Lind Powers Blue Jays to Big Win

The Blue Jays patience and big bats all came together in Texas as they take game two over the Rangers 10-3.

The first inning was key for Toronto as they got off to a great start with a lead-off single by Yunel Escobar on the first pitch of the game and a bunt single on the next pitch by Corey Patterson. In all, the Jays sent nine-men to the plate scoring five runs on four hits and working three walks. Starting pitcher for the Rangers, Matt Harrison, did not have his stuff right from the beginning. He struggled with his command and locating his pitches, but credit the Blue Jays hitters for laying off the close ones (even though there were a few that were not close at all).

Adam Lind is starting to heat up after he came through with a big game offensively, going 3-for-5, with a pair of home runs and 5 RBI. His second home run in the fourth was of the three-run variety, as he jumped all over reliever, Brett Tomko's first-pitch fastball into the second deck in right field.

Jose Bautista continues to show a great eye and patience at the plate with a double and two walks. I truly think (as do a lot of others) he is the most dangerous hitter in the game today. Every swing he takes is with authority and when he makes contact, nine times out of 10, it is on the sweet spot.

Jesse Litsch did what you want to see out of your fifth starter (though he was in Brett Cecil's spot as number three tonight), he pounded the strikes zone, kept the ball on the ground and kept the walks to a minimum. He is going to give up hits for being in the strikes zone often, but if he can get himself into the sixth inning, he is going to be successful.

Pitching lines:

Litsch (W, 2-1): 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 7 H, 2 BB, 1 SO, 92 pitches
M. Harrison (L, 3-2): 3.0 IP, 7 ER, 8 H, 3 BB, 1 SO, 1 HR, 60 pitches

Game three goes tomorrow night at 8:07 EDT in Texas. Jo-Jo Reyes (0-2) is on the mound for the Blue Jays. The Rangers have not named a starter yet.

On a side note to finish, Brett Cecil made his first start after being sent down to AAA vs. Colorado Springs, but did not fair very well.

Pitching line: 4.1 IP, 10 ER, 13 H, 3 BB, 2 SO, 3 HR.

I know that the ballparks in the Pacific Coast League (PCL) are ridiculous in size and numbers get inflated, but 13 hits and 10 earned runs in any ballpark is horrible. We will see how his next outing fairs. Being his first time back in AAA since last season may have had him down, and we know he was upset with himself on the way he pitched before being sent down. But he needs to work on his mechanics, find his groove very soon or it will hurt him and his confidence will be shot for quite some time.

Until next time,

Let's Go Blue Jays!

Twitter: @ChaseHadden

blue jays baseball: so far.

Our apologies for such a delay in posting--all of us are insanely occupied, and therefore we've been running late with our blogs!

Here's what I've been seeing from the Jays up to now (and some of these things worry me):

• a lack of solid, QUALITY starts from pitchers Brett Cecil & Jo-Jo Reyes [get your act together-there's a reason that Cecil's in triple-A right now!]
  
• Frank Francisco being lit up by the Yankees [I think we've got a second Kevin Gregg based on what I've seen so far!] Honestly, I'd rather see a closer who can throw strikes rather than one who lets the opposing team whack off a home run on the first pitch!
  
• a lack of production & homeruns. I know Farrell wants the Jays to use the HR ball less and to use the small ball/ running game more, but I'd like a few more home runs.
  
• a lack of offense? I could be wrong, but aside from the 7 runs scored in game 1 vs Boston & again vs New York, what's with the lacking of offense?

I get the fact we've pretty much had our backs against the ropes, facing outstanding starting pitchers such as  Jeff Weaver, Felix Hernandez, Michael Pineda, Jon Lester, Josh Beckett and A.J. Burnett [though I will add here that the Jays eked out a win vs Burnett!]


True, it's a learning experience--and it should be. Losing a power hitter in Wells doesn't really help us (except in the matter of payroll!) and what's with keeping Juan Rivera if he's not even going to be used?! 


till next time, 


-jLau

Twitter: @jlau87

opening day: my take on it.

As I watched the Opening Day ceremonies yet again [I SWEAR i'm gonna make sure I go next year!], I was surprised to see Alomar inducted into the HOF, a new bullpen coach among things. Having been a Blue Jays fan for 17 (going on 18) years, I've never seen an opening day game win as lopsided as this one was.

Sure, the ceremonies were a bit long--and no lie, the kids who sang the anthems were MUCH better than the usual people they have for this...but time to get to the game shall we?

Rajai Davis. Where to begin? All reports that he's fast and not hesitant to steal bases, and did it ever show...stealing second, followed by Escobar stealing THIRD for a DOUBLE STEAL?! Talk about making a good first impression!

JP Arencibia: No lie--I love his defensive work, picking off runners trying to steal second! His offensive work is also a masterpiece: TWO homeruns in the game. Keep it up.

Jose Bautista: Looks as sharp as ever, hitting his first out of the park [as the call from Jerry Howarth & Alan Ashby goes: "YESSSSSS SIRRRRRR, THEREEEEEEE SHEEEEEE GOESSSSSSSSSS!"]

Overall, seeing the Blue Jays beat up the Minnesota Twins 13-3 and starting the season 1-0 was enough to make me smile and it was the perfect way to kick off an 18th season of Baseball. Romero was sharp. the offence was great and the defence was stellar.

Enough said.
Till next week.

Opening Weekend Success

What a great start to the 2011 Blue Jays season! First, by honouring Toronto's first pair of baseball hall of famers, Roberto Alomar and Pat Gillick in front of a sold out Rogers Centre. The crowd was so loud it was defining. I was getting goose bumps and a little teary eyed during Alomar's speech and the fans response (I am not afraid to admit that).

Game one looked as if the Jays picked up exactly where they left from 2010. They pounded Carl Pavano and the Minnesota Twins 13-3 thanks to a brilliant start from new ace, Rickey Romero and four homeruns from their high powered offence. J.P. Arencibia has probably had two of t he best first games any player could have. With his brilliant two homerun performance in his big league debut in August last season, he adds to that with another two homerun night in his first opening day in the majors. I briefly chatted with his mother after the game, while she was taking pictures of her son being interviewed and recieving the complimentary shaving cream pie. She thinks this team is very close and very exciting with their young nucleus of talent.

In game two, we saw Kyle Drabek dominate a good Twins line-up by no-hitting them into the sixth inning to earn his first career win. The Blue Jays showed patience against Twins left-hander. Fransico Liriano, as he struggled to find the strikes zone walking five batters. Jose Molina got the Jays on the board early in the third by taking the first pitch he sees just over the left field wall for Toronto's fifth homerun in only 11 innings.. Jayson Nix made a big impact in his debut as a Blue Jay, knocking out his first homerun and making a couple great defensive plays at the hot corner as Toronto won 6-1 and take the series.

But the Jays were looking for the opening weekend sweep yesterday afternoon sending Brett Cecil to the mound. He looked solid in the first inning by striking out the side (and getting in the fans side as they were only four strikeouts away from free pizza, but sadly missed out by one). But he struggled with his command a bit walking two and giving up a solo homerun to Danny Valencia in the third. Toronto made it an exciting ninth ining. With the bases loaded and down by one, Adam Lind decides to swing at the first pitch after Jose Bautista battled back from an 0-2 count to work a walk, only to ground out to first and lose 4-3.

It was nice to see the fans at the ballpark this weekend with over 110,000 for the first series. Yes, opening night is always a sell out, and yes, starting the season over the weekend does help. But last season games two and three were ridiculously tiny. Maybe 20,000 combined the next two games. I think the youth of the team and excitement (and Jose Bautista bobble head day) brought the fans out. I just hope it will continue because these guys deserve all the support they can get. They work hard and if you watched the bottom of the ninth yesterday, you see they will not give up until the final out is recorded. They will hit their fair share of homeruns again, but they are going to utilize their speed with stolen bases, taking the extra base on a ball it into the gap and play and exciting brand of baseball.

I hope to see you at the ballpark this season!

Chase

Twitter: @ChaseHadden

Opening day thoughts

(Note: I'm just copying my notes to here, so bear with me)

In rough chronological order:

- Christ, how long do opening ceremonies have to be?! I think I changed channels once they trotted out those kids for the national anthems about twenty minutes in.

- Wow, that Rajai Davis guy is fast

- A double steal? From the Blue Jays? What sort of madness is this?!

- Bottom of first inning summary: hit, blown run down on a pickoff, hit, double steal, walk, hit by pitch (1-0), sac fly (2-0), sac fly (3-0), fielding error (4-0), strikeout. Yeah, not a great way for the Twins to start the game.

- Heh, balk.

- Hey, Arencibia found his swing again. 2-run shot.

- Bautista and Lind back-to-back HR? Someone put Pavano out of his misery and pull him.

- Arencibia 2-run triple. Hope can get the cycle this time around.

- That's Romero's Girlfriend? Damn!

- Oh look, an Encarnacion error *facepalm*

- And Romero's done for the day. 6.1 IP, 7 H, 7 K , 1 ER. Not bad.

- Another Arencibia HR. Doesn't do anything for a cycle attempt, but I'll take it. Makes his line look better, anyway (3-for-4, 2 HR, 5 RBI).

- Note to audience: 'throwing in the towel' means you're giving up.

- As much as I want to rail on the Twins for their horrid showing, I should lay off of them. Especially since I've seen worse (Giants-Dodgers Thursday night, anyone?)