Last game of the season. We have Litsch going against Jeremy Guthrie. Jays would like the win to get to 10 games over .500.

I figured lyrics from U2's song 'One' were appropriate for today. I'll admit I like Johnny Cash's version. They did disappoint us this year, but the good part about baseball is there is always next year. They can disappoint us all over again.

I'm on the road this morning so likely won't see any of the game, going to listen to 'An Evening With Kevin Smith' and have supper with my son, who is going to University in Edmonton and my sister, who lives up there. Might as well end the season on an up note, Go Jays.

RAIN DELAY....have doubts they will start up again

 

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Parrish vs. Bass.....interesting lineup for us tonight. Not sure why Zaun over Thigpen but oh well.

 

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Tonight's post title comes from "Baltimore," a great song of the best-titled (though not my favourite) Lyle Lovett record, Joshua Judges Ruth.  The Jays head in to Baltimore to end their series, and J.P. Ricciardi must be feeling pretty confident and wise after the Jays gave him another year to make the playoffs, despite the fact that the team looks to end this season in 4th place and with a record not significantly better than they've done in the past two seasons. Please do let us know what you think about J.P. being back for another year in the comments and poll for the post below, and stop by and chat about that, as well as the game and anything else on your mind, tonight in the game thread. 

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Doc goes for his 20th win tonight, lets get him some runs guys. Carl friggin Pavano pitching for the Yankees, he beat us once this year. We can't have that again. I see Jeter is still out of the line up for the Hankees and they are sitting Damon, ARod and Matsui. They also have a rookie catching Francisco Cervelli making his first major league start.

Zaun is in again for us, not sure why we don't let Thigpen start a few games, but I don't make out the line up cards. And Moonraker has been moved up a spot in the order, hitting in front of Zaun. Other than that it is pretty much our normal line up. Vernon is DHing tonight putting Rios in CF.

In other Jay's news it is official Cito will be back next year, he is signed thru 2010. I hope he will learn to take it a little easier on his pitcher's arms, but I won't hold my breath. JP says the fates of the other coaches will be announced this weekend, it's likely they all will get two year contracts as well.

I'll be late to get to the game thread, my boy has hockey, but I should be in for most of the game, come join me. Come on guys, let's get Doc his 20th!! Yeah I know it's a lame song for the game thread....give me a break, I got a cold.

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Not sure that there's any particular reason that Zaun is starting again, after his stellar performance yesterday, another poor offensive performance for the team that allowed Mike Mussina, one of the biggest jerks in major-league baseball, to inch closer to that 20-win mark. 

But that's not important.  What is important is that A.J. Burnett will be making tonight what is overwhelmingly likely to be his final start as a Jay.  Today's title, coming from a great song by the lovely Neko Case, struck me as appropriate.  Anyone think it's at all likely that the Jays keep A.J.?  

Well, A.J., the local media hated you for some reason, but you seem like a good guy to me, and everyone says you're a great teammate.  You deserve the big bucks and a fanbase that will appreciate your talent.  You're 9th on the Jays all-time list for ERA, 8th in Whip, and 3rd in K/9.  Let's give the Yankees one more beating before they offer you the big bucks to play for them.

The highly touted Phil Hughes (though the shine is off that apple a bit) pitches for the Yankees.  Knowing us, today will be the first day of the rest of his career.  Let's go Jays!

 

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Well, the season is, for all intents and purposes over, but there's still something left to play for, especially this week.  The Jays are looking to finish ahead of the Yankees for the first time since 1993, and they will need to take this series if they want to do so.  Right now, the Yankees are 2 games ahead of the Jays. 

Jesse Litsch pitches against Mike Mussina tonight and it'd be nice to show some offense.  Let's face it, I know it's out of context, but if we can't beat the Yankees this season, it's tough to see how we will do next year when they will likely be much better and we will likely be mostly the same.

Tonight's title comes from a track off Spoon's record Ga Ga Ga Ga, which is way better than it sounds.

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Sorry I'm slow....hope Richmond has a good afternoon.

 

With Snider and Lind out of the lineup (for Bautista and Mench), our lineup looks terrible (though SB Nation's lineup widget isn't working so you'll have to take my word for it, at least, until the game starts).  At least Bautista hits lefties well, while Mench is just taking valuable at-bats away from Snider and Lind where they could be learning to hit lefties.  Doc pitches today against lefty Jon Lester, and the Jays just need to win two more games to surpass their record from last season.  Since the Yankees are playing the O's, it's likely the Jays will need to beat the Sox today to keep pace.  Come on fellas, 4th place is no fun. 

The weather here is amazing, just went for a nice long run.  Unfortunately I won't be around for the game as I have band rehearsal for a big deal (for us that is) gig on Thursday night.  Oh, yeah, and I finally got around to watching the final season of the Wire (hence today's thread title, which, by the way, if you haven't heard the full original version of the theme, by Tom Waits, you have to check it out).  I didn't find it nearly as good as the previous 4 seasons.  I never get tired of seeing my old stomping ground, the City of Baltimore, on the screen though.  Much better than seeing DC or NYC for some reason.   Though it was great when a friend and I ran into Delaney Williams, who plays Detective Sergeant Jay Landsman on the show, at a bar in Chinatown in DC.  Any season 5 defenders?

If you haven't yet, do check out our advance look, below, at next season's rotation, and whether the Jays need to bring in someone from outside the organization.

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It is really sad about Shawn Marcum, Tommy John surgery is not something you'd wish on anyone but he should be back ready to go by the start of 2010. Isn't it a coincidence that Tommy John had Tommy John surgery. What are the odds.

So the series we had hopes would mean something doesn't mean anything to us. The Sox are only 1.5 games behind the Rays, so they still could catch them but they are 6.5 games ahead of the Twins in the Wild Card so that is about over.

We have AJ (18-10, 4.19) going, he needs to win both his last two starts to get to 20 wins. JP says he is going to try to get AJ to stay offering more money and more years but that he won't get into a bidding war. Without Marcum, we could really use him next season. Byrd (11-12, 4.53) is pitching for the Sox, I think we've all seen enough of him this year. But it is fun to watch his rocking chair delivery.

I was hoping to see more of Thigpen tonight but Zaun's out there and Moonraker is still in the nine hole. Come on guys; let's sweep them just for the fun of it. Oh the title is from a George Harrison Beatles song, Love You To, on Revolver.

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Yay, Thigpen is playing. Yeah I know he hasn't looked great this year but still out like to see him get some at bats. But I don't understand why he bats 8th and Moonraker bats 9th!!   Why? I know I shouldn't try to second guess Cito but that makes no sense to me.