Lee Sinnins noted today that the Jays have never started 0-4.

I'll take that as good karma for tonight :-)

http://www.610cktb.com
You can listen to the game online at 610 CKTB by clicking on my name.

I'm annoyed, because I listened to all the games online without any problems. I paid for the MLB package.. just to find out AFTER I paid that it doesn't work with Linux. Now I have to try and get my money back. GRRRR.

MP

All right! First lead of the season, first HR for Phelps, a mere 414' job to CF.

Sturze has thrown behind 2 Twin batter's.Gardenhire's pissed.Not sure if its intentional as Tanyon did lead the league in walks last year.

http://www.baseballblog.blogspot.com/
F---ing Rivas.

So far so good for Tanyon, who has induced six ground-ball outs through three innings, and helped himself with three good fielding plays. Jerry Howarth says Justin Miller will start Monday for Dunedin and "if all goes well" next Saturday for the Jays.

Very strange top of the fourth; an infield single for Delgado (!) who hustled (!) to third on a Phelps broken-bat bloop. Little ball from the big men, go figure. RBI for Hinske as the Twins threw the ball away on an easy force at second, Phelps taking the extra base. Hinske got picked off, so Phelps tried to score, bowling over the catcher, who held on for the out. Routine stuff.

Greg Myers finally got a start, and Bordick is playing second, giving O-Dog a night off. His bench players must love Tosca.

Okay, this is ridiculous. My first foray back into roto ball in 5 years, and Tim Wakefield gets roughed up by T-Bay. My last starter is the Jays' own "average at best" Sturtze, and he's shutting out the Twins? Too strange. I like it, but strange.

Get the gold glove ready, boys.

Was Sturtze not a third baseman before J.P. "discovered" him?

http://economics.about.com
Was anyone else listening to the 610 feed? Mine just went out and I can get it back.

MP

That's more like it! Back-to-back jacks by Cat and Wells more than make up for the two-error play.

Y'know, signing that Wells guy looks like a pretty good deal. :-)

http://www.bluejayway.ca
Yes! Wells hits a 3-run homer! That's more like it.

http://economics.about.com
What's that.. 8 RBIs for Wells already this year? Back to back 100 RBI seasons would be pretty impressive, even if it is largely a function of opportunity.

MP

Two walks and a bomb; somewhere Earl Weaver is smiling. A 4-HR game; Blue Jays fans everywhere are relieved. And Mr. 4-18 looks like he's 1-0 -- he's done a very nice job. Tom Cheek was raving earlier about the movement on Tanyon's sinker.

If you can't get 610 or anything try 900 CHML out of Hamilton...

Yeah, nice start for Vernon, but don't forget Reggie Sanders is on pace for 160 HR and 440 RBI.

http://economics.about.com
Thanks for the tip. I wasn't able to use it, though because 900 CHML uses Windows Media Player and I'm on Linux. So I need something with a Real Audio feed.

I'm just following the game on Yahoo and listening to bad late 70's brit pop instead.

MP

As always, breaking the duck is such a relief. Not over yet, though... time to say bye to Sturtze.

Mike, if you're in Rochester you migh be able to get 900 over the air. They have a strong signal.

There is a Real Player for Linux, MP. If that's your problem, it might not be unfixable.

http://economics.about.com
I *have* Real Player for Linux... so that's why I need a Real Audio feed. :)

I'll try both 610 and 900 on the radio. Thanks so much guys!

MP

Oh man. And it didn't work on mlb.com!? That's brutal.

http://economics.about.com
It's really weird.. it worked all through spring training, but it doesn't work now. I bought the package and everything.. but it just won't connect. It's really strange, and I haven't been able to figure out how to fix it.

On a different note, if the Jays do win this one (by a wide margin), what are the odds that Griffin will still write a negative piece.. or atleast one which is damning with faint praise. Possible angles:

1. Enjoy the win, coz there won't be too many of them.
2. Sturtze has won 5 games now in 2 years. Big deal. Estaban Loaiza won 9 games last year and all he couldn't get a guaranteed job in the off season.
3. The Jays are lucky their errors didn't kill them. They will in the future. Except another long season.

MP

Gotta tip my cap to Tanyon tonight, great performance. I Gotta give a shout out to Coach, who I was lucky enough to meet and sit next to on opening day. Great site

oh and

Jays Win!

Thanks, BJG -- your cheque's in the mail.

Here's the game story and box score from MLB.com. To answer Richard's query above, Sturtze was indeed a 3B, even a SS, in high school and college. Given the difference in their salaries, I'd say he's about five times as likely as Cory Lidle to be a Blue Jay for more than just this year, and he's off to a great start.

I "stole" these from Aaron's site, but only in the spirit of international cooperation and goodwill:



A.J. is one tough dude to take that shot while hanging on to the ball, and the mild-mannered Phelps is quite a competitor. Personally, I prefer lowering the shoulder to the forearm shiver. Great pix.

does having Greg Myers forming a winning combo with Tanyon mean that maybe Huck is a step closer to Syracuse?

My suspicion is that I don't think the Jays feel that Wilson and Myers can hold up in a full part time role.

Until Cash is ready I think we'll see 3 catchers. When that happens I think Huckaby will be sent down/released and perhaps Myers is traded to a contender before the deadline.

Speaking of Cash, here's a potential idea for the site. Maybe someone could give a weekly update on the Jays minor league teams; how certain players (ie top prospects) are doing, who's hot, who's cold, etc..

I've mentioned it before but I think the Jays should trade for either Mike Redmond or Ramon Castro, both of whom will spend the year watching Pudge in Florida.

Christian-
I'm not sure what it would take to land Redmond or Castro- maybe more than the Jays are willing to part with for a guy who will be a part-timer once Cash comes up. I actually don't mind carrying three catchers- I understand the logic of having a glove guy there for now, and it isn't like there's an overly qualified bat in the minors being kept away.

Incidently, re: the rumors about Werth becoming the 4th OF in a few weeks, are they coming from the front office or just speculation? Werth strikes out too much and doesn't hit for enough power at this point to make me think he'd succeed in a part-time role. Unless the Jays plan on having him play 3-5 times a week, I think it would be a waste to have him in role that could best be filled by a minor league vet.

Incidently, part II- Raul Gonzalez and Marcus Scutaro both passed through waivers, and both seem like they'd be useful spare parts to have on the bench. More useful than, say, that KC reject JP claimed last week. Gonzalez looked adequate as the Mets PT CF last season, and Scutaro is a high OB% speedy 2B who IIRC has played a little CF. JP passing on both might be a clue that he thinks Werth will solve the CF/4th OF problem.

One more thing: does Josh Pehlps have worse instincts on the bases than Delgado? Anyone who watched the game care to comment on his baserunning blunder?

More useful than, say, that KC reject JP claimed last week.

Who are you talking about? The Jays haven't claimed anyone from KC recently. Their lone waiver claim of the spring was Kevin Frederick, a relief prospect from the Twins' organization.

He may have meant Dan Reichert, who wasn't claimed off waivers. He signed as a minor league free agent.

He may have meant Dan Reichert, who wasn't claimed off waivers. He signed as a minor league free agent.

I'm not entirely sure, but I believe he was claimed off waivers, having been released by Tampa Bay. He had been a Royal for several years prior to that.