Jays Roundup - Did You Ever Try to Prise Away the Mask

Tuesday, June 29 2004 @ 09:25 AM EDT

Go ahead, take a spoon and try
I can tell you it's a herculean task
Go ahead, it's okay to cry
What you're chewing on's the truth
And that's the hardest thing
To wash down with a glass of lemonade

Ugly.

1. Find out about the ugly underneath here: Spencer Fordin's "Jays, Halladay no match for D-Rays", Paul C. Smith's "Crawford sparks Rays over Jays", Mike Rutsey's "Road kill again: D-Rays add to Halladay's woes", Larry Millson's "Tampa rolls as Toronto strolls", and Mark Zwolinski's "Streaking D-Rays put a big hurt on Jays ace Halladay".

2. Fordin Notes on catcher defense. I'd seen Gregg Zaun play behind the dish for other teams, but he never seemed that good defensively to me. Is it just me or has Zaun improved tremendously?

3. I like our chances tonight despite a hot Rays hurler. The Jays bring the 6-4 Ted Lilly to the mound, while the Rays counter with the 4-1 lefty John Halama (a.k.a. Halamana.... Do do-do do).

4. Mike Rutsey discusses why Phelps hasn't been getting into the lineup in "Phelps must make a move". Rutsey makes a good point in saying "The Blue Jays designated hitter, 25, isn't hitting well enough to play every day and it's hard to get back on track when you're not playing, not getting your regular at-bats." Should Phelps be playing more?

5. Mike Ulmer isn't happy. See "Cheap, cheap go the Jays: GM J.P. Ricciardi's low-budget route is leading to nowheresville". Or you can skip it and just read this quote: "But this was supposed to be the breakthrough year for the Boy Genius. Instead, patrons have been treated to a team that can't hit, can't pitch and fields like an over-50 softball squad."

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