Jekyll/Hyde? Well, for all that the Angels had a very good offense last year, it was based on hitting lots and lots of singles and doubles. The Angels (who finished fourth in the AL in runs scored) were first in the AL in batting average, last in strikeouts and third in doubles, but just 11th in walks and 11th in home runs.

There's nothing wrong with an offense that puts the ball in play, and clearly it worked for the Angels last year. But there is a major drawback to that approach; it allows the other team to exercise more control over your offense. Putting the ball in play allows the defense to work against you; sometimes this works in your favor (cf. the Jays all year, whose defence has gifted teams with plenty of hits and runs) and sometimes it doesn't (the Jays of the last two days, who have turned timely double plays, gotten to the groundballs that eluded them a week ago, and played error-free ball). There's no defence aganst a walk or a homer.

Aaaagh!

I *just* talked about the Jays playing good defence all series, and Stewart blunders into Wells's path on a fly into left-centre. Vernon still should have had it (he shied away from the contact and turned his shoulder where he should have continued towards the ball), but that is frustrating.

For the first time in days, I have a working computer and a few minutes of spare time. Withdrawal from my BB habit wasn't easy, but I had no choice. Circumstances (new job, moving in three weeks, visitors and technical glitches) can get in the way of blogging. Thanks to everyone for pinch-hitting. I was at Thursday's game and caught brief glimpses of the last two on TV; even three-game winning streaks are good.

I just posted a new ESPN column, with my thoughts about Politte's promotion, the Davis acquisition, and "Lurch's last stand" today with Kelvim drooling over his rotation spot.

Stewart blunders into Wells's path

A classic E-10; that should have been an unearned run but it goes on Hendrickson's permanent record. Nice double-steal call by Scioscia -- completely unexpected, so it worked.

Hinske, on with a leadoff double, scored on an Eckstein throwing error that put Wilson at second on a fielder's choice. However, Berg, starting at 2B for the recently-much-improved O-Dog, struck out against the tough righty, and both Woodward and Stewart flied to right after good at-bats. 1-1 after two.

Wells fouled off some great 3-2 pitches, then drew the bases-loaded walk for an RBI -- 3-2 Jays.

Now that was an atbat, worthy of hitting in the number three hole. Very very nice.

Delgado cleans the bases with a line-drive double into the left-centre gap; 6-2. Four two-out runs have chased Ortiz.

Very alert coaching by Butter to send two runners home on the Catalanotto bouncer up the middle, taking advantage of nasty brain cramps for the Anaheim middle infielders -- two E-10s on the play. It's 8-2, and you would have to think twice about replacing the Hendrickson of the last three innings with any incarnation of Escobar. Lurch has started about ten straight batters with a strike, and he's in the same good groove he found against Tampa.

Anyone think the Angles hitters have rolled over? Their atbats are looking pretty limp...

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Great to see the Jays doing so well! Hopefully this streak can continue.

It's also great to see that I picked the right game to follow today: A's vs. Yankees. It looks like it's been a lot more interesting. My choice of game really wasn't really by choice, tho.

MP

Smart move taking Hendrickson out when they did. I think it's pretty obvious he's a six inning pitcher. The irony of the switch to Escobar is that by stretching him out today, he should get the save.

Might be a nice time to get Werth an abat. He's developing quite nicely on that bench there. There's monkeys in Triple-A better suited for this than him.

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Completely, OT:

Sterling Hitchcock has looked really good in his past few games. It also looks like the Yanks don't really have room for him. When and where do you think he's going to end up?

MP

Mike, I noticed today in the Daily News, I think, where Cashman had a comment where he almost sounded like he was ready ro cry. Saying Hitchcock had looked good lately, was throwing 85, and was better than most teams #5 guys, and still nobody wants him. Boo hoo.

Why would anybody ever trade for a guy that everyone knows will be released in a month, or at the very least available on waivers? Cashman is just spinning a good story for the Yankees fans. The Yankees are probably going to have to eat Hitchcock's contract to make roster space pretty soon, and any teams that would want him are going to wait until then to pick him up.

There *is* a disadvantage to having eight starting pitchers.

I'd never thought I would ever see Escobar with a three-inning save.

I got a little confused when I got in to see Escobar out there in the ninth.

By the way, if anyone has the Documentary Channel there is an interesting looking film about Cuban Baseball on at 6:20

That's why Kelvim pitched well -- he knew it was a save situation. I think wanting to stretch him out was a factor in pulling Hendrickson after just 89 pitches. The big guy certainly stood up for his job; for now it looks like a two-lefty rotation with Escobar as the "sixth starter" or long man. Kelvim fell behind 1-0 on seven of 11 hitters; he was better than usual, but far from great.

Four in a row is a good way to begin a trip; 16 of the next 19 will be on the road. The only Skydome series in the next three weeks is against the D-Rays, May 13-15. How the Jays fare in June against NL opposition (Cards and Reds away, Pirates and Cubs at home, and the usual home-and-home with the Expos) might determine when this team gets to .500; seven Baltimore games that month will help.

Mike, I noticed today in the Daily News, I think, where Cashman had a comment where he almost sounded like he was ready ro cry. Saying Hitchcock had looked good lately, was throwing 85, and was better than most teams #5 guys, and still nobody wants him. Boo hoo.

Throwing 85? That's several MPH slower than Hendrickson. Who does he think he's kidding?

The Tigers could probably use him. Or anybody.

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Why would anybody ever trade for a guy that everyone knows will be released in a month, or at the very least available on waivers? Cashman is just spinning a good story for the Yankees fans. The Yankees are probably going to have to eat Hitchcock's contract to make roster space pretty soon, and any teams that would want him are going to wait until then to pick him up.

Nobody is going to pay full price for Hitchcock, so even if they placed him on waivers nobody would take him.

I imagine the Yanks will have to pick up all but 500-800K of his salary to get rid of him. At that price, I think a few teams would be interested.

MP

There are some teams that might want him at that price but not many. If you have say Mark Hendrickson and Doug Davis on the roster already, there's nothing that Hitchcock really adds.