That Was So Much More Fun; Romero and Jays Beat Rays

by Tom Dakers on Jul 1, 2009 4:29 PM EDT in Toronto Blue Jays Game Recaps

Ricky Romero is just amazing. I know it is sacrilege to say but other than the couple of starts after he came back from the DL he's been every bit as good as Doc. Today, 8 innings, 4 hits, 4 walks (yeah too many), 7 strikeouts and 2 pick offs. I thought we might be in for a long game when he walked B.J. Upton and threw ball 1 to Carl Crawford, but then he picked Upton off and struck out Crawford and Longoria and looked great the rest of the way.

There was a moment of worry in the 8th when he walked Bartlett to start the inning then Marco Scutaro dropped the toss on an easy double play ball. But then Willy Aybar lined right to Scoot and he doubled off Bartlett at second.

The other bad moment was with Crawford on first and 1 out, Pena singled to center and for totally unknown reasons, Alex Rios threw to third. He had no chance at all to get Crawford and it allowed Pena to go to second. Rios had to play smarter than that. Pena was the tying run, at that point, and keeping him out of scoring position was all important then. But, lucky for Alex, Ricky walked Zobrist to load the bases and then got Pat Burrell to hit into a double play. Alex, if you are going to play in center, keep your head in the game.

My other complaint is I never have to see Kevin Millar swing the bat anymore. Sitting Vernon, I understand, he isn't hitting well, but Millar is miles worse. Millar hasn't been good in years, it's time to release him and try Randy Ruiz or Brian Dopirak or someone. They can't be worse and they could develop into something. Millar could develop into a coach or a color commentator, but he isn't going to suddenly become 30 again.

Anyway the rest of the offense was fine, we had 8 hits, with 3 homers, one each from Rod Barajas, Adam Lind and Rolen. Our new number 3 hitter, Lind, had 2 hits as did Rolen. 0 fors went to Hill, Millar and Rios (who did have a walk and hit one hard the other way but Gabe Gross made a good catch).

Jay of the Day was Ricky Romero (surprise, .469 WPA). Honorable mention to Scoot and Overbay (both broke long 0 for streaks) and Lind. No Suckage Jays. Jays have tomorrow off then have 4 day games in New York against the Yankees over the 4th of July weekend.

Great game today, hope it's the start of a good stretch. Have a great Canada Day.

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romero sure looks like a stud, i just hope he can stay healthy long term. the blue jays track record with young pitchers is not on ricky’s side.

by torontocoltsfan on Jul 1, 2009 5:22 PM EDT reply actions

just a great game and day

Saw the game today. Ricky started off a bit rough … 5 or was it 6 balls. Fans were getting nervous but Ricky soon pulled it together. 2 pickoffs on the day was helpful.

Meanwhile, the Jays bats came alive with 3 taters.

Got to experience the roof closing and the indoor fireworks were cool. July 1 Jays home game is a date that should be on all Jays fans calendars.

by aagoodfella on Jul 1, 2009 5:40 PM EDT reply actions

I unfortunately missed the game today, but I read on yahoo that supposedly Jays fans were booing Wells when he came into the game in the 9th. I just have to say, I thought Jays fans had more class than that. I realize Wells has been struggling this year, and its frustrating to watch, but I’m sure nobody is more frustrated with it than Vernon, and it sure can’t help him having the fans booing him. Sure, we can debate how good or bad his contract signing was all we want, but in the end that is totally irrelevant. What matters is that as fans we continue to show support, its just as bad being fairweather to your team as it is to be fairweather to the players. Its not like Wells has a bad attitude and is making people hate him. We all know he has potential in that bat, but shit happens sometimes. It happens to the best of players sometimes, ie. Ortiz, and also Giles and Kendall, both great career hitters, have both struggled this year offensively. So yeah, its really annoying seeing fans booing their own player just because he’s having a rough time. Don’t start turning into Yankees fans.

by Icedragon on Jul 1, 2009 6:09 PM EDT reply actions

And hell, people still cheer Manny for some weird reason even though he was basically caught cheating.

by Icedragon on Jul 1, 2009 6:10 PM EDT up reply actions

I was at the game and frankly did not hear much Wells booing when it was announced he was being inserted. He did not come in until the top of the 9th, for defensive reasons, and had little if any impact on the game outcome.

If there was Wells booing, it was isolated and definitely not widespread nor the consensus reaction of the crowd.

There is always some isolated booing for Wells and Rios and sometimes pitchers. I agree you should not boo your own players — within certain limits of reason. Bottom line, with respect to Wells, I do not think the crowd behaviour was inappropriate today.

Moreover, I would say that the crowd was fairly vocal in support today.

One thing I would like to see changed a bit is that when pitchers like Romero have a great day, but leave the game after a complete inning, they should come out for a curtain call. 8 complete innings with no ER by Romero was definitely worth a standing O and step out and hat tip from Romero.

by aagoodfella on Jul 1, 2009 6:29 PM EDT up reply actions

Well, as I said, I unfortunately didn’t see the game, so I don’t know how much booing was going on. But I just think that it sucks that fans have to boo their own players…definitely don’t want to turn into Yankees fans…

by Icedragon on Jul 1, 2009 6:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Completely agree about Millar...

…he started out OK but clearly it’s over, if they don’t land another bat before the trade deadline it’s time to let him go and try a young guy there, hell even bring up Delucci just to have another lefty, he couldn’t possibly be worse than Millar has been in the last month.

by snaptoit on Jul 1, 2009 6:20 PM EDT reply actions

Yeah I wouldn’t mind seeing what Delucci can bring, other than a veteran presence. Millar was great at the start of the year, but wow he’s sure gone south the last month and a half or so hasn’t he?

by Icedragon on Jul 1, 2009 6:23 PM EDT up reply actions

I agree. I think Millar may be near the point where it is time to call it a career.

by aagoodfella on Jul 1, 2009 6:30 PM EDT up reply actions

Another batting order change today...

from the great Cito. I have to be happy that at least he has the 5 best hitters in the 5 top slots in the order. I would still put Overbay 2nd and move the rest back one spot each, but you can’t have everything. Let’s hope it stays that way for awhile.

I also like batting Bautista 9th. He still has a good OBP because he has walked a lot for the number of at bats he has. The Jays got their first run when he walked and Scutaro doubled him home.

Finally, about Wells. I personally would not boo at the stadium, but he has not hit enough. I really blame Cito for keeping him 3rd or 4th in the order all this time. If Wells had been batting 8th or 9th like he should have been, he would not have been up to bat for all those key situations and failed. And we would have many more runs scored by now.

by Chesapeake Ron on Jul 1, 2009 6:23 PM EDT reply actions

FYI -- "ice cold beer" guy spotted

Everybody’s fave or near-fave beer vendor, famous for his grisly “ice cold beer” announcement, was spotted at the park today, although not in a professional capacity, but just as a fan. Good to see there are no hard feelings.

by aagoodfella on Jul 1, 2009 6:33 PM EDT reply actions

Too bad I missed the day game but it was an inspiring shutout

Too bad we lost a crucial home series 2 games to 1 because we only scored 7 runs. It is simple: if we allow just 8 runs over 3 games, we should even sweep it, frankly! And a home sweep would have been the perfect remedy. Now a huge four-game series in the Bronx comes up, why all day games? I don’t get it but maybe it’s better for me as they all start at 7 pm over here, I can at least follow the scores and hopefully at least one will be on TV (I guess Doc on Saturday). Great effort by Ricky, good offensive day (although I wished we could add more in the third, instead we only got one run). Still, some issues remain offensively. We can discuss them a lot here since there’s the day off Thursday.

by Marco1978 on Jul 2, 2009 4:23 AM EDT reply actions

Lucky me

I will be able to watch few of these day games on TV. Too bad they were not playing in T.O. or I would have drove downtown and catch at least one of these games.

by Outz on Jul 2, 2009 12:21 PM EDT up reply actions

dear buddha, what I meant to say was too bad they will not be playing in toronto or i will drive to Roger center to see at least one of the yankee game…. damn… still dizzy from the canada’s day fireworks…

by Outz on Jul 2, 2009 12:26 PM EDT up reply actions