The Doctor is in, and if Roy Halladay has anything to say about it, the Blue Jays' modest but intriguing winning streak will continue tonight. Matched up against huge (in many ways) free-agent bust Bartolo Colon, Doc faces an Anaheim lineup that, as Mike D points out in his absolutely-must-read Advance Scout tonight, can bat around with the best of them but has had terrible problems in the rotation. If the suddenly-hot Jays get to Colon early, this could be a very fun night in Toronto.
Three ground ball singles and a passed ball, 2-0 so far. Good thing we're going to score 12 runs off of Colon tonight.
This isn't really the way you want to follow up such a great win from last night.
Jeez, Woodward looked like he was 80 years old on that play. Brutal start.
That was a horrible effort by Woodward; the ball was only a couple of feet to his right.
Another ground ball hit, takes a bizarre hop on Hudson.
Another ground ball hit, takes a bizarre hop on Hudson.
He's giving up seeing-eye grounders to all parts of the field, nothing hit hard. And his shortstop was having trouble catching the ball. Turned the double play on the second attempt.
My memory is saying that Roy just hasn't had the same curveball as last year. It seems to me that he's throwing it a lot less often this year. If this is related to his shoulder (or even true for that matter), I have no idea.
Why are guys blaming Woody? That was a horrible excuse for a throw, especially when the guy you're throwing to is planning to make a pivot upon recieving it.
And it looks like they switched to a batch of balls without eyes for the bottom half.
It was a bad throw - maybe it's not a double play any more - but it was definitely catchable.
There are probably two responses to that play:
1) So that's why Woodward doesn't play often; or
2) That's what happens when Woodward only plays two or three times a week.
Suggestions?
There are probably two responses to that play:
1) So that's why Woodward doesn't play often; or
2) That's what happens when Woodward only plays two or three times a week.
Suggestions?
Sure it was a poor throw by Halladay, but that's a play that your shortstop has to make. Combining that with his poor reaction on the ball with the infield in, and I think the blame is fairly placed on him.
Doc make an awful throw that should've been routine. Yes, Woody should've had it, but it is unbelievably hard to catch a throw that bad when you're thinking about turning two and expecting a throw that will help with that. And Woody probably would've turned two with any belt high throw.
Now would be a good time for Alex's first career HR.
Good thing they didn't send Carlos, eh?
Three triples for Rios? Damn. It's nice that he's getting results to go with his impressive approach now.
Three triples for Rios? Damn. It's nice that he's getting results to go with his impressive approach now.
I guess Dave Berg is getting a rest after that epic AB in the 9th!
Bigleaguers.com insists that the Twincs want to make a run for Batista. How smart is Terry Ryan? Can we get Morneau? I *really* don't want to move Batista, but for Morneau...I would.
So specifically what is wrong with the doctor? Location? Predictable pitch pattern? lack of pitch movement?? I'm blacked out tonight.
Considering Morneau's been in AAA most of this year despite an OPS of around 1100, probably not too smart.
So specifically what is wrong with the doctor? Location? Predictable pitch pattern? lack of pitch movement?? I'm blacked out tonight.
Honestly, it seems to be bad luck more than anything. Most the hits have been either seeing-eye singles or little flares off the end of the bat.
Honestly, it seems to be bad luck more than anything. Most the hits have been either seeing-eye singles or little flares off the end of the bat.
Of course, as soon as I say that he allows two line drives. Heh.
Why did he walk Garrett Anderson?? You can only dance with Vlad so many times.
It looks like another outing where Halladay just doesn't have it. The Jays really need him to step up in the second half if they want to finish at least respectably.
According to Cerutti he should've wanted to walk Garret to get to Vlad!
I don't think I've ever seen a game where a starting pitcher gave up 11 singles and no extra-base hits. Yow.
Great inning for O-Dog. The roller up the middle, the tag on the high throw...
First he throws it away...
Then he doesn't cover the bag....
Then he doesn't cover the bag....
Very nice play by Woody to save Adams worthless butt...
I just noticed that Colon is barely cracking 90 on the gun. He's probably injured.
Nobody stops tiny baserunners sliding in their tracks like Gregg Zaun.
Its another episode of Kerry & Terry's Wild Adventures. "Watch as this crazy pitching duo makes every pitch a nerve-wracking experience"
This is amazing. The Angels have made so many outs on the basepaths today. They've out-hit the Jays 16-5 and only lead by one run!
A lot of nice defense tonight. Two baserunner kills by Wowie Howie, two putouts at home by Going going Zaun, the usual Dog Show, nice plays to end innings with runners on by Woody and Lexie...
OK. Too many pet names.
OK. Too many pet names.
K-Rod gagged away a game just a couple days ago (and gagged away one to the Jays on Victoria Day)
Keep the faith.
Keep the faith.
I hope we're done with K-Rod. That was filthy. Unfair.
I can't believe Percival is still the closer. That WHIP is the stuff of nightmares (or Rocky Biddle)
Nice to see Rios drive the ball hard ... just not quite hard enough.
I agree. Rios can only benefit from late-inning pressure situations like this one. He's really holding his own, isn't he? Tough to see the Jays lose, especially after all the great defence, but at least they went down fighting.
In another year or two, Rios will be able to drive that ball off of Windows restaurant. In the meantime, it's nice to see him hit the ball on the nose consistently.
Speaking of power... Jason Bay had another monster night for the Pirates. The Canadian boy has to be the frontrunner for Rookie of the Year.
Speaking of power... Jason Bay had another monster night for the Pirates. The Canadian boy has to be the frontrunner for Rookie of the Year.
Well, after the triple tonight, Alex Rios is hitting .323/.363/.469 over the past calendar month (since he was benched June 11 vs. Arizona). I have to say, I firmly believe that Rios has arrived for real and is staying for good, and I think he's got a good shot to haul his average up to .300 by year's end.
If he goes back to the minors, I'd be very surprised.
If he goes back to the minors, I'd be very surprised.
Wow, I gotta say, a good Canadian kid like Morneau would look awfully nice in a Blue Jays uniform. He'd be our cheap Carlos replacement. Even for Batista, I'd do it. If J.P. gets Morneau, he can afford to spend a lot of the Delgado money on another pitcher.
OK, I just watched highlight packages on both Sportsnet and The Score, and neither bothered to show the 3-6-3 double play in the 9th. But it looked real nice the first time I saw it, including a terrific acrobatic relay by Woodward.
Full props to Woodward for pulling himself together after a shaky first inning. If Derek Jeter had made that play...
Full props to Woodward for pulling himself together after a shaky first inning. If Derek Jeter had made that play...
I felt sorry for Dave Berg after last night's game. He had what will certainly go down as his best at bat in his Blue Jays career, he managed to wear down Guardado with an incredible 13 pitch, 8 foul at-bat, he set the table for Delgado's home run . . . and it was totally ignored by the highlight packages that I saw from the game.
http://www.syracuse.com/skychiefs/poststandard/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1089275934106693.xml
A story from Syracuse about Quiroz return from his injury.
A story from Syracuse about Quiroz return from his injury.
I totally agree, 6-4-3, Berg made that inning happen. It was like he said "I'm going to stay here until you give me my pitch, SO GIVE ME MY PITCH." That was honestly one of the most fantastic at-bats I've ever had the pleasure to watch, and I was so happy to have seen it in person.