Goodness Bush has gotten hit hard by the first two batters.

He really needs to focus on getting ahead and not falling behind or else the Orioles will eat him up.

Mora puts the O's on the board with an RBI groundout.

1-0 O's

A rough 1st inning for Bush, but he leaves the inning with only 1 run allowed.

Hopefully the Jays bats carry over from yesterday.

HE'S BAAAAAAAAAAACK!!!

Well, atleast for now he is.

Delgado answers back with a 3 run bomb, his 19th of the year.

Don't look now, but the BA is climbing back up. .239 at the moment.

3-1 Jays

Now that's how I like to start a ballgame!

http://timgueguen.blogspot.com
I'd hate to be the poor blighters who will have to clean up after all those dogs. I wonder if sooner or later someone won't try a "bring your cat to the game" day just to be different.

Gomez does it AGAIN!!

4-1 Jays after a Gomez RBI single brings home Hinske.

i don't have cable so i don't get to watch games very often (though i always listen on the radio). i'm visiting my parent's today and i am loving watching this game. let's go carlos. keep it going.

Alex 3 singles for 3 brings in another one.

Hey guys, haven't posted here in a while. I did a bit at the start of the season when hopes were high.

Anyway, with the rotation pretty much set and looking good I might add and the back end of the bullpen coming together (especially if Miller gets moved to the pen), I think it would be best to bring back Carlos. With the money we save from not having to get more pitching, I think we can afford to keep Carlos for a few more years.
What you guys say about this lineup?

Rios
Hudson
Wells
Delgado
Crozier
Hinkse
Quirez
Gross
Gomez/Adams

CAT HIT GRAND SLAM NOW! K PLZ THX - BOOMHAUER

And has anyone noticed how RSN makes a hard cut away from Sparky when he rests his bat against himself?

No grand slam for Cat, but I'm sure Boomhauer will take the walk! ;)

Wow, what's happened to the Jays offense? Suddenly they have transformed into hitting machines. Nice to see.

IMO if carlos is back there is no way that crozier is starting and i'm not sure if q is ready to be the starting catcher.

Well we need more pop in the lineup. Crozier can be the DH and Carlos can play first. They are both lefties, but the East doesn't have many lefty starters. We can't have the Cat DHing cause he can't hit enough homers.

Crozier is having a nice season for sure, but at 25 or 26 he looks a lot like a 4A player. Of course I'd love it if he proved me wrong.

I'd be surprised to see Quiroz get a starting role next year. I think he needs at least a half-season at AAA.

Crozier hasn't played baseball for very long I don't think. He is old, but he has potential. And I've heard that he was injuried a bit so he missed some time in the minors.

As for Quirez he was hurt alot this season as well, and before he went down he was hitting the ball pretty good. Even with a broken hand and deflated lung he could still hit better than Kevin Cash. He will probably play winter ball, and if he does well there I wouldn't have a problem with him starting next year.

Wow... slow board today considering how well the Jays are doing (or maybe because how well the Jays are doing). I guess no one else had to run into the office for an hour or two.

Melvin Mora is a machine... his metamorphosis from minor league journeyman to utility player to George Brett has been quite something.

Another guy who didn't reach the majors until he was 27, so I guess there's always hope...

GQ will probably play in Venezuela in the winter, as he does every winter. I think if he can perform well there, stay healthy, and perform equally well or up to his potential in Spring Training, he should have a spot on the roster. I believe that once he makes the team, he'll make the team as the everyday catcher.

Bases loaded, nobody out...

This doesn't look good.

How about some range, looks like the left side of the infield wear cement shoes!

LOL

I guess the Jays don't like David Bush very much.

First they give him 0 support, and now this. He's Toronto's version of Tim Hudson.

Suddenly, it's 7-7

I guess the Jays don't like David Bush very much.

No kidding. It's okay to cry, David.

Ugh. That's just disgusting.

This is the luckiest inning I have ever witenessed a team have.

First they reach on error, then they hit a bloop single, then a ground ball that Gomez somehow couldn't get to, a couple more seeing-eye singles, I mean it's just ridiculous.

It doesn't matter if it's a lucky inning or not. What matters is Toronto is now down 9-7 with Baltimore still threatening. That's just unacceptable, luck or no luck.

I got up late and turned on the tv saw the score was 7-2 for the Jays so I went to grab a bite turn back on the tv and unless my eyes are messed up I swear the score is now 9-7 for the O's. What in the world happened?

Coming out this Offseason - the 2004 Blue Jay way to lose a lead. IN all good bookstores.

Oh come on now.

This is beyond disgusting.

Can they get an out? Can they?

You would think someone would stand behind 2nd base since there have been 2 or 3 hits that have gone straight over 2nd base and into the outfield.

Dear Lord.

You just keep thinking you've seen the worst...

I think they will need to get prayer mats in the dugout for the Jays because at this rate they will need all the help they can get.

Wow, an 8 run 8th inning.

Lovely

I swear, before this season, I've never seen the opposition have so many big innings against a Jays team before.

Unreal

"We'll go live to the Yankees-Mariners after this debacle is over."

The lads at Sportsnet News seem to be getting a bit surly these days, what with their coverage of the Olympics via still photographs, and association with a brutal MLB team.

Ugh. I was seriously considering heading down to the park today for the first time in a while; I'm really glad now that I didn't. Clearly, my head would have exploded.

Two lessons from that inning: Chris Gomez does not have the lateral range (and probably not the arm strength) to play SS on turf; Vinnie Chulk's glittering carriage has turned into a pumpkin.

Well, let's focus on the Olympic baseball performances instead.

But yes, ugh. Terrible. But at least it will just be added to the list of ugly results this year, as opposed to remaining fresh in our mind.

How do you score 8 runs and never get a hit beyond an outfielder?

"A good, good chance of losing." You've got that right, Tom Cheek.

K.

omit that "K." from my last post.

This reminds me of last year when the bullpen blew Kelvim Escobar's game by allowing 8 runs in the 8th.

You know things are bad when something happens that reminds you of last year's bullpen. :(

Who's in favour of having Rogers broadcast minor league games the rest of the year, instead of major league games? We could watch Auburn, New Hampshire, Charleston, Dunedin, and Pulaski...the games could be selected based on when the best pitching prospects are going. We could then just let Syracuse and Toronto limp their way through the rest of the year, and not find ourselves watching the painful, painful, painfulness. That would be much more fun for me.

Who's in favour of having Rogers broadcast minor league games the rest of the year

That's the best completely impossible idea I've heard all day

I consider myself a big, big baseball fan. I read about the game all the time, I played all through my youth, and I play softball every summer now. I attended every home Jays game in 2003. I love baseball. AND YET, I have absolutely no interest in the Jays minor league affiliates. I pay no attention on draft day. I have no interest in tracking prospects until they get to the majors.

Weird, eh?

funny thing Smiley.. while I might've been like that in the past, recently I find the gap closing in, if not the minors overtaking the majors altogether (although with Rios, Bush and Gross up that's slowed a little).

So.

Is this the worst loss of the season?

God knows there are many candidates.

And the timing!!

God, could the timing be any worse? The Jays offense came alive yesterday, they were swinging the bats again today. It looked like the Jays were finally starting to turn the corner...and then BAM!!

And we can't even blame Ligtenberg.

Please bring back Sturze, Wasdin, Davis, Tam, Miller, Linton, Creek, Acevedo, Service, Polite, Thurman, Lopez, Kershner,and Reichert!!!!!

How many more games would the Jays have won this year if they had even an average major league bullpen? The bullpen is so pathetic, they shouldn't even be allowed to call themselves major leaguers. These types of loses are disgraceful. This better be taken care of soon by J.P. He has certainly failed in that department in his tenure as Jays G.M.

Sorry I'm late to the party, mind if I take a few shots at that dead horse in the corner?

Thank goodness I'm a psych major, i've got some friends who can help me with the depression this season is giving me. Nothing like stepping out of my car with the Jays 5 runs up, going into the store, having a bite to eat, and comming back into the car to find out the inning isnt even over and the Jays gave up 8 friggen runs. I mean come on now... seriously, 8 runs... that's not even possible. I dont even think I could do that in MVP baseball on easy. Sure once the Jays turn it around in a year or two and all the bandwagon fans come back we can say "Hey, we've been here through the season of hell" but the price is starting to out way the reward.

Look at Montreeal. It took an incredible comeback from the Astros to avoid the sweep. The Expos have lost only 6 of their last 22. They had a crowd of 13K today. Ever think that Montreal might be the best place for the Expos? Imagine if someone just built them a stadium, any stadium, and perhaps someone could televise their games on TV and everything... going to an Expos game could be a cool thing to do in Montreal again.

Here's a scary thought, Im a Blue Jay fan going to an Expos game in 2 weeks, and I might be going to see the team with the better record and fan support. Who saw that comming at the start of the year?

Re Quiroz: wasn't he taken for x-rays the other day? Is he healthy?

Hey Scott,
I think this game really puts some perspective on yesterday's post-game celebration. There should be a moratorium on pies thrown around during interviews until they can hold a five run lead against Baltimore with six outs to play.

As for the Expos, if they got rid of the roof (which has cost $170 million to date) then people would go. No one wants to sit in a cave on a beautiful day like today. But a new stadium will never happen.

Because the organization doesn't know where they will be playing from year to year, they can't do any marketing or season ticket drives during the off-season, so it usually takes a while for the public to realise that the team exists.

When the Expos finally had their home opener (On April 24th!) they were 4 - 12. They lost two of three in that series to the Phillies before going back on the road for another three weeks. By the end of May they had played only 15 games in Montreal and had a record of 16 - 34. They have played .500 ball (33-33) since then, when they were back on a fair schedule (no Puerto Rico) and people have noticed. If they can finish strongly this year, MLB announces 2005 will be the final season in Montreal, no Puerto Rico next year, they could make things interesting (think 'Major League', only in French). Stranger things have happenned....

I suspect if you're looking for a Major League scenario, you'll need to come up with something better than a Bud Selig picture with removable clothing...

Maybe they could put some clothing back on him for each win. That would get them going in April.

This has to be one of the slowest posting days I have ever seen here at the Box. You cant even blame the terrible game because there were no posts while things were going good. Looks like everyones out and about on a fine sunday afternoon.

And another thing, why is last year's conversation with Reed Johnson suddenly a hot topic? I love him as much as anyone around here but whats with the sudden demand in reading a year old interview?

And another thing, why is last year's conversation with Reed Johnson suddenly a hot topic? I love him as much as anyone around here but whats with the sudden demand in reading a year old interview?

Ballot box stuffing...

It's just the threads that have been active most recently.

Awwww man is this slow, and I have nothing better to do (how sad is that?). Can anyone think of any pointless polls or lighthearted debates we can engage in? Anything on Bauxites' minds they didnt have reason to bring up before?

I'll be moving back north of the border in 2 months, and I'll need a job and a place to live

Which city will you be calling home?

Most likely Toronto

You'll be arriving just in time for the make or break off season ;)

Anyone else with random comments? I'll bring out the never fail trick of who do you think will win it all this year?

Cards VS Yanks with Cards winning is too easy.

I'll be daring and say LA vs Twins with LA taking it.

Just for entertainment value, I'll say that Beane's A's take on DePod's Dodgers. The ground shakes, Griffen's head explodes, rivers flow with blood, and Gagne blows a save in the 10th inning of game 7. (er, wait does the NL have home-field advantage . . . no. Okay, Gagne blows it in the top of the 10th, and the Dodgers lose as Choi pops out in the bottom of the 10th)

Next random topic: Can the Cubs make the playoffs, and if so, how dangerous are they?

I still cant believe that Houston and Phili aren't closer in the wildcard race and that San Diego and San Fran are. The rotation seems unstoppable, the hitting very good, yet I imagine they'll just find some way to lose in the playoffs as per Boston. They are an interesting team to pose the same question about. What do you think 6-4-3? (or others I suppose)

I can't see the Cards making it to the WS. That rotation is bound to just implode sooner or later.

I won't make a prediction, but I would love it if the Marlins didn't make the postseason (looks probable) and the Dodgers end up winning with Choi hitting the series winning homer and Penny winning the final game.

Take that mainstream media.

Is there betting on which team will finish better? If so, what were the odds on San Diego over Houson? Philly isn't so surprising, what with Bowa holding the managing position and all.

Boston. Boston is interesting. If they somehow make the playoffs, they have Schill, Pedro, and Wake / Lowe / Arroyo. Wakefield, Lowe, and Arroyo are all highly suspect, but it's not hard to imagine them winning a wild card round series. The thing that sticks out for Boston is the stat that their Pythagorean record is better than the Yankees. Someone should really do (or probably has done) an article about when Pythagorean records go totally wrong. For Boston, I don't know what to call it but the negative A-Rod mojo hanging over the team. Someone could probably point to something better and more accurate, but did anyone think that Boston would win after they got one-upped by the Yankees like that?

Houston is one of those stories that looks predictable in retrospect. Everyone got excited about Clemens and Pettite joining the staff, but forgot about how old their offence was. What surprises me is how good St. Louis is, with their pitching staff composed of Jays cast-offs and Jeff Suppan. The Cards are my current "team that's going to face a shocking upset" pick. There's no way that their current staff is good enough for the playoffs. Still, the Cards gave me my favourite baseball moment of the year. Larry Walker comes up, pinch hitting in a key situation for his first at bat in a Cards uniform. Standing ovation. Larry comes up, struggles, strikes out. There's another standing ovation. Cards win the game later on.

San Diego is one of those baseball stories that makes me want to scream. I look at their team, and wonder how the Padres can compete, and the Jays wallow in last. It's like we're in the Bizzaro MLB.

Next thing (I really must be bored):

Jays season summarized by Win Share Stats

Off-Season Pick-ups:

Lilly (12, 4 above average)
Batista (11, 2 above average)
Gomez (6, 2 below average)
Adams (4, 1 above average)
Speier (3, 0 above average)
Ligtenberg (0, 2 below average)
De Los (0)
Hentgen (0, 5 below average)

(total: 36, 4 below average, thanks to Hentgen)

Jays Stars

Hudson (9, 0 above average)
Wells (9, 1 below average)
Sparky (8, 3 below average)
Halladay (8, 1 above average)
Cat (6, 0 above average)
Delagdo (6, 2 below average)
Hinske (5, 7 below average)
Phelps (5, 1 below average)

(total: 56, 13 below average)

Jays Scrub Pick-ups
Frasor (9, 5 above average)
Zaun (8, 1 above average)
Menechino (7, 2 above average)

(total: 24, 8 above average)

Ouch. Everyone the Jays depended on was either below average (Delgado, Phelps, Hinske), or right around it (Halladay, Cat, O-Dog). The only bright side is JP's bargain bin pickups, but when Frank Menechino has more win shares than Carlos Delgado, your team is in deep trouble.

Yeah, I was looking at that earlier. Menechino leads the team in offensive win shares. Jason Frasor has the most WSAA. Hinske is the worst player in the entire AL at -7 WSAA.

There is good news...Orlando Hudson has the second most amount of fielding win shares at 2B, behind ... LUIS RIVAS?????

I caught a small bit of SNB where the cards demolished the braves in atlanta... WOW, I actually am sold on them as a WS team, star-studded rotation or no, basically because of that ridiculous stockpile of formidable bats that they posess. Obviously, its not news but Albert Pujols is just nuts... simply ridiculous... He took this breaking pitch down and away from Thomson and reached out to gently poke it 20 ft. over the dead centre-field fence. He'll have what 160 HR or so by the end of the season and the guy is 24... Scary.

Larry Walker just puts the finishing touches on a scary, scary Cardinals lineup. They're spending a heck of a lot of money but it's being spent on superstars and they still aren't spending anywhere near the Yankees or even the Red Sox I think. The nature of offence is that adding quality bats multiplies your run scoring. The Cardinals are more than a match for the Yankees in that respect and Renteria isn't even having that great of a season.

When Chulk first came up he was striking people out at a surprising rate but that all seems to have normalized and he's still walking people and starting to give up homeruns too. As JP said earlier in the year, the other shoe is now dropping with these young players and we're seeing them at their worst right now.

That said, there was a lot of luck for the Orioles in hitting that many balls through the infield. Well luck and the fact that Chris Gomez really has no range as I've said on a number of occasions. An average shortstop would have at minimum knocked that ball down and kept the bases loaded with only one run scoring. A good shortstop would have recorded at least one out. One of the better shortstops in the league would have turned two on it. Gomez not only got a poor jump and didn't glove the ball but he managed to turn a groundball to shortstop into a "double". Ever since Bordick left, the defence at short has been killing the Jays but often it's so subtle that you can't notice it. In that situation it wasn't so subtle.

I don't think the Jays can continue to ignore this situation and I don't think Adams is going to solve it with his arm strength issues at shortstop. If Woodward had a quicker first step you could live with him but even he with the best tools of the lot is lacking a bit on turf. They definately need a real partner for Hudson because I'm no longer convinced the offensive difference between Izturis and Woodward/Gomez is worth giving up so many extra outs to the opposing offence.