Toronto Blue Jays @ Tampa Bay Rays GameThread, Apr 22, 2008 7:10 PM EDT

Don't Let's Start: Game 21 - Toronto at Tampa

by hugo on Apr 22, 2008 5:00 PM EDT in Game Threads Comment 128 comments

Toronto Blue Jays @ Tampa Bay Rays

Well, yesterday's game was frustrating as hell. Marcum had uncharacteristic difficulty controlling the zone and was victimized by shady defense, a little hit-bunching, and a terrible Jays offense that couldn't manage anything until Gregg Zaun went deep with the bases empty in the 8th. The split with Detroit leaves the Jays at .500, a familiar place for our heroes. Rolen and Lind can't get healthy soon enough.

I'll be around for the game tonight, but probably won't be around earlier on as I'm going to try to get a run in. The weather here has been downright biblical though, so the torrential rain may stop me from running. It was a little creepy driving home from rehearsal last night and seeing dozens of wrecked cars on the road.

Jesse Litsch faces off against James Shields tonight and looks to improve upon his last outing, which was his worst of the season. The way the offense has been going, the Jays may need a great performance from Litsch, and Shields is quite a good pitcher as well. As long as Barajas isn't DHing, I'm happy.

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Rios is sitting????

We benching another…..anyone with any power gets benched and released?

by Tom Dakers on Apr 22, 2008 6:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Rios is 1 for 9 vs. Shields with 5 Ks

Although I have no idea if that’s why he’s getting today off.

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 7:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also, lefties hit Shields .357 so far this year

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 7:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

You're going to try to get a run in?

You could teach the Jays offense a thing or two. ZING!

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 6:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Apparently the Rays picked up Gross an hour ago

for Josh Butler.

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 7:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

x taps back to the mound

grittily.

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 7:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

which gross?

by Tom Dakers on Apr 22, 2008 7:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Gabe

our old one

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 7:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

hmmmm just saw him in the brewers game...an amazing game

by Tom Dakers on Apr 22, 2008 7:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hill also grounds back to the mound

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 7:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Stairs hits it at the pitcher too

but low enough that it’s a single.

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 7:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Wells grounds to third

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 7:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

shields looks good early....everything on the ground

by Tom Dakers on Apr 22, 2008 7:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Except that foul ball Stairs hit

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 7:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah wasn't foul by much

by Tom Dakers on Apr 22, 2008 7:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I still think Iwamura would look good as our shortstop

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 7:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

get our own ground ball

by Tom Dakers on Apr 22, 2008 7:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Another grounder

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 7:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

brewers-cards game was interesting...

both teams batted the pitchers 8th. Brewers won in the 11th, Pujols ended up playing 2B

by Tom Dakers on Apr 22, 2008 7:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

And a third grounder

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 7:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

one two three for litsch

by Tom Dakers on Apr 22, 2008 7:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I have doubts this lineup can score much

by Tom Dakers on Apr 22, 2008 7:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Isn't this basically a minor league ballpark?

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 7:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hmm... looks like it's deep-ish in the alleys

Kinda Comerica-like.

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 7:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

must be....why are they playing in Orlando?

by Tom Dakers on Apr 22, 2008 7:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rays want to cultivate a following in central Florida

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 7:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Overbay draws the leadoff walk

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 7:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Stew draws the back-to-back walk

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 7:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Boy big league baseball at it's finest

by Tom Dakers on Apr 22, 2008 7:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Overbay with the worst slide ever

but safe somehow. Thanks, Shitske!

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 7:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

boy that's some ugly baseball

by Tom Dakers on Apr 22, 2008 7:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Scutaro with the RBI grounder

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 7:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

seemed like an ackward throw to second by hinske

thought they should have had two

by Tom Dakers on Apr 22, 2008 7:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Scoot looked safe at second to me

unless Bartlett blocked the base.

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 7:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That looks like a play Mac makes

Maybe not for the out, but to save the run at least

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 7:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think he gets the out.....but I'm biased

by Tom Dakers on Apr 22, 2008 7:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Strike-em-out throw-em-out

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 7:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That helped out.....he really stole it but came off the bag a bit....

by Tom Dakers on Apr 22, 2008 7:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

hill didn't look good in that AB

by Tom Dakers on Apr 22, 2008 7:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

that inning went quick

by Tom Dakers on Apr 22, 2008 7:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Looked like Litsch got a glove on that

but couldn’t stop it

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 8:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Litsch needs to start getting those grounders

like he was in the first.

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 8:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

good thing you said that...Double Play

by Tom Dakers on Apr 22, 2008 8:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I'll gladly claim responsibility

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 8:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

course you have to take the HR last inning too....

by Tom Dakers on Apr 22, 2008 8:08 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

and if you could get us a few runs

by Tom Dakers on Apr 22, 2008 8:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Man.....our halves of the innings go by quick....

by Tom Dakers on Apr 22, 2008 8:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Overbay works a walk last time

this time first pitch swinging. Which of those worked out better for you, Lyle?

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 8:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Yay scoot....

got the lead again

by Tom Dakers on Apr 22, 2008 8:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

seems funny sometimes Inglett looks great at the plate....

then other times he looks like he shouldn’t be in the majors at all

by Tom Dakers on Apr 22, 2008 8:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I suspect today is Inglett's last day in the outfield

if not with the club. Lind’s neck is apparently fine, so the only question is if we keep Diaz up so we can platoon DH (with either him or Barajas) or Inglett to platoon third.

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 8:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I hope so....would like to see Lind up sooner than later

by Tom Dakers on Apr 22, 2008 8:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also would like them to put him in the line up everyday

by Tom Dakers on Apr 22, 2008 8:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Got Shields up to 74 pitches already

by Tom Dakers on Apr 22, 2008 8:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

How bad is their pen this year?

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 8:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Actually a quick look looks like they are doing well....

by Tom Dakers on Apr 22, 2008 8:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The middle inning guys too?

Or just the late inning guys?

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 8:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

looks like all are doing well

by Tom Dakers on Apr 22, 2008 8:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

hey all

how’s the game going so far?

"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 Apr 22, 2008 8:24 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Good until you got here

We score 2, they score 2, we get 3 straight singles with 2 outs, Hinske gets an RBI triple

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 8:25 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And now they have the lead

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 8:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Good Jesse's throwing....

by Tom Dakers on Apr 22, 2008 8:27 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The other one

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 8:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

right....going to call him Cy if he keeps pitching like he has....

by Tom Dakers on Apr 22, 2008 8:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Bartlett's a no-bat SS, right?

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 8:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Doesn't help if you don't throw strikes for him to ground out on

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 8:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I thought he was ok with the bat...but hitting 206 this year

by Tom Dakers on Apr 22, 2008 8:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

he's had at least one good season with the bat

for a SS I mean. Great fielder

"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 Apr 22, 2008 8:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

damn it overbay

by Tom Dakers on Apr 22, 2008 8:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

pretty much hating this team right now

"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 Apr 22, 2008 8:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My post a few games back asking them not to make me look

like an idiot for cheering for them applies today as well.

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 8:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

luckily my throwback hat

has kitsch value here in D.C. apart from any connection to actual sports

"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 Apr 22, 2008 8:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It's not in gang colours or something, is it?

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 8:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

touche

"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 Apr 22, 2008 8:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I remember seeing an article today about Yanks hats in alternate

colour schemes which just happened to match gang colours, and were being sold for that purpose by some stores (with optional gang symbol embroidery done in-store).

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 8:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

nice play carlson

by Tom Dakers on Apr 22, 2008 8:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Out on the squeeze bunt

Nice play Cy.

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 8:36 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

boy I like that kid...

by Tom Dakers on Apr 22, 2008 8:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hill with the single after the x fly ball

C’mon, Stairs!

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 8:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

that was quick

and painful

"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 Apr 22, 2008 8:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I meant c'mon, drive in Hill!

Not c’mon back to the dugout after grounding into a double play!

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 8:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah......every other inning has been

by Tom Dakers on Apr 22, 2008 8:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It must be hard to pick up the ball out of his hand....

by Tom Dakers on Apr 22, 2008 8:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

strikes out the side....

by Tom Dakers on Apr 22, 2008 8:52 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That was a bomb

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 8:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

yay vernon....every other inning we score..the other ones we can't wait to get back on the field

by Tom Dakers on Apr 22, 2008 8:55 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This bodes poorly for Carlson in the bottom of this inning

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 8:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

it would be nice

to get a run back and just once not immediately give it back

"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 Apr 22, 2008 9:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

How the hell is Shitske a single short of the cycle against us?

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 9:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

poor pitching....

by Tom Dakers on Apr 22, 2008 9:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That didn't help him in Toronto or Boston

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 9:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

the dude abides

"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 Apr 22, 2008 9:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Camp's shoulders are so hunched

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 9:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Scutaro wins Worst At-Bat

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 9:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

not an easy victory in today's game

"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 Apr 22, 2008 9:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We've totally let Shields off the hook

after getting his pitch count up early.

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 9:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

well with that line up four runs is more than I expected

by Tom Dakers on Apr 22, 2008 9:15 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Remember last year when the top of the order was up

and you felt like we’d better score here, or the best we can hope for is Johnny Mac grounding out to strand two next inning? It feels like that again, only with Scutaro and Inglett.

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

by Torgen on Apr 22, 2008 9:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs