Blow Jay Ryan showing rookie how to suck

Maybe this is why rookie Brett Cecil has been awful. Perhaps he's being schooled a bit too much on how to suck from Blow Jay Ryan.

After Cecil's disastrous outing, where he allowed 5 walks and 7 runs in less than 4 innings, B.J. Ryan came in to hold the fort on a 1 run lead for the Jays. Naturally, he coughed up the lead. Ryan allowed 2 walks, and gave up a huge go ahead 2 run dinger to Derek Jeter. He allowed 3 runs in the contest after the 2nd batter he walked came around to score. On the season, Ryan has issued 4 more walks than strike outs. Absolutely pathetic.

Maybe I shouldn't be so hard on Cecil. After all, he's learning from the likes of Blow Jay Ryan.

Cecil a total disaster

Brett Cecil is really cheesing me off. REALLY....REALLY getting under my skin. I know he's a rookie. I know he's inexperienced, and I know he shouldn't be in the big leagues yet. Still, it doesn't excuse the fact that he was garbage today in New York.

Cecil can't find the strike zone today, issuing 5 free passes and allowing 7 runs in 3.2 innings against the Yankees. The main culprit was his horrible control. 5 freaking walks! After going down 4-0 after the 2nd inning, the Jays offense picked him up, plating 8 runs to give him a solid 4 run lead. In the following inning, he surrendered a walk to Mark Teixiera, which of course came back to bite him as he gave up a single and then a 3 run home run to Hideki Matsui.

There is no excuse for putting that many guys on board via the base on ball. It'll kill you every time.

Chavez a pleasant surprise

Raul Chavez deserves a lot of credit for the way he's performed this year for the Jays. Given his rather underwhelming stats in his 11 year career, I, and I'm sure many others, expected him to flop much like Jason Phillips and Sal Fasano did previously as the backup catcher for Toronto.

Chavez has provided exceptional defense behind the plate, throwing out 50% of would be base stealer's, but most impressively, has swung a good stick. In his first two at bats Sunday, Chavez has doubled, driving in a run and scoring twice. Midway through the contest, he has 2 HR, 8 RBI, with a .282 average in 26 games this season.

After narrowly missing out on making the Jays opening day roster, Chavez could've pursued work elsewhere, but instead reported to AAA Las Vegas. It's ended up being a smart decision, because veteran backstop Michael Barrett went down in April, allowing Chavez to head north of the border.

He has played more of late in the wake of Rod Barajas' nagging hamstring injury, and has continued his strong play. He deserves his due. Just as I'm tying this he threw out another runner. That's 12 runners caught stealing in 23 attempts.