Our own Gitz warned us that Lilly would break our hearts. (He also said, with reference to 2004, that "At worst, the Jays will do what they did [in 2003]." But it's well-established that Gitz is a far better writer than he is a psychic.) Lilly certain did that in the early going, missing almost all of spring training (like last season) and then really stinking up the joint for the first few games (the joint was only slightly malodourous in the early going last season). Just when everyone was ready to write him off, he goes and figures it out, reeling off 6 innings of 5-hit, 1-run ball against the Nationals, and then 6 2/3 innings of 4-hit, 1-run ball against the Bloody Foot Garments.
I guess the lesson is "Never say never." Or maybe it's "Lilly will break your heart." Either way.
Lilly pitched like — well, Lilly circa 2004: a few walks, several strikeouts, more fly balls than ground, and around 6 innnings pitched. While it looks like he's starting to work out whatever problems (and they've seemed substantial) he's had in the early going, even he admits he still doesn't have his good curve. It showed in the early going, with several curves left hanging; even when he figured it out last night, his curve still seemed almost too big. He definitely had confidence in his breaking stuff, though, throwing big curves back-to-back, but it wasn't my impression that he threw it more deep in the count. (Maybe some of my more observant fellow Roster members can help me out here.)
In case Robert Dudek has forgotten it, I'd like to draw everyone's attention to .380 OBP, .857 OPS, .290 GPA Shea Hillenbrand. He went hitless last night, but he continues to be one of the most surprising stories of the 2005 season. Last night I watched someone who by all accounts was a poor defender perform feats at third base that would have made Koskie smile (if he wasn't having surgery on his thumb). Maybe it was slow runners or maybe it was pure luck, but last night's version of the Shea-hey kid wasn't just an adequate fill-in at the hot corner, he was a great third baseman. It really struck me how much better the Jays are defensively with Hinske at first, where his talents are more naturally suited, and a (for now) merry-go-round of really good third basemen across the diamond. I don't want to jinx him (even though I'll do it anyway), but I think Ricciardi is going to look like a genius at the end of the season for picking up Hillenbrand.
Of course, for every winner there must, by definition, be a loser. In this case, the Red Sox are losers. (Didn't feel as good as I'd thought to write that particular phrase. I'll try it again. "The Red Sox are losers." Ah, that's it. Just took some practice.) If you believe what you read on the Internet — and of course you should: it's the Internet! It wouldn't lie! — the sky is falling in Red Sox nation. Here are some choice quotes from Sons of Sam Horn:
Quote:A couple days ago. I'm looking forward to a turn of events.
Since when did our team start sucking?
The simple fact remains that the Sox have lost two of their last three series (well - better make that three of four; thanks, Lilly), and therefore have lost any chance at the postseason. Seem reasonable? I thought so. It's absolutely impossible to have a month, say, 14 games over .500, after all.
The Jays finally made it back to 4 games over .500, breaking their cycle to and from .500 and 3 games over. Nothing's to say that they'll make it to 5 over, for (*ahem*) the first time this season, but if they do, can we officially say that the Jays will outperform their (very pessimistic) pre-season naysayers' predictions? Alright, so nothing's for certain until the games are played, but who isn't jazzed up about the team after the start they've had? The Rogers Centre's makeover makes the place a much better place to watch baseball, the pitching and defense have been good or great (especially lately) — even the crowds at the ballpark are more enthusiastic than ever before. (I think that has a lot to do with the relative dearth of boings, and "CHARGE!" calls, and Addams family theme claps. I'm willing to bet that, without the loud sound system as a fallback, people find themselves compelled to be louder.) I love it!
https://www.battersbox.ca/article.php?story=20050526015720813