As if we haven’t seen this before, the Jays currently have seven pitchers on the disabled list.  Six of them are starters and one being their closer. 

In case you missed it this week, Scotty Downs sprained his left toe running out of the batters box!  Perhaps the American League should just stick to the DH rule.  Also, the best pitcher in baseball (Doc Halladay) went down with a mild groin pull.  He is probable to come off the DL in the minimum fifteen days.   Can the Jays hold up while there ace is out?  So far, yes.  Toronto went into Philly and swept the World Series Champions.  Last night they lost a close game, 2-1 in 11 innings against the lowly Washington Nationals.  Mind you the Jays hitters had several opportunities to break the game wide open.   The Jays were 1-7 with runners in scoring position and left 13 on base.  Thankfully, the Nationals left 16.

    If the hitters can hold up there end, like they did against the Phillies, the Jays should be able to weather the storm.  But how long can Toronto go before they succumb to all these injuries?  Four of there top starters are currently on the DL.  Jesse Litsch is done for the season and hopefully the M & M’s (Marcum & McGowan) can make speedy recoveries.  If not, are the cavalry of rookies ready to hold up to a long, grueling MLB season?  Having said that, the young guns do seem to be pitching alright.  Ricky Romero has been remarkable and Brian Tallett (with the exception of a couple bad games) has been better than average.  Rookie Brad Mills was hit pretty hard in his major league debut this past Thursday.  However, he is only 24 years old.   Brett Cecil has been recalled & will be pitching today (Saturday).  Let’s hope he fairs better than his last start where the Bosox hit him very hard.  Perhaps Cito might pull him before that happens again.  I just hope the young man can leave that game behind and pitch deep into the game tonight.  I say that because the bullpen has been spent recently.  Ryan, League & Frasor have pitched 3 out of the last four days.  Accardo has pitched two straight (with one being a two inning effort) games since being recalled.

    As mentioned above, closer Scott Downs is on the DL.  Who is to take his place?  Not B.J. Ryan, as he is struggling against righties.  Gaston seems to be using him as a specialty pitcher.  Is it Jeremy Accardo?  Perhaps, but he was brought into last night’s game in the 8^th inning.  With the scored tied.  Is it Jason Frasor?  That is the logical pick but he came into Thursday’s game with the scored tied in the eighth too.  Maybe Cito is doing it by committee.

Raging on Rios

    Can anyone tell me what the heck is going on with Alex!?!?  In the past couple of weeks he has:

·        Told off a fan in front of a kid

·        Over slid 2^nd base & was tagged out

·        Did not tag up on two occasions. 

·        First one was at a crucial time with the Jays down by a run in the eighth.  For some reason he chose not to tag up on a high fly ball to left centre.  Even if it wasn’t caught he would’ve scored easily.

·        Second time was when he was on first with one out.   Overbay hits a fly ball to center field for an out.  Rios lazily jogs to 2^nd base without tagging up.

If I was Cito Gaston I would’ve benched him for at least one game.  I don’t understand what has happened to him.  For a guy with all this hype and potential, he seems to be just an average player.  Perhaps he is just that and the time is now to trade him before everyone else figures him out.  Or have they already?

In short, hopefully the starting rookies can pull through and the Jays take 2 out of 3 against the league low Washington Nationals.

Thanks for reading and bye for now.