Today Withered Hope Saw the Very Sad Sack and She Tried Not to Meet His Eyes - Game 24, Toronto at Kansas City
Toronto @ Kansas City
Friday, April 25- Kansas City, Missouri
8:10 PM (EDT)
Toronto Blue Jays ss David Eckstein 2b Aaron Hill rf Alexis Rios cf Vernon Wells dh Matt Stairs 3b Scott Rolen 1b Lyle Overbay lf Shannon Stewart c Rod Barajas Pitching: A.J. Burnett, rhp |
Kansas City Royals cf David DeJesus 2b Alberto Collaspo 3b Alex Gordon lf Jose Guillen rf Mark Teahen dh Brett Butler 1b Ross Gload c John Buck ss Tony Pena Jr. Pitching: Zack Greinke, RHP |
Torgen kindly provided the post of today's game thread, and we're going to stick with They Might Be Giants songs everyday until the Jays actually win again. Sadly, this about where the team is right now - the offense has been putrid and the pitching surprisingly shaky. It's no surprise, really, when the pitchers feel like the team isn't scoring enough runs to win, you'd expect them to put too fine a point on some of their pitches and end up in trouble
Anyway, I apologize for being MIA this week and for the short game threads - it's a combination of me being incredibly busy with work, going to see some baseball live, and that SB Nation has been down intermittently for the next few days. I apologize to everyone who's had trouble getting on and want to reassure you that the very fine technical folks at SB Nation have been working like dogs all week to resolve the problem.
A.J. Burnett faces off against Zack Grienke today and I can really see Grienke giving this Jays team a tough time - he generally works efficiently and keeps folks off the bases, and he's been pitching very well this season while the Jays' offense has really been pathetic. Really, they look at a lot like 2007, but with lousy defense instead of the great defense they enjoyed last year.
Of course, there are plenty of reasons why the Jays have been playing so bad. The flu bug has been going around, turned ankles, etc. But the team certainly can't afford to keep losing games, whatever the reason.
Anyway, the Jays will be welcoming Scott Rolen back to the team today. As you know, Rolen suffered a fracture in his finger during fielding practice this spring and has been out since the beginning of the season. He returns after a not-entirely-successful rehab stint in which he failed to get a hit and made an error in 3 games. He and the Jays claim that his being called up so quickly has nothing to do with how the team has been playing
Yeah, right. The team desperately needs an offensive spark with as many as 4-5 offensive sinkholes in the lineup everyday. As you can see, with Rolen in the lineup it actually looks like a legitimate AL lineup, almost. But it's pretty sad when you're treating as saviour a guy who had an awful season last year and doesn't look like he's really in game shape.
The other issue - where the heck is Adam Lind? This is getting ridiculous. Stewart is playing terrible and seeing Inglett and Scutaro in the outfield and the lineup is painful. What are we waiting for? According to Jeff Blair, "95 percent" of the reason Lind isn't up yet is service time - the Jays want to prevent him from being a super 2.
That really pisses me off as it's basically spitting in the face of the fans. Being a super-2 has nothing to do with how long the team gets to keep you under their control - the only thing it affects at all is pay - you're eligible for arbitration one year earlier. Hmmmm, sure doesn't sound to me like the Jays are serious about winning. This is beyond stupid. But also according to Blair, Lind will finally be up soon, perhaps tomorrow. I'm still pissed.
Some good news finally. Gregg Zaun seems okay. He declined to have X-rays after hurting his thumb yesterday, and should be fine, though he's out of the lineup today as his thumb is still sore.
It's friday so I'm going to try to stop being in a lousy mood. Let's go Jays!
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Comments
Lind isn't in the Syracuse lineup today
so it may still be the remnants of that neck problem. After all, if you’re screwing your player out of arbitration years, you might as well let him play minor league ball in the meantime.
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on Apr 25, 2008 7:50 PM EDT 0 recs
Jays already sent their message on this season
by releasing Thomas. I expected lackluster play anyway…it can’t sit well with the rest of the team.
by achengy on Apr 25, 2008 7:55 PM EDT 0 recs
They won the first two games after he got benched
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on
Apr 25, 2008 7:57 PM EDT
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His release
was probably more meaningful + the media attention after the second game could’ve gotten to them and settled in. Of course this has no weight to it.
by achengy on
Apr 25, 2008 8:02 PM EDT
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If they're that sensitive to media attention
then you can’t argue with JP not wanting to sign Bonds. Of course it also means none of them should be getting paid anything close to what a big market team would have paid for a player with their stats, since apparently they wouldn’t be able to handle that stress.
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on
Apr 25, 2008 8:05 PM EDT
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it really bugs me that they are making another discission because of money....
They said before the season started ‘this is the season’....but then they don’t make any choices on the bases of baseball. It is all about money. Can’t call Lind up….we get another game with the marvelous Shannon Stewart and his .229 average and sub .300 slugging. Of course he makes up for that with poor defense.
by rincewind on
Apr 25, 2008 8:13 PM EDT
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FSN KC appears to have a really terrible CF camera
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on Apr 25, 2008 8:12 PM EDT 0 recs
x with the leadoff single
Clearly they should balk him to second to ensure the scoreless inning.
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on Apr 25, 2008 8:13 PM EDT 0 recs
that's a good one....first time I've laughed during a Jay's game in a while.....
by rincewind on
Apr 25, 2008 8:13 PM EDT
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well occasionally Jamie says something really funny.....
by rincewind on
Apr 25, 2008 8:15 PM EDT
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Driven deep to left field!
But 200 rows foul.
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on
Apr 25, 2008 8:16 PM EDT
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The uppercut swing doesn't befit him.
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on
Apr 25, 2008 8:18 PM EDT
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no it really doesn't
"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 25, 2008 8:18 PM EDT
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They really seem to have a different approch to batting with runners on base.....
by rincewind on Apr 25, 2008 8:18 PM EDT 0 recs
Isn't that what they mean by pressing?
Instead of going up to have a good plate appearance, they go up trying to drive in the run.
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on
Apr 25, 2008 8:19 PM EDT
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yeah they seem really good with the bases empty.....
Take pitches good swings…..
by rincewind on
Apr 25, 2008 8:20 PM EDT
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what is truly frustrating
is they manage to get into a lot of hitters’ counts with runners on, they just don’t capitalise on them
"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 25, 2008 8:21 PM EDT
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Like they're swinging because it's a hitter's count
not because they actually got a good pitch to hit
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on
Apr 25, 2008 8:23 PM EDT
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yes
exactly
"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 25, 2008 8:25 PM EDT
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x's was a popup that found a hole
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on
Apr 25, 2008 8:20 PM EDT
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lucky hit there
"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 25, 2008 8:29 PM EDT 0 recs
good inning by a.j.
"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 25, 2008 8:29 PM EDT 0 recs
Matt works it full, then chases high cheese
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on Apr 25, 2008 8:34 PM EDT 0 recs
Rolen works the walk 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 Apr 25, 2008 8:36 PM EDT 0 recs
But can he steal like Scutaro?
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on
Apr 25, 2008 8:36 PM EDT
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nice baserunning by Rolen
on the Overbay single
"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 25, 2008 8:36 PM EDT
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The hit-and-run works again
Of course the fatal flaw in this plan was putting the running in scoring position.
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on
Apr 25, 2008 8:37 PM EDT
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arrrrrgh
"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 25, 2008 8:38 PM EDT
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everytime stewart bats
i die a little inside
"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 25, 2008 8:38 PM EDT 0 recs
nice inning there
"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 25, 2008 8:39 PM EDT 0 recs
Hopefully Zaun's thumb doesn't keep him out of the lineup long
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on
Apr 25, 2008 8:41 PM EDT
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Grienke at 41 pitches through 2
If nothing else, hopefully we can keep him from shutting us down for too many innings.
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on Apr 25, 2008 8:43 PM EDT 0 recs
Nice quick inning from Burnett there
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on Apr 25, 2008 8:45 PM EDT 0 recs
yes
now let’s strand some runners!
"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 25, 2008 8:47 PM EDT
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Well Grienke didn't have much time to cool down after a tough inning
so you’d think that would be to our advantage. Of course as I say this, x grounds out.
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on
Apr 25, 2008 8:48 PM EDT
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quick inning for us too
"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 25, 2008 8:49 PM EDT
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Hill with another terrible swing
I think we just need to accept that the top of the lineup screws him up.
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on Apr 25, 2008 8:49 PM EDT 0 recs
Lind can't get here soon enough, huh?
but I’m starting to think it won’t help too much
"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 25, 2008 8:51 PM EDT
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At least he knows how to play on a team that can string together wins
I think the Chiefs had a 9 game streak broken up recently.
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on
Apr 25, 2008 8:53 PM EDT
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Adams has been hitting well too
over there
"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 25, 2008 9:14 PM EDT
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If only he was a shortstop
or even a second baseman.
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on
Apr 25, 2008 9:15 PM EDT
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Not a good way to follow up an 0-2 count
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on Apr 25, 2008 8:55 PM EDT 0 recs
That was an interesting defensive play by AJ
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on Apr 25, 2008 8:56 PM EDT 0 recs
AJ doesn't throw a slider
Where did Gameday get that one from? (The third ball in the first at-bat)
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on Apr 25, 2008 8:59 PM EDT 0 recs
Burnett balks
Pretty weird way to step off the rubber. Gets the strikeout though.
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on Apr 25, 2008 9:00 PM EDT 0 recs
Wells wastes no time flying out
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on Apr 25, 2008 9:03 PM EDT 0 recs
I love Stairs
and his power to both fields
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on Apr 25, 2008 9:04 PM EDT 0 recs
Rolen flies out to left ont he first pitch
Looks like he is not immune to the team’s scoring virus.
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on Apr 25, 2008 9:06 PM EDT 0 recs
he hit it decently though at least
"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 25, 2008 9:15 PM EDT
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And another popup
0 for 4!
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on Apr 25, 2008 9:07 PM EDT 0 recs
AJ seems to be locating his curveballs way better than in the past
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on Apr 25, 2008 9:15 PM EDT 0 recs
AJ's second balk?
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on Apr 25, 2008 9:16 PM EDT 0 recs
And once again the balk doesn't matter
It’s like they’re using my strategy against the Royals!
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on Apr 25, 2008 9:16 PM EDT 0 recs
Stew works the full count, but grounds out
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on Apr 25, 2008 9:20 PM EDT 0 recs
Wow does Barajas suck
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on Apr 25, 2008 9:20 PM EDT 0 recs
let's dh him and hit him 5th
"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 25, 2008 9:22 PM EDT
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Only against lefties
He’s not actually better against them, but you have to play the percentages, even when they don’t exist.
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on
Apr 25, 2008 9:23 PM EDT
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And x down looking
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on Apr 25, 2008 9:22 PM EDT 0 recs
didn't A.J. get really hot last season
right when the offence completely tanked for a month?
"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 25, 2008 9:24 PM EDT 0 recs
Right when Doc went on the DL, wasn't it?
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on
Apr 25, 2008 9:25 PM EDT
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yep
that too
"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 25, 2008 9:26 PM EDT
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Uh-oh... leadoff double
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on Apr 25, 2008 9:25 PM EDT 0 recs
And up to third on the wild pitch
I think that’s the ballgame
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on Apr 25, 2008 9:26 PM EDT 0 recs
RBI double
Clinching the 5 game losing streak.
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on Apr 25, 2008 9:26 PM EDT 0 recs
Rolen
didn’t have any trouble with that
"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 25, 2008 9:27 PM EDT 0 recs
And they get the bunt down
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on Apr 25, 2008 9:27 PM EDT 0 recs
it's hard to argue
with bringing the infield in here. I mean, what are the chances of us scoring two runs?
"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 25, 2008 9:27 PM EDT 0 recs
It would take a home run.
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on
Apr 25, 2008 9:28 PM EDT
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Strikeout squirts away
but the run doesn’t score
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on Apr 25, 2008 9:29 PM EDT 0 recs
I look forward
to the inevitable Griffin article tomorrow about how A.J. “isn’t a winner” because he pitched “just well enough to lose” tonight
"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 25, 2008 9:29 PM EDT 0 recs
I'd rather have him hit
than Barajas.
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on
Apr 25, 2008 9:30 PM EDT
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When was the last time we won a game where we trailed at any point?
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on Apr 25, 2008 9:30 PM EDT 0 recs
Good play to strand the runners there
Less panic-inducing if Johnny Mac had been out there.
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on Apr 25, 2008 9:33 PM EDT 0 recs
Nice job by Hill setting up the inning
by returning to the bench quickly
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on Apr 25, 2008 9:36 PM EDT 0 recs
Rios with the single off Gordon's glove
Could have been called an error. Do we steal to stay out of the double play, but ensuring Wells and Stairs pop up to short?
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on Apr 25, 2008 9:37 PM EDT 0 recs
Wells gets himself into a good double play count
2-0
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on Apr 25, 2008 9:38 PM EDT 0 recs
Nope, just a fly to right
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on Apr 25, 2008 9:38 PM EDT 0 recs
it's a good thing
they might be giants have a large catalog
"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 25, 2008 9:39 PM EDT 0 recs
Burnett with another quick inning
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on Apr 25, 2008 9:45 PM EDT 0 recs
Rolen
is certainly not looking any worse than anyone else
"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 25, 2008 9:46 PM EDT 0 recs
0 for 11 with a walk including his rehab starts
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on
Apr 25, 2008 9:50 PM EDT
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Lyle!
"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 25, 2008 9:48 PM EDT 0 recs
Well hopefully that's the start of something for him
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on
Apr 25, 2008 9:49 PM EDT
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the weird thing is
he’s been getting on base a ton, but it hasn’t helped the team much. He’s been on base 35 times (hits and walks) before tonight, but only scored 8 runs. that seems pretty small
"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 25, 2008 9:51 PM EDT
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Batting at the bottom of the order
Who’s goign to drive him in? Scutaro? x?
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on
Apr 25, 2008 9:54 PM EDT
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exactly
don’t know why we’re not batting him 3rd against righties, and wells 4th. It’s not like we have to worry about offending thomas by batting him 6th anymore
"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 25, 2008 10:01 PM EDT
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Or second
"He almost has to start. Do you believe in miracles?"
by Torgen on
Apr 25, 2008 10:01 PM EDT
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