This is a repeat of last Sunday's pitching matchup in Toronto. A seemingly indifferent Cory Lidle grooved a few in the first inning and fell behind 3-0, then after the Jays cut the lead to 3-2, a sixth-inning 2-run shot by Jay Gibbons sealed the deal. On The FAN 590 the other night, Mike Wilner speculated that Lidle won't get any offers as a free agent and may have to accept a minor-league contract with an invitation to spring training. Good riddance. Of course, that's what we all said about Esteban Loaiza.
Baltimore southpaw Matt Riley went five innings for his first big-league win, four years after being rushed to the Show while barely out of his teens. He had good success in AA (5-2, 3.11) and AAA (4-2, 3.58) this year, striking out a combined 150 while walking 51 and giving up 126 hits in 142.2 IP. In his first AL start, he was touched for a solo homer by Josh Phelps, along with three singles and three walks. We'll see tonight if the Jays learned anything about him.
It's possible this will be the last we see of Mr. Lidle. There has been talk about Trever Miller and Jason Kershner being mentally and physically exhausted, so Mark Hendrickson (still listed as tomorrow's starter on ESPN.com) might be more useful in the bullpen. If Pete Walker goes Sunday, Roy Halladay can open the home stand on his normal rest Monday. Then it would be Josh Towers and Kelvim Escobar, and the skipper has hinted that he'd like to get Vinny Chulk a start. Thursday against Tampa would seem like the logical spot. They could go Walker-Halladay-Towers next weekend vs. Cleveland. On the other hand, if Lidle is OK tonight but Walker struggles, we could see Cory one more time. Whoopee.
Weekends are always quiet in Da Box, and a meaningless ball game on a Saturday night, featuring our least favourite pitcher not named Tanyon, might not be a huge attraction. But for the team, it's a chance to win five in a row, move eight games over .500, and improve to 9-1 in their last ten games. And for the fans, there are only eight more chances after tonight to see the 2003 Jays perform. Vernon Wells, who admits he's tired from the long campaign, is hitting .386 and slugging .643 in September; in addition to leading the majors in hits, he's second to Albert Pujols in extra-base hits and total bases. On the radio pregame, Carlos Tosca just called V-Dub "the most talented player in the American League."
There are a few surprises in the lineup -- Tom Wilson is the catcher, Chris Woodward is at short and Orlando Hudson gets a rare start against a lefty. Eric Hinske, who has an astounding 18 doubles in just 122 AB vs. lefthanders this year, is back in the 2-hole despite an 0-for-2 off Riley last week.
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