Mixed results for Mills in first career start

Given the rash of injuries to the Jays rotation, another rookie southpaw was summoned to the big league rotation, and this time it was Brad Mills' turn. The 24 year old rookie showed flashes of potential in his first career start, but also experienced bouts of erratic play against a strong Phillies lineup.

His stat line looks rather indicative of a rookie making his first start against the defending World Series Champs. Mills served up a pair of home runs in 3.2 innings, allowing 4 earned runs, 6 hits and 4 walks with only 2 strikeouts in a no decision. However, Mills showed he could work his way out of a couple of jams and displayed his sharp 12-6 curveball that looked as dynamic as any Jays youngster coming through the system.

Mills' outing is indicative of his play down in AAA Las Vegas this season. He's had some quality starts sprinkled in with a few bad ones. His record is 1-8, with a fairly respectable ERA just under 4.50, so he could still use more seasoning at the minor league level. However, he'll have to take his licks for at least one more start in the majors with the injury bug biting again in Toronto.

Mills went 15-5 the past two minor league seasons, shooting through the system to make it to this point. He's got some game, it might just take a while to fully blossom.

Richmond phenomenal in career outing

I never thought I'd say this. Scott Richmond is the 2nd most experienced starter on the Jays pitching staff given the latest injuries to Roy Halladay and Casey Janssen. That means that Brian Tallet is the grizzled vet on the starting staff. Holy crap, how are the Jays still in contention?

If Richmond has stellar outings like he did Wednesday against the Phillies, Toronto might just be able to hold down the fort until their workhorse Halladay, and others, get healthy. Richmond went 8 solid innings against the defending World Series champs, setting a career watermark of 11 strike outs. The 29 year old rookie picked up his first win in 6 starts, and put his first "W" in a month and a half. Richmond was dominant down the stretch out of the contest, retiring the last 13 batters he faced.

Who would have thought Richmond would have done this well this season? The American League rookie of the month in April has far exceeded expectations, and will have to continue to do so if the Jays are to keep their heads above water in the coming two weeks.

2 more go down; Janssen & Halladay to the DL

The injuries just keep on coming for the Toronto Blue Jays pitching staff. Already without the services of starters Dustin McGowan, Shaun Marcum and Jesse Litsch, they have lost their ace Roy Halladay, their #2 starter Casey Janssen, and the closer Scott Downs all in one day (ONE DAY!) When will the injuries stop? This is getting out of hand.

How many other teams could withstand the losses to all their hurlers and still be in the hunt? Not to mention in the toughest division, the American League East. Imagine if the Yankees lost their big three, C.C. Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mariano Rivera on the same day. That day would have been tabbed as Armageddon. Instead, the Jays just pick themselves up and carry on with their business as usual.
I like the fact that Halladay was put on the disabled list rather than having him pitch in Washington. There is no need for him to have to further injure his wonky groin, especially in light of Downs' going down after taking a hack in the batters box. Unfortunately, Janssen is back on the disabled list with inflammation in his shoulder, the same injury that forced him to miss the first 2 months of the season. Having Janssen shelved certainly doesn't kill the Blue Birds because Janssen had a rather pedestrian 6.23 ERA in 5 starts.

It's business as usual for Toronto. Next up, a matinee affair tomorrow in the final game of a 3 game set against the Phils.

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?