Jays Roundup - Don't think me unkind

Tuesday, August 24 2004 @ 09:03 AM EDT

Words are hard to find
The only cheques I've left unsigned

Oh my sweet goodness. What a game!!!!

1. Short recap: Jays 3 - Red Sox 0. Ted Lilly: 9IP, 3H, 0R, 2BB, 13K, 0HR. Homer for Reed, Triple for the O-Dog.
   
   Longer recaps:
   
   • Lilly's gem silences Red Sox - Fordin
     
   • Red Sox go south up north - Matuszak
     
   • Jays blank Beantowners - Harris
     
   • Jays blank Red Sox - CP
     
   • Lilly fans 13 to cool off Sox - Blair
     
   • Lilly pitches his `Picasso' - Griffin
     
   • Lilly on fire as Jays shut down Red Sox - Baker
     
   
   
   
2. Today's Fordin Notes is full of goodies. Spencer must have been working overtime yesterday. He's got info on the club's DH situation, comments on the future power production of Alex Rios, Kevin Cash's plate blocking ability, and info on the newest member of the pen Dave Maurer. It sounds like the Jays are planning on using a bunch of different guys in the DH slot:
   
   
   With Josh Phelps traded and Frank Catalanotto done for the year, the designated hitter slot is wide open for business. Toronto manager John Gibbons can use it any way he sees fit over the next six weeks. He said he'll likely use it to keep his outfielders fresh, alternating between Gabe Gross and Reed Johnson in the field.
   
   "That's going to give us a chance to use that extra outfielder," he said on Monday. "It will also let us use (Frank) Menechino and some of the other guys. For right now, primarily, it would be that odd outfielder."
   
   Sounds reasonable enough to me.
   
   
3. Harris Notes on Jason Varitek missing the series against the Jays:
   
   
   Boston Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek yesterday decided to drop his appeal of a four-game suspension he received from Major League Baseball because of a fight with Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees at Fenway Park on July 24.
   
   Thus, Varitek's suspension began last night as the Red Sox visited the Blue Jays in the first game of a three-game series at the SkyDome.
   
   "It made the most sense for us as a team and with our matchups," Varitek said.
   
   Translation: We aren't afraid of the Jays.
   
   
   I hope this one gets pinned up to the Jays bulletin board.
   
   
4. Tonight's 7:05PM EST start at the Dome should be another great one. The Jays are sending the 9-9 Miguel Batista to the hill while the Red Sox counter with the 9-7 knuckleballer Tim Wakefield. More details available in Spencer Fordin's game preview. Gibbons benched the O-Dog the last time the Jays faced Wakefield. Any guesses on who will ride the pine tonight?
   
   
5. Mike Ulmer has a great piece on Alex Rios titled "Jays' Rios the real deal". I'm sure glad Alex didn't quit baseball so he could spend more time at the mall. I'm sure Alex is glad as well.
   

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