Game Thread for Game 99, Toronto at Orioles

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 6:15 PM EDT in Game Threads Comment 165 comments

Lineup

07/21/08 7:05 PM EDT

Toronto Blue Jays	Baltimore Orioles
Joe Inglett - RF	Brian Roberts - 2B
Marco Scutaro - 2B	Adam Jones - CF
Alex Rios - CF	Nick Markakis - RF
Lyle Overbay - 1B	Aubrey Huff - DH
Rod Barajas - C	Melvin Mora - 3B
Matt Stairs - DH	Luke Scott - LF
Scott Rolen - 3B	Ramon Hernandez - C
Adam Lind - LF	Kevin Millar - 1B
David Eckstein - SS	Brandon Fahey - SS

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2008 - Jesse Litsch	8-6	19	18	1	1	0	0	110.1	127	59	51	16	17	58	4.16	1.31

	W-L	G	GS	CG	SHO	SV	BS	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	K	ERA	WHIP
2008 - Radhames Liz	3-2	8	8	0	0	0	0	35.2	40	32	30	10	22	28	7.57	1.74

Guess I had Radhames Liz' name backwards yesterday....whoops....is better this way. Neither pitcher has done well of late, though we do have a habit of turning every pitcher we see into Bob Gibson, but we hit well yesterday. Hoping Litsch turns it around soon, we need him.

Slightly different batting order today, Eck is in playing short and batting 9th. I'd rather him batting second over Scoot. He is fun to watch, taking the little run up to throw to first. I really don't think his defense is any worse than Scoot's at short. Stairs, finally has been removed from the cleanup spot. Overbay is in, maybe he can add to his league lead in grounding into double plays. I'd like Cito to move Lind down in the lineup but can't have everything and as long as he keeps Wilk out I'm happy. The unfortunate problem for our team is that somebody has to hit at the top of the order, if they all could hit in the 7 thru 9 spots life would be good.

Marcum comes off the DL to pitch tomorrow night. Can put your guess for who goes down in the comments.

I get to watch today's game so join me in the game thread tonight. Let the battle for last begin.

Poll

Who will be last in the East at the end of this series?

Blue Jays

3 votes

Orioles

3 votes

6 votes | Poll has closed

0 recs | Comment 165 comments

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Comments

Is he starting

or rehab?

by SuckaMD on Jul 21, 2008 7:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

he is starting for us tomorrow

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 7:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We need him back bad

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 7:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Good stuff

We need guys to start coming off the DL

by SuckaMD on Jul 21, 2008 7:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah.....I think Wells will be next but not for a couple of weeks

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 7:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Have the feeling we won't see Hill or McGowan this year

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Do you know

what the problem is with Hill? And what’s the official word on McGowan? Sorry, I should know these things but I haven’t been watching much lately

by SuckaMD on Jul 21, 2008 8:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hill is still feeling off from the concussion.....he apparently has hit off a tee but that's about all

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

McGowan as a tear in his shoulder....Jays figure he doesn't need surgery but we'll see

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Where in the shoulder?

by SuckaMD on Jul 21, 2008 8:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rotator Cuff

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ok

If it’s not the labrum, he should be ok

by SuckaMD on Jul 21, 2008 8:05 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

They say that it's been there a while and isn't getting worse, but hard to know if that's the truth or not

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ya

see my long-winded post, I alluded to that possibility

by SuckaMD on Jul 21, 2008 8:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also

A friend of mine (regular on Let’s Go Tribe, Indians SB Nation blog) has long expressed fascination with the Jays’ recent inability to keep their pitchers healthy. Discounting Doc’s freak DL-trips (batted ball to the leg, appendicitis), we have Ryan and League from last year, now McGowan, Marcum, Janssen, and the rest of the RH relief crew. But not only do they get hurt, but the injuries seem to come out of nowhere, with no indication of problems from the front office. It sometimes (e.g. BJ last year) even seems like the organization actively tries to conceal injuries, and then the guy goes down for an extended period.

Even with the position players, you had the Wells thing last year where there was clearly a problem with his shoulder and they wouldn’t shut him down, and now Hill who has been out for weeks from what appeared to be a simple concussion.

What do you think about this? Is it just bad luck or do you think there is a systemic thing going on?

by SuckaMD on Jul 21, 2008 8:10 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

They do try to hide how bad the unjuries are...have no idea why.

Other than JP can’t seem to tell the truth on anything.

I’m not sure that they have more pitcher hurt than most teams….

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I did feel that Gibby over used some pitchers and would leave starters out too long on occasion

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:20 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't think that's going to get much better

with Gaston at the helm. Wasn’t that a major criticism of Cito during his first tenure?

by SuckaMD on Jul 21, 2008 8:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah he'll leave a guy out there way too long....hoping he's learned since then

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:23 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Overbay leads off the 4th with a single

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 7:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Damn Rod almost got that one....

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 7:58 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Stairs flies out again.....he's been awful of late....of late meaning this season

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

On the bright side

Lind, with his .350 BA since his recall, may be on his way to fulfilling my prediction from two years ago that he will be the 2010 AL MVP

by SuckaMD on Jul 21, 2008 8:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

he looks good, I'd like to see him walk occasionally....

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

But with this team, I’m happy seeing anything put in play (that isn’t a GIDP)

by SuckaMD on Jul 21, 2008 8:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I worry that teams will notice that he swings at everything and start pitching him well off the plate and watch him chase

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Rolen walks.....RISP time

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Come on Lind

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

1 for 4 now

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Mora singles up the middle....need Mac out there

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Mora tags up on a fly to Rios....Rios really should have made a better throw...

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Boy that was a sad run down.....

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Love watching Eck throw to first

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:14 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Eck walks to lead off the 5th

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Inglett flies out.

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:18 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Scoot singles up the middle

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:20 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Rios doubles off the wall....is jones hurt?

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Another double for Rios

Though I think Jones could/should have had it

by SuckaMD on Jul 21, 2008 8:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Alex did hit the ball hard though....can we hope he's remembered how?

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We can hope

but I need a couple more games worth of evidence before I get back on the wagon

by SuckaMD on Jul 21, 2008 8:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

we got a run......

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

2 for 5 with risp I believe...

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:23 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

why would you intentionally walk overbay with aa pitcher that has no idea of the strike zone

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

barajas gets a sac fly

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Nice poke from Big Rod

by SuckaMD on Jul 21, 2008 8:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Common matt

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Alex steals third...just....

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

With a good throw

he would have been DOA

by SuckaMD on Jul 21, 2008 8:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Why didn't lyle go too?

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:27 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Don't know

The best I can think of is that Rios has a green light to go when he wants, so there wouldn’t have been a steal sign on for Overbay to anticipate. And then he wasn’t paying attention and couldn’t get going in time to move up.

Doesn’t excuse Overbay’s play, but it may be an explanation

by SuckaMD on Jul 21, 2008 8:29 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

oh matt....don't swing at ones that bounce for god's sake

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Boy he's pissing me off....should be so easy to find a DH.....

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Who's on the trade block

we’re shopping AJ. Any word on interest/possibilities?

by SuckaMD on Jul 21, 2008 8:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

they wouldn't mind trading off Eck and Zaun....Stairs too but I doubt there is a market...

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We could just

call up Snider now. He cant be any worse than the DH’s we’re trotting out now, can he?

by SuckaMD on Jul 21, 2008 8:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd love to see Snider....we aren't goign to make a run anyway, lets look...but they don't want to start the arbitration clock.....

an idiot reason I think

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:34 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Still think it's fun watching Eck throw to first....

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

More funny than fun if you ask me

and not funny in a good way

by SuckaMD on Jul 21, 2008 8:31 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

but he really doesn't make that many errors....

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

No

but part of that is Overbay at first. He does put a ton of throws in the dirt, and he can’t make the throw from the hole to his right. He’s fine if he can get in front of the grounder (and he has good instincts which make up for his arm somewhat), but moving to his right or having to hurry the throw he doesn’t get much on the ball.

by SuckaMD on Jul 21, 2008 8:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah.....I kind of think he and scoot are a wash defensively....just eck looks bad

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ya, I buy that

Scoot has a better arm, but I saw some fielding metrics a while ago that showed Scrappy was one of the tops in the league in reaching balls.

by SuckaMD on Jul 21, 2008 8:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah he seems to get there....Baseball Prospectus doesn't like Scoot as a SS,

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Case in point

infield single for Adam Jones on a ball hit to Eck’s right. Not saying every SS in the league would have made that play, but lots would have.

by SuckaMD on Jul 21, 2008 8:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

he did slip a bit on the throw...scoot wouldn't ahve made the play....but Mac.....

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Talking about how many steals Rios has....I'd rather have home runs

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

nice throw lind

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:33 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I like watching Inglett in the outfield too.....rarely takes a good line to the ball but generally gets there

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Well that's largely what happens

when you have a 2B playing RF

by SuckaMD on Jul 21, 2008 8:38 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah I didn't like it when Cito was using him as a defensive replacement for Lind in left....I think Lind isn't that bad

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:39 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'd like to see Inglett at short....just to prove to myself he isn't the best choice

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:40 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I'm not sure it's a great idea

to be moving guys around the infield (especially young guys) just because your other players happen to be not very good. Especially when you aren’t competing this season (and let’s be honest, that ship has long sailed) you need guys to develop at the positions where they will provide the most benefit in the future. And Inglett does not project at SS.

E.g. before last season, some were advocating moving Hill to SS to fill the gap. But he had been tried at SS before (rookie year I think) and he provides more benefit at 2B, so I really think they made the right choice to leave him there, even having to watch him play next to Clayton

by SuckaMD on Jul 21, 2008 8:44 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Inglett has played ss....would like Campbell up to play second

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He may have played SS in the past

but does he project as a legit starting major league SS?

by SuckaMD on Jul 21, 2008 8:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah not sure....but I'd like to see for myself I guess....not sure why he's not a SS.....

might become apparent if we saw him play there I guess

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:50 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ok

You talked me into it. Joe Inglett for SS!!!

by SuckaMD on Jul 21, 2008 8:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

well I'd like to see him there....I'd like to see Campbell at second if hill isn't returning in a hurry.....I'm just thinking we might as well see some young guys

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What's the deal with Campbell?

How old is he? How many years in the minors?

I never heard anything about him until a few months ago. Is he actually ready for the bigs, even in call-up form?

by SuckaMD on Jul 21, 2008 8:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Campbell is 23 at AA ball....was batting .341 with a .436 on base...this is a couple of weeks back....

he’s number 11 on our top 10 prospect list….though I think the list needs a going over….

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 9:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

has some power.....just an all around good looking prospect at 2B

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 9:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Can he play SS?

by SuckaMD on Jul 21, 2008 9:08 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

hasn't.....

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 9:09 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

At the same time

Given that the season isn’t going anywhere, why not put Inglett in there just for the hell of it?

by SuckaMD on Jul 21, 2008 8:46 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Jesse we need you to find the strike zone...

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

but ummmmmm not right down the middle frig....

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:41 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

and that's it for jesse.....wanted some innings from him....used a bunch of relievers yesterday and likely will tomorrow, Marcum will have a low pitch limit.

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

whoops go for a popsickle and league's already given up another run

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Wondering if jesse is going thru a dead arm period

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Might be our last look at League for a bit

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Lind is 0 fer 3

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:49 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Eck walks again....with Scoot not hitting I'd like to see more of Eck

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:50 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Liz is out of there....darn....thought we could come back against him

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Scoot walks...rios is the tieing run.....can't remember the risp count....

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Last you said it was 2 for 5

Though there may have been a couple in between

by SuckaMD on Jul 21, 2008 8:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Rios flies out.....oh well

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Whatever it was

Rios flies out, so its 0 for 1 more

by SuckaMD on Jul 21, 2008 8:57 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I think 2 for 7 but been wrong before...

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 8:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

hmmmmm leagues strikes out one guy walks the next....if he gives up a home run to the next we'll have seen all he does well

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 9:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

that's it for league....oh maybe not....no cito leaves him out there

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 9:06 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

League gets a double play ball....

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 9:07 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

love watching those submarine guys

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 9:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

We sure could use Mark Eichorn now

by SuckaMD on Jul 21, 2008 9:13 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah any RH reliever.....the lefties we have are amazing

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 9:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

We had great RH relievers at the start of the season

At least I thought we did. Janssen, Wolfe and Accardo were all coming off great years.

by SuckaMD on Jul 21, 2008 9:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

not sure Wolfe can't get it back.....Accardo on the other hand....

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 9:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Last season it looked like the Shea trade would turn out to be a huge steal

Now, I’m not so sure

by SuckaMD on Jul 21, 2008 9:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

well.....likely just being rid of shea was a positive

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 9:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

True

but getting a better player in trade for a guy who would have been traded for a bag of baseball would have proven that JP is actually moderately capable of doing his job

by SuckaMD on Jul 21, 2008 9:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

right now I don't want any excuse for him to keep his job....

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 9:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If I could have 10 questions for JP Scott Campbell would be at the top.....why not?

course since the man can’t tell the truth at all really wouldn’t matter

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 9:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

hey jamie mentions my home town

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 9:13 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

What did he say

I wasn’t paying attention

by SuckaMD on Jul 21, 2008 9:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

just said that bradford came up thru the Calgary Cannons...

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 9:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ah, the good old days

when there was AAA baseball in Canada. I wouldn’t know, since I grew up in Toronto, but I imagine it was good times.

by SuckaMD on Jul 21, 2008 9:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

yeah but we have a California golden league team now and that's cool too

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 9:16 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

California League team in Calgary?

Isn’t that a bit of a trek for road trips? And what level is that? How can low-minors teams afford all that travel?

I always kind of assumed that the reason AAA baseball failed in Canada is because of the travel cost and issues, but maybe not seeing as lower-level ball apparently works.

by SuckaMD on Jul 21, 2008 9:18 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

they have a 'northern division....us and edmonton and a couple of washington teams.....have like two trips to California

by Tom Dakers on Jul 21, 2008 9:19 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

That makes sense

Is the Edmonton team still the Trappers? I saw a game when I was in Edmonton in grade 12 (2002), when they were still AAA, and Pat Borders was the starting catcher for the visitors. Gave him a standing O and he waved at us.

by SuckaMD on Jul 21, 2008 9:21 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs