Rios has busted out of his horrific slump since being moved from the 3rd slot in the order to the 6th. After all, since the demotion of sorts, he's gone 7 for 12 for a .583 clip, blasting two home runs and adding 4 RBI. He has made 2 all-star teams. And has the ability to be a 5 tool player. Good thing I'm not an optimist when it comes to Rios, because I'd be getting sucked in and fooled again. Rios is the next Vernon Wells.

Case in point, Rios long ball today against the Marlins. Florida was smashing the Jays 8-0. That's when he went yard. Hmm, sounds an awful lot like Wells doesn't it? Maybe Rios will do this for a few more years and parlay that into a 7 year/$126 million dollar contract like Wells did. All Rios has to do is pack on about 20-30 pounds and then he'll be a carbon copy of V-Dub. Maybe he'll fool J.P. Ricciardi into thinking he's Vernon.

Maybe I should be thinking positively about Rios. Perhaps he's figured it out. He could go off and heat up like Carlos Delgado did last year for the Mets. He could lead the Jays back to the promised land.

On second thought, Rios still sucks.