9/9 Game Thread: Jays at Rays

by hugo on Sep 9, 2007 1:08 PM EDT in Toronto Blue Jays News

Sunday, September 9th - St. Petersburg, FL
1:40 PM (EDT)

Toronto Blue Jays
Vernon Wells cf
Reed Johnson lf
Alexis Rios rf
Frank Thomas dh
Matt Stairs 1b
Troy Glaus 3b
Aaron Hill 2b
Greg Zaun c
John Macdonald ss

Pitching: Jesse Litsch, RHP

Tampa Bay Rays
Akinori Iwamura 3b
Carl Crawford lf
Carlos Pena 1b
B.J. Upton dh
Delmon Young cf
Brendan Harris 2b
Jonny Gomes rf
Dioner Navarro c
Josh Wilson ss

Pitching: James Shields, RHP

After a heartbreaking loss last night in which A.J. Burnett was again deprived of a much-deserved win, the Jays try to at least salvage the series win over Tampa.

Jesse Litsch, whose ERA has crept above 4, opposes James Shields, who has been one of the better Tampa pitchers so far this season. Shields' peripherals are fantastic (174/24 K/BB) and it is likely that only Tampa's horrendous defense (last in MLB in defensive efficiency) has prevented him from an even more impressive looking season.

Sparky gets the start in left today, as Stairs takes first for Overbay, who has been brutal for the past couple of weeks. B.J. Upton, the hero of last night off the bench, returns to the starting lineup as DH after fouling a ball off his foot on Friday.

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Accardo has blown a disproportionate number

of 3 run saves, right? I mean, there's last night, there's one in Minnesota, and there's one he almost blew but Gibbons came and got him and Janssen finished it off. It wouldn't hurt so much if we were only spending #380k on closers instead of $10M.

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on Sep 9, 2007 1:47 PM EDT reply actions

it does seem that way

specially as he's only blown something like 5 saves on the season.

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Sep 9, 2007 2:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Jays get on the board

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Sep 9, 2007 2:27 PM EDT reply actions

is it just me?

or is there an audible "batboy" chant?

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Sep 9, 2007 2:31 PM EDT reply actions

Sounded more like ballboy to me

even though that's inaccurate.

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on Sep 9, 2007 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Litsch is fun to watch

works nice and fast, and around the zone. He won't be an ace, but he looks like he will be a good innings-eater

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Sep 9, 2007 2:32 PM EDT reply actions

Victor Zambrano has been picked up by the O's

to replace the injured Bedard.

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on Sep 9, 2007 2:59 PM EDT reply actions

wonder if they

will make like us and simultaneously 1) start him; and 2) put him on a 60 pitch limit, which for VZ is 2 innings.

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Sep 9, 2007 3:16 PM EDT up reply actions

another nice inning for Litsch

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Sep 9, 2007 3:13 PM EDT reply actions

Not a very nice inning for Litsch this time

and by inning I mean 0 outs.

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on Sep 9, 2007 3:30 PM EDT reply actions

ok frank

not too bad

"The NY Mets are my favorite squadron" --Apu Nahasapeemapetilon

by jessef on Sep 9, 2007 3:34 PM EDT reply actions

Jays

unable to bring Frank in

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Sep 9, 2007 3:43 PM EDT reply actions

Storybook season

It's the story of how the ugly stepsisters get to go to the ball again while the witch eats Hansel and Gretel.

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on Sep 9, 2007 3:49 PM EDT reply actions

true

come december I will be longing for even meaningless september games though

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Sep 9, 2007 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Oh, and let's not forget Hansel eating his trail

of crumbs.

"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"

by Torgen on Sep 9, 2007 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions

no

stairs has been one of the few good points

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Sep 9, 2007 3:53 PM EDT up reply actions

whoa

lind sighting. Why not get him some starts and see if he's making adjustments from his earlier callup?

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

by hugo on Sep 9, 2007 3:57 PM EDT reply actions

these look like our jays

making a one-run lead against a terrible bullpen seem insurmountable.

"Let us go forth awhile, and get better air in our lungs. Let us leave our closed rooms... The game of ball is glorious." - Walt Whitman

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9/9 Game Thread: Jays at Rays

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