Will Hill or Lind hit more home runs?

Throughout the 2009 season, Aaron Hill and Adam Lind have provided a glimmer of hope that the Blue Jays will shed the label of being a moribund franchise following their two World Series titles in 1992 and 1993. They have both gone back and forth hitting balls out of parks across Major League Baseball, challenging each other for home run supremacy. Lind's long fly Wednesday against the Yankees gave him 23 on the year, while Hill, batting one slot ahead of him in the batting order, leads the club with 26 home runs.

Who will hit more home runs this year? Lind, the 2004 3rd round pick with the sweet stroke, or Hill, the 2003 1st rounder with the compact swing? The Jays 2nd baseman has been on a tear with 6 bombs in his past 13 contests while Lind has regained his home run stroke, blasting 3 in 6 games after just 1 in the previous 14 games.

Over the course of their careers, Hill has racked up 54 homers in 5 seasons, while the Jays designated hitter has 45 round trippers in 4 campaigns.

Roenicke rocked ruining Rzepczynski

That alliteration is really ridiculously rank (oops, there I go again), but Marc Rzepczynski deserved a much better fate tonight against the Yankees. The young rookie was in line for the win after 6 innings, but he was left in too long and the Yankees made him pay, handing "Zep" his 3rd loss.

The newest member of the bullpen, Josh Roenicke came into a tie ball game in the 7th with a runner on 2nd the normally reliable Rzepczynski's responsibility (i can't stop!) and promptly got rocked, surrendering 3 runs after issuing 3 singles and 2 walks. The hapless Jays were unable to recover from there, getting swept in 2 games to the American League leading New York Yankees.

It's easy to say "Cito left him in the game too long" after Rzepczynski looked great through 6, but gave up a home run and a double to lead off the 7th, but it was a tough decision on Gaston's part. Rzepczynski was well under 100 pitches heading into the 7th.

Regardless, Rzepczynski respectfully revealed remorse.

Bautista is so underwhelming

Jose Bautista simply so mediocre (at best) to garbage (mostly) that it's unbearable. When we acquired him from the Pirates last year, he was supposed to have some pop in his bat. But where is it? He has just 3 home runs this season after slugging 16 once, and 15 twice in the past three campaigns. I don't expect him to crack 30+ home runs (considering he's a pedestrian .239 career hitter), but would it kill him to do just something, anything! at the plate?

Last night against New York epitomizes his year with the Jays. He grounded out into a double play, and with two chances to tie the game in the 7th and 9th innings, he struck out and flew out to centre. It basically has come to the point where you just expect him to get out in a critical point of a game.

I know Bautista is a versatile player, and is pretty darn good in the outfield, but he offers little else. He's a good bench player, but that's what he should be. A BENCH PLAYER. Not a guy who should've played 68 games already this season.

The perfect word to describe Bautista is underwhelming.

Hill blasting toward A.L. home run crown

Coming into the season no one would have expected at the start of August that Aaron Hill had a great shot of amassing the most home runs in the American League. Coming off his concussion plagued 2008 campaign, simply having Hill in the lineup come August would have represented a small victory.

But the Blue Jays 2nd basemen has been sizzling all year the dish, shattering Roberto Alomar and his own franchise record for home runs in a season by a 2nd basemen (previously set at 17) The '03 first round pick has already cranked out 26 home runs, good for a tie for 2nd with Carlos Pena and Mark Teixeira, two behind Justin Morneau for the A.L. home run crown.

Since he started in his first all star game, Hill has been on a tear, blasting 6 home runs and 16 RBI in 15 contests. The scary thing is, Manager Cito Gaston believes Hill has only scratched the surface on his potential as a hitter.

This season hasn't been all doom and gloom. Hill has provided perhaps the greatest bright spot.

Snider & Dopirak continue to rip it up in Vegas

Travis Snider and Brian Dopirak, two Blue Jays prospects tearing it up with Toronto's AAA team in Las Vegas, have received considerable attention in these parts, particularly in the past week for their stellar play. They are showing no signs of letting up either, combining for 3 home runs, 6 RBI and 5 hits Sunday to lead the 51's to a massive 18-6 victory, their 7th in a row.

Snider and Dopirak, the 4-5 hitters in the heart of the 51's order, have been raking at the dish. Snider has cracked 4 HR and 16 RBI in his previous 8 contests, racking up 16 hits in 31 at bats (.516 average) while Dopirak has hit 5 HR and 12 RBI in his past 7 games, going 15 for 31 (.483 average)

This is the type of offensive production the Blue Jays could use! I hope to see both of them in September when rosters expand.

McDonald is a defensive genius

Did you see John McDonald's unbelievable dazzling defensive effort yesterday? The guy is simply amazing with the glove, and it's so exciting to know that he might see more action now that Scott Rolen has been traded.

With a man on 1st, McDonald stretched out to his left, snagged the baseball, tossed the ball with his glove and from his knees to Aaron Hill, starting an incredible inning ending double play. It was the kind of play that you find yourself simply saying WOW!

McDonald's sensational play made ESPN's #1 web gem of Sunday. It's hard to rate this majestic play high in McDonald's defensive plays of all time, because there are simply too many to choose from.
I love Johnny Mac.

Roenicke great in Blue Jays debut

It's an extremely small sampling, but the early look at the newest member of our bullpen is very promising. Josh Roenicke, considered the "lesser" of the two pitchers in the Scott Rolen deal (Zach Stewart, the former #2 prospect in the Reds system being the central piece in the trade), came in relief Sunday against the Athletics and looked very good.

Roenicke worked a scoreless 8th inning, allowing just one base runner, while striking out two batters. He threw fast, and mixed that in with a dirty slider. The hard throwing soon to be 27 year old (tomorrow) has a fantastic 2.51 ERA in 12 outings this season. He has stated his desire to be a closer at the major league level, and the Jays might experiment with that down the road particularly with incumbent closer Scott Downs injured, and also with only 1 year left on his contract.

Meanwhile, Stewart (4-1, 1.67 ERA in 3 minor league stops this season) hasn't yet pitched with the Jays AAA affiliate, the Las Vegas 51's.