This is good a game as any to make my SkyDome debut for the season. The spine-tingling atmosphere prevailing in the Box today reminds me of the hysteria that gripped the city back in 1991 when a young Derek Bell made his outfield debut with the Blue Jays.

Hopefully, with all due respect to Darrin Jackson, this will turn out a little better than that...

I will be taping the game and watching it tomorrow. As much as I look forward to reading all the smart( and occaionally stupid) comments about tonights game, I will put it off, so I can watch each Rios atbat without knowing what will happen. Go Jays.

Cripes, the Tigers had 27 hits today against the Royals.

I'll say this for the lethargic Toronto crowd -- they're at least halfway knowledgeable. Simon Pond got a tremendous round of applause for his first major league hit. I'm expecting the same for Rios.

Lineup posted:
Johnson-7
Menechino-4
Wells-8
Delgado-3
Zaun-2
Phelps-DH
Rios-9
Gomez-6
Berg-5

Any news on the O-Dog?

Hinske's having a day off? I thought he looked really good last night.

Rios born in Alabama, Am I missing something? Or is that Armando Rios?

Lots of great comments regarding Rio's in the various threads today. Provided some great reading whilst at home sick today.

I'm suprised Hinske's not in the line-up. What is it? A day off to rest and re-group. Slight injury? Or a chance to gets Berg some at bats?

Looking forward to the game tonite with Doc on the mound and Rios, Sparky and Vernon to his defense.

This might be suprising though. I am not sure what to expect from Berg manning the hot corner if Doc's getting the Angels to pepper the dirt tonite. Hinske has been lights out snagging those two bagger laser shots down the line this year.

Hinske has been lights out snagging those two bagger laser shots down the line this year.

Unless they're showcasing Berg to trade him. DUN DUN DAAAAH!

Two questions:

1. Why do they call Halladay "Doc"?
2. What does HLH stand for?

Two answers:

1) I believe it's a reference to Doc Holliday, the dentist from the Old West.
2) Harry Leroy Halladay, his full name.

Thank you kindly, Original Rob.

You're welcome. I shall now return to my original Box moniker. I don't want to anger the Ryan clan.

Hinske's on the bench because they're facing a tough lefthander in Washburn.

Hinske's on the bench because they're facing a tough lefthander in Washburn.

At least, that's what they want you to think... DUN DUN DAAAH!

The impostor who was polluting this thread has been banned, his comments deleted, his ISP has been notified and future misuse by this person of our facilities will result in the involvement of the authorities.

The rest of you, go about your business.

The other cacher named Molina is in the lineup today for the Halos.

First pitch strike from Doc and we're off! Good sign.

Figures, after we've been talking about bunting all day, Figgins gets a bunt base hit. Now a Vlad basehit and Doc's in some trouble early.

Nothin' like a little 6-4-3 to end that garbage. Let's see if the Jays can get Rios up in the 1st inning.

Every ground ball looks like an adventure out there tonite. I think I'm missing the O-Dog, but not more than Roy.

Halladay with 2 walks in the 2nd?? What's goin on?

Halladay with 2 walks in the 2nd?? What's goin on?

Unfortunately, the same thing that's been going on for the last little while.

I hate watching Roy walk batters. :

4 batters away from Rios!

The game isn't available in my area. So Roy is pitching similar to the Boston game I gather??? Nibbling in/out & low/high??

whats the link for internet radio?

www.fan590.ca might have the game on.

Well I'm back in England so I can't come to the game tonight. Also, I will probably go to bed soon to try to clear the jetlag.

Last night's game was awesome. I was on the front row behind the Angels dugout - the most amazing view. I had a great time in Toronto and was probably lucky to catch two really nail-biting games. I'll be back when I can.

Enjoy tonight guys; I may watch the game on mlb.tv tomorrow - but after seeing a game in person the internet feed is going to look terrible.

The game isn't available in my area. So Roy is pitching similar to the Boston game I gather??? Nibbling in/out & low/high??

He's not so much nibbling in my view but having difficulty with his command. He hasn't shown me yet that he is the same dominating Doc of 03 all of this season so far in 04. But he is still a great pitcher who will at some point this year throw more than a couple shutouts.

Andrew K, where abouts in England do you live? Do you get channel five live games at 1 or 2 oclock in the morning?

I worked in London for better than two yrs. and I grew to embrace jetlag because I could go to bed at 7 PM and wake up about 2 AM and turn on the TV and watch live baseball or NHL hockey.

Brilliant!
Gomez takes 8 pitches from a pitcher who is throwing well tonight! Well done!
........then Berg swings at pitch #1.....
jeeze.
Lets hope we just tire Washburn out and get to their bullpen again.

Halladay's humming now. 5 K's

I just opened up GameDay at the York U library. Can anyone give me an update on Rios' first AB, and how he's looked in RF?

Steve z: He grounded into a fielders choice. Enjoy Scott library fellow Yorkie.

After a very good night with patience last night the offense has reverted to some poor plate appearances tonight. 3 pitches to get 2 outs in the 4th.

Thanks Jobu, my fellow Yeoman!

a couple of outs,delgado walks, zaun's single moves him to second, Phelps flies to center to end the top of the fifth.

(in the sea captain's voice)

Argh, this be a pitchers duel if ever there was one.

Seriously though, you'd think the offence would be riding high after yesterdays win, where are they?

1-0 Tampa Bay

C'Mon Flames!!!!

And some love for the Cheer Club from the Fan 590, as "Going, going, Zaun" is recognized...

The Jays are going to need Bengie Molina to enter this game if they intend to score.

Woo-hoo Alex! Wish I could have seen it, but Jerry's call was sweet enough

Hit for Rios!

You're not alone my fiend...

Reed Johnson is slowly but surely shedding the 4th outfielder label.

3-0 Jays. That should be all Doc needs to roll through the rest of this game.

Dave Berg did not represent an era.

Belly down...another great Fauldsian staple

I'd forgotten until just now how bad Berg's second half was last season as well. In his last 123 plate appearances, going back to June 1st of 2003, Berg is batting 181/228/241.

Yuck.

I think Reed has shown he is a dependable outfieler, even a slightly above replacement level outfieler.
Problem is, given how close he is to replacement level, when he slumps.... we REALLY notice it.

Johnson's lack of patience accentuates his slumps in comparison to other players with more plate discipline.

Reed Johnson is slowly but surely shedding the 4th outfielder label.

He did that a long time ago IMO.

I've never understood why he gets so much flak from Blue Jay fans. I think he's just fine.

I missed Rios AB's :-( Can someone give me some more details about his ab's and his hit.

Thanks in advance !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Dave Berg - once Hudson and Woodward are healthy, which other infielders do the Jays keep? Menechino & Gomez? Do they go with 3 backups? Do they eat Berg's contract? It will be interesting to see...

Reed Johnson has a full season of stats now:

155 games, 562 ABs: .292/.351/.427

Johnson has been one of the better hitters all year, his walk totals were pretty good in the minors, hopefully it eventually catches on in the biggs!

One of the stranger managerial decisions of the year to bring Washburn back in the eighth. He's thrown 105 pitches prior to starting the inning and he was visibly tiring in the 6th and 7th from a velocity standpoint (at least according to the Sportsnet gun). I'll take it but it was pretty bizarre.

Samuel L. Jackson throws out the first pitch...and Jack Samuels is the plate ump...hmmmm!

We REALLY need Hudson Back.

The Jays are Falling way behind the rest of the league in GTGTGs

Reed Johnson has a full season of stats now:

155 games, 562 ABs: .292/.351/.427

If Alexis Rios puts up those numbers in his first 562 ABs does he get called a fourth outfielder?

A Rios single here and Toronto has a new favorite player?

Small statured players get no love Ryan. I am a big Reed fan. I was actually insulted when I heard Pond would get a majority of the at-bats. I guess the organization was just grasping for straws.

http://me.woot.net
Man, the SkyDome is ELECTRIC tonight.

See you guys later

I never thought I would be missing the defence of Eric Hinske

How many times does Dave Berg have to screw up before he's sent packing? Who does he have pictures on?

Find the nearest iceberg and drop Dave off there.

I wish they would just dump Berg already. He better not end up costing the Jays this game.

They're pulling Doc!? I'd be upset too.

Way to go Frasor!! NOW RELEASE BERG!!!

I never thought I would be missing the defence of Eric Hinske

Am I the only one who thinks Dave Berg looks like Sling Blade?
I wonder if he likes french fried potaters... mmhmmm.

The Jays were lucky to get out of that inning as Kotchman smoked that ball. Had that been to the left or right of Johnson it would have gone to the wall and tied the game. As it was it was right at him and the Jays won.

Then again the game should have been over two runs earlier so I'm not going to feel sorry for the Angels on that one. I am increasingly wondering what purpose Dave Berg serves on the team and why he gets into games as anything but an emergency replacement. He doesn't do anything particularly well...he doesn't hit, run, work pitchers, or play defence in any standout fashion. He is the definition of replacement level player and should never be in the starting lineup when you have a choice.

Actually while we're on the subject, the game should have been over TWO batters earlier because that double play on Guerrero's grounder should have been turned. For some reason Gomez waited back on it and made a very deliberate feed to second instead of charging it and getting the ball to second quickly. Menechino had no chance as by the time the ball got to him Eckstein was right on him. That grounder was right at Gomez...I don't care if it's Guerrero running that DP has to be turned.

Fortunately, Rios won't know or care that the hapless Faulds screamed, "Alex Rios drives in his first major league hit!"

Anyone else notice how small the bat looks in Rios' hands? Check it out tomorrow night.

Didn't notice how small the bat was, but I did notice how tiny Menechino looked in comparison when they stood beside each other. He barely came up to Lexi's kneecaps.

Fortunately, Rios won't know or care that the hapless Faulds screamed, "Alex Rios drives in his first major league hit!"

I heard that from another room and ran to the TV to see the RBI. Alas, it turns out that "drive in" is right up there with "inside for a strike" in the accuracy-challenged world of Rob Faulds.

I never thought I would be missing the defence of Eric Hinske

It's hindsight, but maybe Hinske shoud have taken over from Berg right after Washburn was taken out?

Menechino may be short, but man he can run, on that triple he went around those bases like Smarty Jones

Cheers for Rios! Love that kid, I've been telling all my friends to watch out for him (so he better do well).

Also, cheers on getting rid of Berg. Dump him! Now!

That grounder was right at Gomez...I don't care if it's Guerrero running that DP has to be turned.

R, I didn't see that play so can't comment specifically. I find myself agreeing with many of your comments, so I am sure you're right.

In general, though, it should be remembered that Gomez is a $750K plan B at shortstop, who was signed with the foreknowledge that he is below average both defensively and offensively. That he has played at the level he has this season (his OBP is higher now than any season of his career), has been an unanticipated bonus.

As we watch him night in and night out, it is clear that he is not much of a gloveman. Unfortunately, that's just something the team is going to have to live with. But just think of how much worse it could be. He could be hitting like Neifi Perez as well.

Man, I've finaly caught my breath and my anger has just about subsided on the Berg botch. I had a bad feeling when I seen him starting at third tonite. That throw into the dugout cost Doc the shoutout tonite. However alls well that ends well and the Blue Jays have ended well in all three games of this series.

Halladay looked all the way back tonite. He stuggled a bit with his command in the first two or three innnings but dominated the rest of the way.

I look for Halladay to string together a bunch of great starts now, hopefully Miller gets back on track, Hentgen looked really good his last time out. Lilly hasn't been to bad so that leaves Batista to get sorted out. All in all starting pitching is looking pretty good and the pen seems to have found some composure.

Its not beyond the realm of possibilty that the Jays run off a bit of a string against pretty stiff competition.

I have to agree, when either Woody or Hudson comes back Berg will be optioned or outrighted or whatever it takes. Its to bad I don't dislike the man but his time is done.

Go Jays

Props to Named For Hank and his trusty assistants. Though he didn't show up until the 7th inning stretch (that was one quick game), his banner got a little Jumbotron time, prompting squeals of delight from all the junior high girls in the vicinity.

After sweeping the Angels (!!!), The Blue Jays are now 20-27. That really isn't that bad.

My guess of hitting .500 on game 50 isn't gonna happen though. :(

Ah shoot, now I screwed up the italics.

How about if they eat Berg?

Feeding him to Bengie Molina would be ideal.

Menechino may be short, but man he can run

You know, he never really had a rep of being able to run fast and his career "run fast" stats are not impressive (3 triples in 840 AB, 3 stolen bases).

Is he really fast? Or is that something Cerutti just said because he needed to make the air vibrate?

Chuck, but respectfully have to disagree that the lineup is dross. DaVannon showed well last season so he is probably a decent player, Eckstien and Kennedy are fine middle infielders and not bad on the basepaths. Benji Molina is arguably the forth best offensive catcher in the league and when your 3-4 hitters are rocking good things
happen. It doesn't scream first place but thats where they are.

If the Jays 3-4 hitters would have performed to form todate the Jays wouldn't find themselves so deep in the hole.

The Jays might be meeting Texas at the right time. They too have a load of injuries and some of the bats are starting to cool. Chicago has held them in check the past two days anyway.

Lefty, respectfully disagreeing as well...

Eckstein is at 337/315 (OBP/SLG) and Kennedy at 310/370. I can't see Eckstein getting much better. Kennedy is underperforming.

DaVanon did play well as a 29-year old rookie last year and is doing well this year, so he may well be a late bloomer. But you have to be skeptical about someone doing this well after such a late start.

Molina's career numbers are 302/383. He does manage to smack LHP a little bit every couple of years to goose his SLG over .400. Better hitting catchers in the AL: Posada, Varitek, Lopez, Martinez, I Rod, Olivo, probably Laird and probably Mauer. Even Zaun's career numbers are 332/371.

And the team only figures to do worse once Erstad returns, as he'll siphon AB from someone more useful.

Props to the Cheer Club. Their "Alex: Welcome to the Show" got on the 'Tron twice. Sorry to not be there tonight, but I stumbled into some good seats. I should be there tomorrow, and let's make some noise with the drum.

I think the WELCOME TO THE SHOW sign was magic -- I showed up with it, Alex immediately got his first hit, we scored three runs! Right on!

See you all tomorrow, with the Mighty O-Drum.

SWEEP!

Well Chuck we'll just have to see if the sum of their parts equals a playoff spot this yr. This isn't fantasy ball we're talking about but a team with serious injuries and one capable of calling upon a very strong bench to hold the fort while the others are out.

I think they will have a hard time fending off Oakland as they are starting hit - perhaps over their heads as well - and have the best rotation in the league.

I think that race will be interesting as long as Vlad stays in the lineup and perhaps Salmon comes back with his typical strong second half.

But your right about Molina, at this stage with the import of IRod and Lopez, Molina now stands sixth if Martinez can hold up the whole season.

20-27 projects to 69-93. That's bad.

20-27 projects to 69-93. That's bad.

Certainly it's bad, but it's not that bad. I mean, at least we're avoiding the triple digit loss mark.

You've got to be joking. DaVanon is an excellent ballplayer. Just look at his numbers in AAA and the majors. Add to that the fact that he's above average in center, a ++ at the corner and he runs the bases well.

I just opened up GameDay at the York U library. Can anyone give me an update on Rios' first AB, and how he's looked in RF?

Steve z: He grounded into a fielders choice. Enjoy Scott library fellow Yorkie.


I just graduated today!!! woo haa woo haa!!! I got ya all in check!

Go jays!!!

Nice start to a Major League career for Alex Rios. Few players start the game-deciding rally in their first game. I hope this an omen that the cloud is lifting off the Blue Jays. These first eight weeks have been very frustrating to watch.

With Kenny Rogers, Jamie Moyer, Barry Zito, and Mark Mulder in his near future, now we will get to see how Rios handles off-speed pitches.

We need the O-Dog to return ASAP so that Dave Berg can be sent on his merry way and not put another Roy Halladay start in jeopardy. How far has Eric Hinske's stock fallen if they start a semi-platoon between him and Berg?

If they use Jason Frasor properly (One inning saves only) he will do just fine. He pitched 9th innings in the minors with success, why not with the Jays?

He pitched 9th innings in the minors with success, why not with the Jays?

Well, for one thing - major league hitters are much better than minor league hitters. Seriously though, I like Frasor but I worry that his fastball is just too straight and that he doesn't have a high-caliber strikeout pitch.

I'm looking forward to facing Texas, another team of impostors. Certainly some legitimately talented young hitters (though their second baseman aged a couple of years on the flight to Texas), but a few guys playing over their heads: Young, Nix, Delucci. Their rotation is starting to show its true colours (early season sensation Dickey, for example) and eventually Ryan Drese and Kenny Rogers will have to bid farewell to their ridiculously low ERAs (2.92 and 3.34) as wel


Drese got bombed today :)

Hey Kenny, you're next!

jc

Cant wait for Friday's game to start! Im bringing as many people as I can. We should have every single peice of Cheer Club propaganda there, including the Drum. Should be electric!

NFH: If you haven't already, check out the Cheer Club vs Anahiem thread where I posted some photos of bullpen K's as we discussed on Wednesday. Might as well go full out Friday, it seems like its going to be a classic.

http://tsf.waymoresports.thestar.com/thestar/baseball/player.cgi?2230

You've got to be joking. DaVanon is an excellent ballplayer. Just look at his numbers in AAA and the majors. Add to that the fact that he's above average in center, a ++ at the corner and he runs the bases well.


Indeed.

Davanon is a case of arrested development. COMN.

He missed the entire 2000 season after tearing his labrum in spring training. Which is too bad because he absolutely thumped the ball in 1999 at AA/AAA. That missed time may have cost him his shot at being a regular, and now he's been typecast into being a 4th outfielder type.

Maybe all the injuries in Anaheim this year will give him a chance to show the Angels what he can do with a full season of playing time. As a switch hittnig CF with some patience and pop, he looks like a poor man's Carlos Beltran to me. That's a pretty good player.

And some love for the Cheer Club from the Fan 590, as "Going, going, Zaun" is recognized..


Cool :)

Could it be heard on the radio today? Or did Wilner just make a comment about the "crazies in 518"?

Also had a great time razzing Figgins, telling Vlad to go back to disneyland, and cheering for HLH to drill Jose Guillen.

The Menechino hit was funny. It's clear he put his entire body into it and hit it about as far as he could (which isn't all that far). But Figgins was giving him no respect. If Figgins was playing at regular depth, that ball would have been an easy out.

Fiiiiiiiggiiiiiiins!

I'll be back in the t dot for the interleague games??? Shall I assume that the 518 drumline will be in full force during that period??? I'd love to join the loud + ubnoxious section...

I mean you guys have to be dying to meet the guy who coined 'thor' and 'the hammer'.. right??? (even though its horrible prajurism :)... had to fess up...)

Great game tonight. Doc had one hell of an outing and was able to limit his pitch count for the first time in quite a while.

It was obvious that V.W. was somewhat concerned with the extension of his hit streak. His approach, which has undoubtedly improved, was terrible all night and very difficult to watch.

It's hard to knock him as his production has improved recently. But, he could be contributing so much more to his struggling team.

Wells has always claimed that the pitches he receives (mostly fastballs) will have a direct effect on his approach. Agreed. He'll get a ton of fastballs as long as Carlos hits behind him.

My only knock is that he seems intent on attempting to hit the large majority of those heaters out of the park. He seems to lose almost as many at bats to over swinging as does Tori Hunter. While superior defensively, Hunter will never lead the league in hits. He swings for the fences for a reason. Wells is younger and much more gifted offensively. Hopefully, he'll eventually learn to swing to his strengths.

But, he could be contributing so much more to his struggling team

He's hitting 366/459/581 this month. It's hard to see where that improvement would come from.

http://www.chancetolive.net
Great game for the Jays. Nice to see them go in for the killing blow against a good (if injury-depleted) team. Halladay pitched well and I look forward to seeing Alexis Rios and the rest of the team tomorrow night if I can convince some friends to come. Should be great.

I listened to 9th in horror on my way back home from class so I didn't really how lousy Berg's play was until I just saw the highlight pack. See, children? Never trust someone with only half a surname...

I am puzzled as to why Berg started the ninth at third when there was no good defensive reason for doing so. Did Tosca forget Hinske was still on the bench? The other frustrating thing about that play was that Guerrero had strayed much too far off second, and would have been an easy target for a run-down if Berg had only looked over to his left. Oh well, at least they got the win.

Isn't it time for Texas to collapse?

And some love for the Cheer Club from the Fan 590, as "Going, going, Zaun" is recognized..

Cool :)

Could it be heard on the radio today? Or did Wilner just make a comment about the "crazies in 518"?

You could hear something, but it was indistinct on the radio, as all the crowd noise is.

What happened was that Tom heard the chant, and said that the crowd had some sort of cheer going, and Mike answered that it was "Going, Going, Zaun". Tom said that he liked that one, and started talking about Zaun's last HR and they got to talking about his game-winning hit on Wednesday.

I am puzzled as to why Berg started the ninth at third when there was no good defensive reason for doing so. Did Tosca forget Hinske was still on the bench?

I never thought I'd hear calls for Hinske to be a defensive replacement.

Matt, I'll be out of town for interleague, but I'm sure some drum action will be going on. I'll post a Cheer Club update today or tomorrow.

Nice that someone recognized Going! Going! Zaun!

Mrs. Hank reported a similar comment from the TV guys late in the game.

I like Frasor but I worry that his fastball is just too straight and that he doesn't have a high-caliber strikeout pitch.

Only time will tell on Frasor's ability to pitch (I don't think you can make an accurate assessment until players have had the chance to see a pitcher two or three times) but he certainly got the best of Vlad by simply out-smarting him by using both sides of the plate.