Ever since the interference non-call with Manny Ramirez in Boston, we've seen TWO interference calls go in favour of the Jays with Myers catching. A coincidence or did the Jays say something to the league?

I just saw the play where Bordick hit the ball down the line and the fan reached over and grabbed it (after it bounced over Bigbie's reach). They then showed the fan being tossed out of the stadium (with his bewildered girlfriend/wife). In the process, the Security guy took the baseball away from the fan (well, the fan handed it to him when the Security guy asked for it).

Is that part of their policy? Do they take the ball away when you get thrown out?

If so, bravo. I think you should get ZERO reward (game ball) if you interfere like that.

Halladay out after 68 pitches? My fantasy team needs a complete game shutout! This better mean he's coming back on three days rest.

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Two out of three against a pretty hot Baltimore team isn't too shabby. I was hoping to go to the Thursday game against Tampa, but seeing as it's in the afternoon I won't be able to make it. The next 12 games don't look too bad. Six games against TB, 3 at home against Texas, and 3 against Anaheim. It'd be great if the Jays could go 7-5 (or better) for their 16 games of hell in August.

Mike

Is that part of their policy? Do they take the ball away when you get thrown out?

Every time I've seen a fan escorted out of any ballpark, they've been forced to cough up the ball.

At what point will fans finally clue in that grabbing a ball in play will get you tossed? You used the adjective bewildered, and that is apt. Fans are truly surprised when they (deservedly) get the heave ho. I interfere with a game in progress and I get thrown out? Huh? Who'd have thunk it?

Mike, do try to come to the Thursday vs. Tampa of at all possible... I'm going to try to be at that one!

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Mike, do try to come to the Thursday vs. Tampa of at all possible... I'm going to try to be at that one!

I probably can come then. I wasn't going to because I was planning to go with Hannah.. but then I learned it was an afternoon game and she works from 9-5. But if there are other ZLCers coming, I'm sure I can be in Toronto by about 11:30.

It beats being in Rochester at the very least. :)

Mike

In ESPN's game notes, Tosca is quoted as saying that Hallady will not be used on three days rest again this season because he is so valuable to the team's future.

I've been out of the city for going on 5 weeks, so will someone please let me know *exactly* why Halladay was used on three days if the Jays are as close to categoricly out of the playoff picture as possible? That said, at least Tosca didn't do anything stupid like let Halladay finish the game (I feel for the roto-owners but if you've got him on your team, 7 innings, 0ER and the possibility of another 8-10 quality starts this season is far more useful than an injurred all-star)

My only guess is they wanted to give Wasdin some time out of the bullpen. I was surprised to find out Halladay was starting today too. But one thing's for sure, going on three days rest sure doesn't seem to affect his performance at all. If anything, it helps.

Halladay is simply one of the very best in all of baseball right now. If one is to make a list of the truly elite, pitchers and position players combined, Halladay definitely makes that list.

I can agree that it would be foolish for Halladay to go for a complete game if that meant him throwing over 120 pitches. However, he was on pace to finish the game with less than 90 pitches. A 5 inning 100 pitch game is more detrimental to Halladay's health than a complete game 90 pitch outing.

Tosca said that Halladay on 3 days rest would not occur again this year. However, this was before his 68 pitch outing today. I wonder if this outing changes when we can look forward to seeing him pitch again.

I'm fine with him getting yanked after 68 pitches.
He had his win, the lead was big enough to pretty much guarantee the bullpen isn't going to cough it up, and you don't have to worry about a come-backer smacking him in the face if he's out of the game.

Damn. I always forget to consider the 'comebacker to the face' argument.

In my view, Halladay has been almost untouchable in his 3 day rest starts, and (considerably) less than that in his 5 day rest starts. Does anybody have any comparisons of his performance with days of rest as the primary variate?

Off topic: Aaron Hill played his first game with Dunedin today and went 3 - 5......also Jamie Vermilyea debuted nicely with 3 shutout innings

Halladay was apparently going on 3 days rest in order to set him up for the next month or so against Seattle, Oakland, etc. coming up.

If the current 3 days' rest pattern continued, his schedule for the rest of the year:

7/31 TB
8/4 @TB
8/8 TEX
8/12 @SEA
8/16 @OAK
8/20 SEA
8/24 OAK
8/29 @CLE
9/3 NYY
9/7 DET
9/11 @TB
9/16 @DET
9/20 @BAL
9/24 TB
9/28 CLE

In total, that's 15 more starts, but only 5 coming against +.500 teams. If the Jays still plan to dump Lidle and Escobar, I doubt you would want to add a possibly burnt out Halladay to that mix if the plan is to be in a better spot to compete next year.

With Doc on 4 days' rest, here's how it charts out:

8/1 @ANA
8/6 @TB
8/11 @SEA
8/16 @OAK
8/21 SEA
8/26 @BOS
8/31 @CLE
9/5 DET
9/10 @TB
9/16 @DET (could be moved up to pitch on 3 days rest on the 14 vs. BAL, 15th is an off day.)
9/21 @BAL
9/26 CLE

In this scenario, he'd start 12 more times, but would only face 1 less quality opponent (equal depending on what your opinion of Anaheim is.)

Overall, I tend to believe that while Roy has demonstrated his effectiveness on 3 days' rest, there simply is no need for it in a non-contending atmosphere. On top of that, it will allow for a larger chunk of starts to go to those maybe on the bubble, giving J.P. a better sense of what he has and doesn't have going into 2004. I'd rather they made up their minds on guys like Hendrickson this year than having to cut bait midway through next season.

The team should consider having the PA announcer tell fans after the first inning (when most have found their seats) that reaching into the field of play to get a baseball will result in an automatic ejection, accompanied by a video on the JumboTron of exactly that occurrence. Do this enough times and even the cementheads in the right field corner will start to get it.

Totally agree with you David

Results of Doc's starts on 3 days rest
at Mont . June 22, W 4-2 IP 8 H-4 ER 2 BB-0 K-6
vs.NY July 12, W 10-3 IP 8 H-4 ER 0 BB-0 K-6
vs.Balt. July 27, W 10-1 IP 7 H-2 ER 0 BB-0 K-4

I've only recently started to read this place, but I thought I'd share what happened to me on Sunday: any of you who were at the game...my wife and I won the seat upgrade to the In The Action seats. We were up in 524, and Ryan Greer approached us in the first inning and asked if we'd mind being on the JumboTron. Then he gave us section 120, row 2, seats 105 and 106 -- that's between the plate and the opposing team's on deck circle, one row back from the field.

Greer said they picked us because we were wearing jerseys, had a sign and were making lots of noise.

The seats were truly astounding, as was the game.