Toronto @ Pittsburgh GameThread, Jun 21, 2008 7:05 PM EDT

After Changes Upon Changes We Are More Or Less the Same - Game thread, Jays at Pirates

by hugo on Jun 21, 2008 6:26 PM EDT in Game Threads

Toronto @ Pittsburgh

Want proof that the manager and coaching staff don't matter? Last night was certainly exhibit a to that effect, though there is a lot more that remains to be proven. The Jays' offense sputtered against lefty Zach Duke, and stranded Doc Halladay despite a 7 inning, 7 K, no run performance. The Pirates won in the 12th and the first day of the Cito Gaston regime came to an unhappy end.

Will tonight be different? Jesse Litsch hopes for a bit more run support than Doc got. He faces off against another lefty, Paul Malholm. Litsch is still having an effective season, but hasn't been great as of late. Let's see how he does against Pittsburgh, and more importantly, whether the bats will ever snap out of this.

Today's title comes from the famous and rare version of Simon and Garfunkel's "The Boxer" containing an extra verse. They played it at their famous Central Park concert in 1981. I was there (I'm told), all of 1 year old. Let's go Jays!

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Marcum DLed, according to Sportsnet

http://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/2008/06/21/marcum_out/

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

by Torgen on Jun 21, 2008 6:43 PM EDT 0 recs

awful

The 3 worst words in the English language a pitcher can hear: Doctor James Andrews.

"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 Jun 21, 2008 7:36 PM EDT up 0 recs

Bay just hit a 2 run shot

Game over

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

by Torgen on Jun 21, 2008 7:17 PM EDT 0 recs

And Raul Chavez hits another 2 run shot

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

by Torgen on Jun 21, 2008 7:28 PM EDT 0 recs

this is despicable

"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 Jun 21, 2008 7:36 PM EDT 0 recs

Cito and his Cavalcade of Hitting Coaches

haven’t taught the jays to hit in the first three innings yet.

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

by Torgen on Jun 21, 2008 7:39 PM EDT 0 recs

No homers this inning

although Rios had to catch one against the scoreboard in right.

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

by Torgen on Jun 21, 2008 7:44 PM EDT 0 recs

Overbay breaks up the no-no

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

by Torgen on Jun 21, 2008 7:45 PM EDT 0 recs

RISP time courtesy Rolen

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

by Torgen on Jun 21, 2008 7:51 PM EDT 0 recs

Hey, a break went our way

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

by Torgen on Jun 21, 2008 7:52 PM EDT 0 recs

And now Mench walks to load them with 2 outs

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

by Torgen on Jun 21, 2008 7:55 PM EDT 0 recs

And normally clutch x hits a comebacker

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

by Torgen on Jun 21, 2008 7:56 PM EDT 0 recs

And another 2 run homer

Nice shutdown inning there, Jesse.

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

by Torgen on Jun 21, 2008 8:03 PM EDT 0 recs

Every time he's allowed a baserunner, he's allowed a 2 run homer to the next batter

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

by Torgen on Jun 21, 2008 8:04 PM EDT 0 recs

this is ridiculous

how long till Cito gets canned?

"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 Jun 21, 2008 8:07 PM EDT 0 recs

It's not like he's had time to fix anything

and not sure why Arnsberg didn’t get any blame for the pitching’s bad month.
Why is Litsch batting for himself when the bullpen is working?

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

by Torgen on Jun 21, 2008 8:09 PM EDT up 0 recs

yeah, of course it's not Cito's fault

but this is getting ugly

"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 Jun 21, 2008 8:11 PM EDT up 0 recs

Overbay extends his team GIDP lead

A little confused about Overbay in the 2 slot against two straight lefties, but you have to put him somewhere.

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

by Torgen on Jun 21, 2008 8:13 PM EDT 0 recs

Rolen walks to set up RISP again

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

by Torgen on Jun 21, 2008 8:23 PM EDT 0 recs

The Cap'm with a 2 run double

It’s a miracle!

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

by Torgen on Jun 21, 2008 8:25 PM EDT 0 recs

Mench continues not mashing lefties

2 for 4 now, I think?

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

by Torgen on Jun 21, 2008 8:27 PM EDT 0 recs

3 for 5 and the Cap'm gunned down at the plate

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

by Torgen on Jun 21, 2008 8:29 PM EDT 0 recs

If the Mariners drop Sexson

should we sign him (once the waiver period is up so he only costs the minimum) and drop Mench? At least Sexson actually has better numbers against lefties.

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

by Torgen on Jun 21, 2008 8:43 PM EDT 0 recs