A hearty thanks is in order for John Gizzi, who came through with an Advance Scout pinch-hitting appearance that would have made even Rance Mulliniks proud. Since Gitz ratted me out, I might as well admit to being in Las Vegas for the entire Jays winning streak. For many, many reasons, as much as I support "taking one for the team," I should let you know now that I would not be amenable to suggestions that I head back to Sin City until the Jays lose. On the bright side, our entire party did manage to avoid ill-advised marriages.
So the Jays have turned things around with pitching and defence. It should be all too fresh in the Jay hurlers' minds, though, that the Rangers lineup can put up a lot of crooked numbers (sometimes, sadly, even with a straight number preceding it). The formula for beating Texas has been simple: Keep the ball in the park, and be patient with their pitching. It's just a matter of executing the formula against A-Rod, Palmeiro, Blalock, and the rejuvenated Gonzalez and Everett.
At least the Jays snapped their multi-year, 10-game losing streak against Texas last Thursday. The most notable memory from the Metroplex for Jays fans, I think, is Nolan Ryan's last no-hitter on a muggy night at Arlington Stadium. I think Joe Carter's "TOROTNO" jersey might also have been infamously donned in Texas.
Doc has his work cut out for him as he tries to cut back his gopher balls. Blow in, sweet winds of Texas. Blow in.
On to the Advance Scout!
* Who knows what lineup Showalter will trot out against the Jays? On Saturday, Michael Young led off and Carl Everett was inserted into the 6-hole ...
* Rafael Palmeiro has been stuck on 498 since his bomb on Thursday against the Doctor ... Michael Young on the, um, pharmaceutical pitchman: "Rafael is just incredible. He's finally starting to get the accolades. He's a Hall of Famer." ...
* Raffy was beaned on the elbow in Saturday's game ... He was limited to pinch-hitting on Sunday but should be ready to go tonight ...
* The Rangers have overtaken the Yankees for the league lead in home runs, and Juan Gonzalez (11), Everett (10) and A-Rod (10) are a nifty 1-2-3 in the league in home runs ... Juan Gone split Player of the Week honours with Barry Zito ...
* Say what you will about the much-maligned single, but the Rangers could have used one on Friday. Texas hit leadoff doubles in the fifth and sixth and failed to cash either in before losing 6-5 ...
* Showalter on the lack of timely hits: "What sticks in my craw is twice we had a man on second and none out and we didn't push them across ... We didn't even come close and it bit us tonight" ... The Rangers have scored 52% of their runs on the long ball ...
* Showalter was bitterly disappointed with a mere 3-3 over the six-game road trip to Toronto and Cleveland ...
* But he won't speak ill of A-Rod, especially after his game-winning double on Saturday: "Alex is as advertised...A lot of people shirk responsibility, he puts it on his shoulders" ... He's all over the leader board and sits at 344/429/664 ... Moreover, he's 16-for-30 (.533) in his last seven games ... The slacker did, however, commit his first error on Saturday ... He also got nailed at third base by Omar Vizquel on Sunday after attempting to take third on a grounder to short ...
* Saturday was the Rangers' first late-inning come-from-behind victory all season ... They're 1-11 when trailing after six ... Embarrassingly, that includes 0-1 against the Red Sox, although they pulled to within 5-4 from 5-1 against the Committee ...
* Juan Gone and A-Rod are tied for third in the league in RBI with 26, and Everett has 25 ...
* Recently-recalled Joaquin Benoit, the Jays' likely opponent tomorrow, had a lively fastball on Friday night ...
* Ugueth Urbina, oft-mentioned trade bait on Batter's Box, bounced back from a wild outing on Friday with a tidy save on Saturday ...
* The Rangers went homerless on Saturday and Sunday after going on a torrid 15-homer-in-5-games streak ... Look out, Doc: Texas has not gone three games without a home run all year ...
* Jay Powell returned Saturday from vertigo conditions, but the only thing spinning was his curveball: He earned the win in relief ...
* The Rangers released cagey veteran Rudy Seanez on Saturday, who was in AAA anyway at the time ...
* Meanwhile, poster boy for "potential," Jamey Wright, has joined the fold, with Herbert Perry getting a rehab assignment ... Showalter on Wright's potential: "We just think there are some mechanical things we can smooth out" ...
* Doug Glanville, sidelined with a hamstring injury, has regained full range of motion ...
* Poor Chan Ho Park is making a fastball-only extended spring training start tomorrow night. It's to see if he has any velocity left ...
* Kevin Mench reported to AAA last night ...
* Despite scoring 5.46 runs per game, the sad-sack Ranger pitching staff has yielded 6.2 runs per game ... Starters' ERA is at a ghastly 6.29, better only than the Rays and Reds ...
* Colby Lewis cites his need to keep his four-seam fastball down as the key to avoiding another walloping by Blue Jay bats tonight ...
* Canada's own Jeff Zimmerman is throwing at about 85% off the mound right now, but has yet to start throwing sliders. He hopes to make a rehab stint shortly after the All-Star Break ...
Probable Batting Orders
* Note: Lefties Mark Hendrickson and Doug Davis are not scheduled to start for the Jays this series.
vs. RH
4 Young
5 Blalock
6 Rodriguez
3 Palmeiro
9 Gonzalez
7 Everett
DH Sierra/Lamb
8 Christenson
2 Diaz
Pitching Probables
Tuesday: RH Lewis vs. Halladay
Wednesday: RH Benoit vs. Sturtze
Thursday: RH Drese/Van Poppel vs. Lidle
Bullpen Usage
Long: Dickey R, Powell R
Short: Shouse L, Yan R
Setup: Cordero R, Fultz L
Closer: Urbina R
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20030506021948999