A's 0 Jays 1
Just figured we should have the Standings up, because life is good. Well, other than a Yankee come back win over the Indians helped along by an iffy home run call. Fans reached into the playing field. Not sure that it wouldn't have been a homer anyway but I always think you should rule against the home team on those on those sort of plays. It is their fans.
Anyway, Romero pitched a great 7 inning. Just 4 hits, 2 walks and 6 strikeouts. After 3 starts he is 2-0 with a 1.71 ERA. Yeah I know the line score at the top of our page has the pitchers records wrong. I've reported it a couple of times now, hopefully it will get fixed. Can't say enough about how good Ricky was, we needed a starter to go deep in a game.
Scott Downs pitched a terrific 8th innings, he has now pitched 6.2 innings this season, has only given up 2 hits and has struck out 10. Who thought he could get better than last year? And BJ was great in the 9th, a fly ball single that was only a single because Rios was playing so far back, protecting against extra base hits. That is 2 good appearances in 2 days for Ryan. Yeah I know we are going to be nervous every time he comes into a game for a while but he is looking good now.
Offensively, well if we are going to count on great base running by Kevin Millar to win us games, it has worked out once. Millar walked to lead off the second, moved up on a 'wild pitch' that didn't get far from the catch and hustled home on a single by Lyle Overbay. Great base running by Millar and a clutch hit by Overbay, getting his second game winning hit in less than 24 hours.
Other nice news, Cito had Snider and Overbay in the lineup against a lefty. It does bother me a bit that he had Snider batting 9th behind 'good field/no hit' catcher Raul Chavez, but let's take small blessings. Sportsnet showed Cito's post game press conference (they had the time, with Romero pitching fast, the game was over in 2 hours and 19 minutes). Cito has got the be the nicest, most soft-spoken gentleman in the world. Gave his players all the credit for how well things are going this season and said nice things about Romero. He is hard not to like, except, you know, when the game is on and he is doing his statue impersonation.
Games of the Day? Romero (.472 WPA), Ryan (.168) and Snakeface (.124). Honorable mention Millar and Overbay. No Suckage Jays, as much as I would love to see Rios hit one hard to the outfield someday.
Just figured we should have the Standings up, because life is good. Well, other than a Yankee come back win over the Indians helped along by an iffy home run call. Fans reached into the playing field. Not sure that it wouldn't have been a homer anyway but I always think you should rule against the home team on those on those sort of plays. It is their fans.
No Jays game tomorrow, first off day of the young season. We are in first and have a 2 game lead. I heard someone on ESPN Radio Baseball Tonight mention the Jays as a team 'sure to fall back'. Well guy, screw you take a flying leap. I suppose he picked the Rays to win last year. Enjoy it, we are in first. We have won games with hitting and we have won games with pitching. And the Texas Rangers are coming to town, time to get the bats going again. If any dimwit tries to bring you down, saying this won't last, club him.