Halladay brilliant in tenure with Blue Jays

In what may go down as the final start in the storied 12 year Blue Jays career for Roy Halladay, Doc was vintage Doc once again Friday night, spinning a sensational nine inning performance befitting a victory. While the night ended on a somber note after the Jays were unable to win one for their ace, falling in extra innings, the night took on a different tone, one of reverence and adulation for a true champion.

On flashback Friday night, it didn't matter about winning or losing on this night, it meant so much more. It meant the recognition of the best pitcher in franchise history, one that will undoubtedly feature Doc at countless flashback Friday promotions when his playing career is over. One that saw Halladay endure countless mediocre ball clubs and few close calls in search of the post season. It appears time to turn the chapter to allow a potential Hall of Famer his wish; a chance to win a World Series.

Should the Jays deal Halladay, as expected, there is nothing but thanks to give to the 6 time all-star, 2003 CY Young Award winner, and staff ace for all the memories. He never once complained of being on a mediocre ball team and never moaned about the lack of payroll to compete in the ultra tough A.L. East.

In his storied career with the Blue Birds, Halladay racked up an incredible 142-69 record with a dazzling 3.45 ERA.

If this is your last start as a member of the Blue Jays Mr. Halladay, we must say thanks to a true professional. Good luck in the future, you will be missed in this city.

Overbay is an Overbum

Lyle Overbay really really really cheeses me off. In the series against Cleveland, the Jays 1st basemen had gaffes that cost the team a pair of games against a club that is a whopping 20 games below .500

In the series finale this afternoon, with Alex Rios at 3rd base representing the tying run in the 9th inning, Overbay pinch hit and with the count 3-1, he let not one, but TWO strikes go by without swinging the bat.

In the first game, with Toronto clinging to a 1 run lead and a runner on first, Overbay fielded a sacrifice bunt, tried to make the force out at 2nd but promptly threw the ball into the outfield. The Indians later scored twice to win 2-1.

What a piece of crap. Overbay is garbage. He is unbelievably inconsistent it's ridiculous. He'll go through stretches where he scorches the ball (13 RBI in a 12 game stretch in June), and then will go a prolonged period of time doing nothing except walking (just 1 RBI this month, and hasn't homered in 23 games.)

Overbay is an Overbum.

McGowan suffers another setback

When it appeared that Jays starter Dustin McGowan couldn't hear more bad news in his effort to return after undergoing shoulder surgery, he has suffered yet another setback. This time, McGowan has undergone knee surgery following a freak injury sustained in routine running drills.

McGowan, whose shoulder injury had already created concerns about this year, but most importantly his career had an operation on his left knee July 9th to repair cartilage damaged on his left knee.

McGowan is officially out for the 2009 season and should recover from his knee ailment, but the team is not so sure about his career with lingering issues since the frayed labrum in his shoulder.

The 27 year old likely will not take part in winter ball this year, and is eyeing a potential return in 2010.

Scutaro blasts first multi-homer game of career

Marco Scutaro had a night to remember Wednesday, belting a pair of home runs in the same game for the first time in his 8 year career. Ricky Romero jokingly mocked Scutaro before the contest about his lack of recent power (1 dinger in last 69 games), so Scutsy responded with the two blasts that were part of a 5 home run explosion by the club.

The impact of Scutaro's play in the next week could potentially be critical. The Jays could decide to trade him with his status as a free agent at the end of the season. He already has had a stellar season, ranking 1st in runs and walks by shortstops in the AL, 2nd in RBI, and 3rd in hits which will make him a type "A" free agent at the end of the campaign. The Jays will receive a 1st round pick and sandwich selection between the 1st and 2nd rounds in the draft as compensation should they lose him to another club, so a big decision will need to be made.

Do they trade him now? Or re-sign him in the off-season? I say they should do neither and let him walk at the end of the year. I love Scutaro, he's one of the better players on the team, but if you can parlay a former utility infielder into two high draft picks for him as compensation, then you have to say "cya!" to Scutsy at the conclusion of the season.

Wells and Rios both homer in the same game!

Unbelievable.

Incredible.

My

eyes

are

burning

Ricciardi confirms Halladay will test free agency

As the days inch closer to the July 31st trade deadline, it appears even more likely that Roy Halladay will indeed be moved by the Blue Jays. Today in an interview with ESPN's Jim Rome, Jays General Manager J.P. Ricciardi indicated that Doc has stated his wish to hit free agency when his contract expires in 2010. Knowing this, the club is intent on dealing Halladay to maximize the return for their star ace.

I don't want Ricciardi to be the one making this trade. It's not as if his track record as Blue Jays GM has been stellar, because if it was, we wouldn't even be in this situation right now. It appears that Ricciardi will not be retained by the team next year, so why should he be the one to pull the trigger on what clearly will be the most important transaction in Toronto Blue Jays history.

I've never been one to tab Ricciardi's tenure in Toronto a total disaster, but in this case, he is a lame duck, much in the way former Maple Leafs GM John Ferguson Jr. was before he was fired. It seems that Assistant GM Alex Anthopoulos might be the new man at the helm next year, so why not send Ricciardi his pink slip to accelerate the process and install Anthopoulos as GM now? Ideally, Halladay would not be traded until after Ricciardi is gone.

Because with this team moving closer and closer to missing the playoffs for a 16th straight season, this potentially epic trade has to work.

Wells returns (did anyone realize he was gone?)

Vernon Wells made his return to the Blue Jays lineup against the Indians after sitting out the previous 3 game series against the Red Sox with a stomach ailment. Not so coincidentally, the Jays won 2 of 3 against their division rival in the $126 million dollar man's absence then lost to a garbage team when he came back Tuesday.

Did you even realize he was gone in the first place? It's not as if the team was hampered when he was gone anything because he's been terrible all year anyway. He returned last night to post a spectacular 0 for 4 showing at the plate.

No word on whether Wells mysterious stomach ailment occurred when he decided to dissect his horrendous first half of the season on film.