Recently promoted Alex Rios will almost certainly got the start in right field tonight against Angels southpaw Jarrod Washburn, giving most Toronto fans their first opportunity to see the franchise's #1 prospect. Keep your expectations tempered -- Rios was sporting a sub-.300 OBP at Syracuse when he was called up, although he was hitting much better in May than he was in April. Tonight could be the start of the most promising Blue Jays outfield career since -- well, since Vernon Wells. But Rios is not going to look like an All-Star in 2004. Enjoy his presence, but don't get too charged up.
Opposing Washburn will be Doc Halladay, who's hoping to find a home-plate umpire with a strike zone larger than his wallet tonight. For their part, the Angels look forward to perfecting that spring-training drill where someone covers home plate in the ninth inning. The Jays have been lucky these last two nights -- but they were overdue for some good fortune, and seasons have turned around on lesser events. It should be both an historic night and a great game; enjoy.
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