Toronto Blue Jays @ Kansas City Royals GameThread, Apr 26, 2008 7:10 PM EDT

I'm Not Done and I Won't Be Till My Head Falls Off, Though it May Not Be a Long Way Off - Game 25, Toronto at K.C.

by hugo on Apr 26, 2008 6:27 PM EDT in Game Threads Comment 70 comments

Toronto Blue Jays at Kansas City Royals, Apr 26, 2008 7:10 PM EDT

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 Adam Lind
c Gregg Zaun

Pitching: Shaun Marcum, 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: Luke Hochevar, RHP

"Sometimes Sh*t Happens" That was A.J. Burnett after last n ight's 8-4 abomination in Kansas City. The Jays looked like they were finally going to win one convincingly as Lyle Overbay slugged his first homerun of the season and Scott Rolen played smooth defense and hit a 2-out, 2-run double to give the Jays a two run lead heading into the 8th.

It's easy to blame Gibbons, for what happened yesterday, and there's no doubt that his moves were questionable. He left A.J. in for too long and intentionally walked one of the worst hitters in the league, Tony Pena Jr. But the biggest problem was the scrapmeister David Eckstein. With the Jays still up 4-2 and with Scott Downs in to face lefty Ross Gload with 1 out and runners on 1st and 3rd, Downs got a comebacker from Gload. He fielded it cleanly, spun, and made a perfect throw to David Eckstein covering second, with plenty of time for Eckstein to take the throw and throw on to first. Eckstein, though, just plain dropped the ball, and the Jays watched their game slip away as Downs was unable to get out of the inning until it was long over. I can't help but mention that Eckstein had previously made an awful throwing error that cost the Jays a run.

Anyway, at least Rolen's return can be counted as a positive, as can Lyle's first HR of the season. But the biggest positive has got to be that Adam Lind has finally been called up to the big team. Joe Inglett was sent down to make room. Nothing against Inglett, but I like the fact that I no longer have to worry about him trying to play the outfield or about Scutaro/Barajas/Inglett at the end of the lineup. Welcome to the team, Adam! Of course, Gibby is hitting you 8th.

Shaun Marcum pitches today against #1 pick Luke Hochevar and it will be interesting to see what he's got.

0 recs | Comment 70 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

It’s nice to read the lineup card and finally see something that looks like a real, honest-to-goodness major league lineup. Of course, that’s just on paper.

by SuckaMD on Apr 26, 2008 7:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hochevar will probably no-hit us

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 7:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

No no-hitter, but shutout seems likely

by SuckaMD on Apr 26, 2008 7:19 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Took Marcum a lot of pitches to get through the first

Hopefully he can get some grounders on first or second pitches

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 7:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Some nice back to back walks to set up Lind

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 7:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

So that's 0 for 3 with RISP

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 7:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Make it 0 for 6

including Hill’s fly to the gap that moved x to third after the stolen base on the botched hit-and-run.

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 7:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

There goes Marcum's no-no

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 8:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

And the pulled in infield cuts down the runner at the plate

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 8:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Marcum walks 2 after the play at the plate

but gets the grounder from Guillen to strand them all.

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 8:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Rolen with a double to the gap

Exactly the same as his 2RBI one last night

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 8:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

And steals third standing up

Hochevar paying no attention to him at all

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 8:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Overbay grounds to first

Trickles away briefly, but Rolen wasn’t going on contact. 0 for 7

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 8:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

And Lind makes it 0 for 8

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 8:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Overbay tips a grounder down the line

it turns into a double

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

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

That's two balls off Overbay's glove this inning

this one an RBI single.

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 8:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Marcum gets the next two out

but a 1-0 lead feels pretty insurmountable when we’re hitting like this.

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 8:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

our decent on paper lineup

isn’t looking any better than Inglett et. al

"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 26, 2008 8:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Inglett wasn't actually in the lineup that much

and I wouldn’t have minded him at third over Scutaro instead of in right.

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 8:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Inglett definitely wasn't the problem

in and of himself, it was that he was playing outfield and there were 2-3 other stiffs in the lineup at the same time.

"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 26, 2008 8:51 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Zaun with the leadoff double

This gives us a chance to get to 0 for 11

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 8:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Well 7 straight foul balls makes this AB officially gritty

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 8:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Leading into a single to the right side

But Zaun stops at third. So 1 for 9, 0 runs.

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 8:42 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hill strikes out

1 for 10

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 8:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Rios grounds to short

but Peña bobbles it and everyone’s safe. Of course it’s an error, so technically 1 for 11.

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 8:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

And Wells grounds into the in no way unexpected double play

so 1 for 12.

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 8:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

way to capitalize on the error fellas

"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 26, 2008 8:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I look forward to immediately giving that run 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 26, 2008 8:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

With Marcum's pitch count up?

Yeah, that’s also in no way unexpected.

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 8:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Three straight line drive outs

But he did it quickly, so he could be out to blow it in the 6th.

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 8:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Wow, that was a slow-deveoping double play

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 9:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

At least we didn't strand anyone in scoring position this time

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 9:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

It took an extra inning

But Marcum gave it back alright.

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 9:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

can't really blame Marcum

the pitch was a mistake, but with the way the Jays are hitting, can’t nitpick the pitcher. Actually, Marcum so far has turned in the best start by a Jays starter in a while. Time to score some runs and give him the win he deserves!

"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 26, 2008 9:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Well Burnett's 7.1 IP, 1ER looks fine

as long as you don’t see the 4 unearned runs.

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 9:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

that's true

depends on how you look at unearned 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 26, 2008 9:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

also

nifty fielding by Shaun to end the inning

"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 26, 2008 9:10 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Zaun draws the 1 out walk

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 9:16 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hill hits it hard, but it's a fly ball to center to strand Zaun

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 9:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

always fun to lose

when you have more hits than the other team

"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 26, 2008 9:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

of course

it’s not over yet.

"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 26, 2008 9:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why is Marcum still out there?

He gets the first pitch fly ball, at least

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 9:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

And a two pitch grounder

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 9:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Marcum keeps looking at his hand

Blister? Something wrong with a nail?

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 9:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

nice inning 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 26, 2008 9:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

And another called strikeout

Okay, now he’s done for the night, right?

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 9:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

one would think so

over 100 pitches. He gets one more chance to win (or avoid the hard-luck loss)

"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 26, 2008 9:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And he's going t get an extra day's rest

with the off day Monday.

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 9:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ah, Nuñez, the guy we rocked yesterday.

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 9:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Rios with the leadoff walk

Gotta be stealing here, right?

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 9:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Rios draws the leadoff walk

of course, I don’t know whether having runners on is a good thing or a bad thing 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 26, 2008 9:29 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Wells now 0 for his last 11 or so

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 9:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Stairs with a single to the gap to put runners at first and third

Pinch run with PMOD?

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 9:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That is indeed what happened

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 9:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rolen strikes out

1 for 13

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 9:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Overbay draws the walk

No pressure, Lind.

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 9:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

anyone else wondering why they watch this team?

what else can happen to extend this losing streak?

"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 26, 2008 9:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

What other team am I going to watch?

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 9:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

And on a tough play, 1 for 14.

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 9:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Remember when we got to watch Johnny Mac make those plays every day?

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 9:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

we could have 2-3 innings of those plays

and a SS who can actually get on base for the other 6 innings, but Gibbons doesn’t want that for some reason.

"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 26, 2008 9:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well, this is Soria's third straight day

Maybe he won’t be sharp.

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 9:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Oh, and TB won their second straight against Boston

so our getting swept by them it looking a little less humiliating.

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 9:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

x singles up the middle

Will Hill be clutch or non-clutch this time?

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 10:02 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Non-clutch

but not a double play, at least.

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 10:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

And Rios flies out

Ugh. Just, ugh. yet again a rookie shuts us down.

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

by Torgen on Apr 26, 2008 10:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

great game fellas

outhit the other team and get a great start from the pitcher and the other team makes two errors and yet the Jays still manage to lose. well, I guess tomorrow will be another 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 26, 2008 10:05 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs