Another starter bites the dust; Richmond to DL

Things just keeps getting better and better (or you know, um...worse) for the Blue Jays. Yet another starting pitcher bites the dust. Scott Richmond is the latest casualty, marking the 6th member of the Jays rotation going down this season, and that doesn't even include Shaun Marcum and Dustin McGowan, who were on the shelf before the campaign even started.

Richmond has been feeling the effects of shoulder tendinitis the past couple of weeks, first surfacing in his start against the Reds June 24th. He pitched through the pain and was decent against the Rays in his last outing, logging 7 innings. The American League rookie of the month in April couldn't shake the pain in his arm so he decided to heed the advice of the medical staff and rest his ailment.

Richmond has been a bright spot in the wake of the plethora of injuries to the pitching staff, posting a 6-5 record with a respectable 3.69 ERA. He was due to start the 3rd game of the series in the Bronx Sunday, but will give way to rookie Brett Cecil. Lefty Brad Mills has been called up to fill the void left by Richmond.

It truly is a wonder how the Jays are above .500 midway through a season that has seen Marcum and McGowan not throw a single pitch, Jesse Litsch lost for the season, Roy Halladay and Ricky Romero head to the disabled list, Casey Janssen and Robert Ray nursing injuries, and now the latest, Richmond, going down.

Camp left in too long; Jays lose in extras

What a tough loss after an otherwise outstanding performance by Shawn Camp. When he came back out in the 12th inning after already hurling 2 solid frames against the Yankees (where he struck out 4 without giving up a hit) my initial thought was "uh oh", and it proved correct.

With the score tied at 5, Cito Gaston sent Camp out for a 3rd frame despite the fact he had Jason Frasor, B.J. Ryan, Brett Cecil and Dirk Hayhurst at his disposal. I'm sure he wanted to hold onto Frasor in case of a save situation, had zero confidence in Ryan, was reluctant to put in Cecil because he's a rookie, and didn't entertain Hayhurst because he's more of a mop up pitcher.

In this case though, Ryan should have come in with mostly all left handers batters due up (other than A-Rod) It's tough because Blow Jay Ryan is, well, Blow Jay Ryan. Still, Camp should've been lifted for the former closer. The decision proved costly, as Mark Teixeira doubled to lead off the inning and eventually scored the winning run.

I've heard some Jays fans previously lament Cito Gaston's use of the bullpen. Almost every time, I've backed up Cito for sticking with pitchers who may be struggling or perhaps thrown too many pitches. Hindsight is 20-20, however there may be some merit to that argument.

Halladay inconsistent since return from DL

No one can blame Roy Halladay for showing signs of rust since coming off the DL. But when he's unable to locate his pitches, labouring through innings and allowing home runs, it's a pretty jarring experience. We aren't accustomed to this from our ace.

Halladay gave up 5 runs in 7 innings against the Yankees, serving up 3 home runs (the most Doc has given up since early April of last season) The timing of two of those dingers was key also, as he gave up game tying round trippers in two of those instances. He left a few pitches up in the strike zone, and the Yankees made his pay for it. This coming from a guy who is 16-5 career against the pin stripes.

Coupled with his first start since returning from his groin strain against Tampa, the Jays ace has yielded 4 long balls while surrendering 7 runs in 13 innings.

Knowing Roy, he'll bounce back in his next start and toss a complete game shutout.

Wells likely moving down in batting order

Well, well, well. It looks like Vernon Wells might finally be paying for his despicable showing at the plate this year. Not really "paying" as such, considering he's in the midst of a 7 year/$126 million dollar contract. But with his inability to get it done at the dish, Cito Gaston is expected to push him down in the batting order.

Thursday against the Rays, Wells was given the day off by Gaston. Trying to kick start his stagnant offense, the Jays manager slotted Adam Lind into the three hole, a spot Wells has the incumbent, and likely will keep him there for the foreseeable future. Gaston hinted Wells will be dropped down to 5th in the order, if not further.

Earlier in June, Vernon toiled in an ugly 0 for 25 slump, setting a new career high (low?) without a home run in 160 at bats. The thinking was that V-Dub needed a change in focus, so he was moved him up in the order. That seemed to spark Vernon, if only for a 10 games where he hit at a .348 clip with 2 long balls and 8 RBI. That followed a brutal 13 game stretch where he limped to a .089 average with zero homers.

That productive stretch was more of an exception then the rule this season. The reverse slump was a periodic bout of being good. Since then, its been back to Vernon being Vernon. The Jays hand was forced. They have no choice but to do something about it.

It's about damn time.

Romero continues to surge

Ricky Romero is phenomenal. That much we already know. Who knows where the team would be without his presence. Without his sensational performance on Canada Day the Jays would have been punched in the gut by a hungry Rays team that seem destined to sweep the Blue Birds away.

Romero spun 8 scintillating innings, holding the Rays scoreless while striking out 7 batters. Most impressively, it was his ability to work his way out of tight jams that displayed maturity beyond his years. With the Jays clinging to a 2 run lead in the 7th inning Wednesday, he loaded the bases with just 1 man out. Instead of crumbling, the 24 year old induced an inning ending double play from Pat Burrell. Then, in the 8th, after Marco Scutaro's error put 2 men on board, Romero calmly got Willy Aybar to line out into yet another double play. The victory was Romero's 6th of the campaign.

Including his two previous starts, which saw Romero take a no-hitter into the 7th inning against the Phillies, he has now gone a remarkable 20 innings without surrendering a run. Even more astounding is his record in the past six contests. The 2005 6th overall pick has gone 4-1 with a minuscule 1.91 ERA, whiffing 40 batters in 42 1/3 innings.

He's good. Pretty...pretty...pretty good.

Halladay returns from DL tonight!

Roy Halladay is returning to the Blue Jays active roster tonight, determined to put the groin strain behind him and give the Blue Birds starting staff a much needed lift. Halladay's return couldn't have come at a better time because the Jays start a critical stretch of 9 games that sees Toronto duking it out against the Tampa Bay Rays (twice) and the New York Yankees.

Doc has been on the DL for the past couple of weeks but his 10 wins are still good enough for a share of the American League lead in victories. In each of his first 13 starts before the injury, Halladay lasted at least 7 innings, spinning three complete games. His return to health should provide a much needed break for a relief corps that has been taxed of late due to short outings by some of the rookie starters.

The Jays held their own, somewhat, despite the absence of their ace, sporting a 7-7 record. However, to challenge in the ultra competitive A.L. East, Toronto has to be better than that, and Halladay will provide the boost that the team needs. It all starts tonight against the defending American League champion Rays.

McDonald's base running mistake costly

Man do I feel bad for John McDonald. His costly base running mistake in the 9th inning sunk the Jays today, yet I feel no anger towards him. Instead, it's disappointing that of all the guys for it to happen to, why did it have to be Johnny Mac?

With McDonald on 2nd base down a run in the 9th with one out, the Jays attempted a double steal which would put McDonald on 3rd, 90 feet away from tying the contest. As Johnny Mac broke for 3rd, Phillies closer Brad Lidge twirled around and threw the ball to second base, rendering McDonald a dead duck. He was tagged out for the 2nd out of the frame and two pitches later Vernon Wells bounced out to short, ending the threat to send the Jays faithful home unhappy.

Except no one could be angry with McDonald. Because we love him.