Ted Lilly will have to induce flyballs to centre and right and not to left to be effective today

For a minute I thought Berg was back in the lineup; then I remembered the game's in Boston.

Note Rod Beck was just released by the Padres. He's had an awful yr. some personal issues at the start of the season and was away down the food chain in the bullpen. 36 years old. I wonder if he's worth having a look at for the rest of the season at the major league minimum pro-rata.

http://www.torontobaseballguys.com
Beck is by most accounts a hard worker and a good clubhouse kind of guy. He rehabbed after major surgery (Tommy John I think), and he's got more experience than the rest of the Jays' bullpen put together. Relief pitchers seem to have less predictable age patterns (maybe it just seems that way) so the 36 thing doesn't bother me. At worst he couldn't hurt.

http://www.torontobaseballguys.com
Quiet night here so far... nice hit by Wells for the early lead.

Haha Wells knocked Gross' hat into the Sabathia Position.

I wish they would dump the "You gotta see these guys play" ads... problem is we have.

I was thinking the same thing after September, now thats a couple million blown on marketing.

Way ta big V

Watch Delgado get hit now.

Oh my gosh, that was an aboslute rocket by Vernon.

Maybe not.

I thought Pedro might have been pissed after Carlos calling time during his windup the previous AB, plus the HR to Wells.

I don't know ...... that sure looked awful low and in for the called 3rd strike on Carlos. Does Pedro get those respect kind of calls.

*cringes at Faulds' wrap up of the inning*

What do I think about it? Great hit Eric. Boom!

I think that makes Faulds an honorary player. Lost track of how many were out.

Wiggled out of it, sort of...

wow, these blasts off of Pedro remind me of last year.

Hey everyone,

As I was watching the game with my dad, he mentioned that he thinks the Jays would be doing a lot better if games were only 7 innings long (meaning finishing the 7th with a lead).... I wanted to look up stats to impress him, but am not sure where to find information like that...

can anyone help me with a good site to search that sort of information? I know the name's been bounced around a bit but I forget...

Thanks a lot!

All year long I've kept confidence in Vernon Wells. I never once benched him in my daily fantasy league, despite his struggles. I just knew that he'd break out of it eventually.

Today, for the first time this season, I benched a healthy Vernon Wells in favor of Steve Finley.

...figures.

In response to Pedro getting "respect" calls, I have seen him be squeezed, sometimes to a ridiculous degree, more often than not.

could be some small bones broken there... might be time to Cash in.

Holy S!!

Yet another Manny Ramirez web gem.

Nice play, but anyone else tired of all the man hugs and silly pointing stuff? At some point I think the other teams should start taking offense and doing something to put an end to it.

Actually I don't think Manny is a good fielder, and his concentration out there makes him even worse at times... but he is capable of the spectacular play from time to time though.

And I think Cerutti just might be the biggest Manny fan out there.

And RhyZa, it just goes to show that Gregg Zaun is DA MAN!

You could see him wincing in pain as he took some warmup throws, but he stayed in the game. Way to man up.

Yeah, because comraderie and a love of the game are horrible. They're not trying to show anyone up, no matter how many 12 step handshakes Ortiz and Manny do. They're just fun lovin' guys.

Actually I don't think Manny is a good fielder, and his concentration out there makes him even worse at times... but he is capable of the spectacular play from time to time though.

That's what makes it so hilarious RhyZa. The fact that Manny is, in general, a clutz in the outfield yet this season he's come up with atleast 3 or 4 SPECTACULAR grabs.

Truly the Season From Hell!

Yeah, because comraderie and a love of the game are horrible. They're not trying to show anyone up, no matter how many 12 step handshakes Ortiz and Manny do. They're just fun lovin' guys.

I agree about the whole comraderie thing, I think it does show that these guys enjoy each other as teammates... but love of the game? How does parading around like an idiot after a nice catch show a love of the game? There are plenty of players who can make a great play, hit a homerun and not celebrate, but I'm sure they love the game just as much and probably more than a guy like Ramirez does.

Yeah, because comraderie and a love of the game are horrible. They're not trying to show anyone up, no matter how many 12 step handshakes Ortiz and Manny do. They're just fun lovin' guys.

I don't mind it really, at least it's a break from the mundane.. but Manny's timing for that kind of stuff tends to be less than appropriate and it would drive me nuts if he was on my team and did that kind of stuff in certain situations. Pedro on the other hand, as great as he is, tends to resort to immature antics when things don't go his way, and usually costs himself and the team in the process.

Something that's caught my eye has been O-Dog's play as of late. It seems that ever since Gibbons slid him up to the 2 spot he's really responded. When he hits, he's probably one of the best 2nd basemen in the league.

gimme a break.. typical Sox.

Yep.. that's the crybaby attitude that's prevalent amongst Red Sox fans and some of the players that makes me enjoy it every time they crash and burn.

That's garbage-it hit the knob. What a silly overreaction by Ortiz.

I want to see the Jays show some heart for a change.

If Delgado or Wells gets hit, can we see someone charge the mound? A bench clearing brawl maybe? In my opinion Delgado took getting hit a bit too lightly last night. Basically he implied by not doing anything that he steamrolled Mientkewicz intentionally.

And if he did do it on purpose, serious props to Carlos!

God, the Red Sox are such punks.

Yeah, I'm sure Lilly tried to plunk a guy he's owned to face a hot-hitting righty in a tie game. I'm sure he tried to hit him right on the knuckles, too.

comraderie and a love of the game

A bunch of juveniles.

If the 2004 ALCS comes down to a rematch of the 2003 ALCS, I'll be rooting for the, uh, Mercenaries. Actually, I think I would root for any team in baseball over these self-righteous jackasses.

its all too common, especially in the Sox/Yanks matchups. And then usually Pedro, if not already instigating something after giving up a run, will have to retaliate to make up for Manny's overreaction and so on and so on.. they actually drive me to root for the Yanks by the end of most of those games, as dispicable as that might sound.

Hey, serious props to Lily for not backing down. And to Cerutti too. He showed a little passion in the booth. Thats what makes a broadcast.

I especially think David Ortiz is a punk.

Anyone remember earlier this year when he made a game losing error against the Yanks at Yankee Stadium and he blamed it on the glove BREAKING!? That was hilarious. Replay after replay showed that he tripped over his own clumsy self, yet he had the nerve to send the glove to the equipment manager to try and have him "fix it."

That's just too much.

I don't want to say anything that may be percieved as baiting, so I'll say nothing. I'll go say it on Primer!

What could have Ortiz been complaining about? The pitch was high, a little inside, Ortiz started to offer at it and it hit the knob of the bat. He's as much at fault for offering at it as Lilly is pitching it. Gimme a freakin' break!!!

I can't even understand why Ortiz was so mad at the pitch. It was not that far off from the plate. What does Ortiz really want...Lilly to tell him which side of the plate he is going to pitch? It's almost as ridiculous as Delgado not wanting to play for a contender.

Paul S I for one would love to hear your defense... I really think this holds the Sox back in a lot of ways. As refreshing as it is to see a free spirited, care free bunch if that's accompanied by lack of professionalism and even worse, a lack of focus being placed on winning above all else then it's detrimental. Imagine seeing the Yanks doing something like that in such a situation.. they'd be happy to take their base as it would put them one base closer to winning, against a team they should be beating at that.

And those last two pitches from Frederick missed where??

Yeah, they both can't be balls. If the first one's low, the second one's just gotta be a strike, or vice versa-otherwise the zone's about a foot from top to bottom. Regardless-throw it down the middle, it's Dave Roberts.

That was the same pitch that he just called low to Roberts-and now it's a strike??!!!

LOL, just the Jays luck

Off the scoreboard and miles high into the air.

Ball game

And the goat is now the hero

Brarrghgh

I know Speier's been pitching well lately, but how many losses does he have now? 8?

One out of every 500 balls that hit the Green Monster bounce like that! That bounce sums up the whole year for the Blue Jays. A true bounce and maybe there is extra innings. Oh Well.

When Frederick got squeezed on that 2-2 call, I had a feeling he'd come around to score. It's been that kind of season.

At least after this season, we should be able to endure all things baseball right?

The Season From Hell.

(sigh)

Well, let's be realistic. Even if the ball doesn't hit the top of the scoreboard, Damon would still get to third with ease. BoSox would have runners at the corner with one out and Ramirez up to bat.

There are no guarantees of course, but, well yeah.

Let us imagine the end of this season from hell - let's imagine we're looking back on it.

Trust me, it will be better than living through it.

Who will be the team's top winner? Current contenders:

Miguel Batista - 9
Ted Lilly - 8
Josh Towers - 8

and maybe back in the fray soon,

Roy Halladay - 7

In 1995, Al Leiter led the team with 11 wins; in 2001, Chris Carpenter, Esteban Loaiza, and Paul Quantrill tied with 11. And way back in 1979, Tommy Underwood led the way with (gulp!) 9.

Carlos Delgado leads the team with 19 HR and 59 RBI; his final totals will probably resemble the numbers Joe Carter led the team with with in 1995 (25 HR, 76 RBI).

This is going to be awful to look back on, too...

This is really sad: I'm starting to think ahead to next year's draft (and the Jays' *very* high first round pick). Now that is a sign of a season gone awry.

Pop quiz: what do these men have in common?

Duane Ward. Jimmy Key. Al Leiter. Pat Hentgen. Tony Castillo.

They're all men that haven't been in my kitchen.

OK, but that's not all...

They all won a World Series game for the Blue Jays? Ward won 3, Key won 2, the others 1.

If the 2004 ALCS comes down to a rematch of the 2003 ALCS, I'll be rooting for the, uh, Mercenaries. Actually, I think I would root for any team in baseball over these self-righteous jackasses.

Yup. Did it last year, I'll do it again. ANYTHING is better than a Red Sox win. Yankees, even the darn Braves.

It's not that I don't feel bad for Johnny Pesky and Bobby Doerr and Dom DiMaggio. I do. But this team simply cannot be allowed to win... they are the most contemptible bunch of individuals ever assembled on a ballfield.

Yes!!

Memories.

Al Leiter, you realize, is now The Last of HIs Kind.

And seeing as how he's pitching with a partially torn labrum and will probably retire when the season's over....

then there will be none.

Time for The Next Generation (cue music) to step up.

I had half-forgotten about Tony Castillo. He got the win in the epic 15-14 game. I was listening on the radio and doing homework (grade 13 then) and turned it off in disgust down 14-9. Then turned it on again expecting the game to be over but it was the ninth inning and we were miraculously ahead!

Obviously, small sample sizes apply (TM), but there's no Jack Morris, Juan Guzman, David Cone, Dave Stewart or even Tom Henke on the list.

ANYTHING is better than a Red Sox win. Yankees, even the darn Braves.

Agreed. They are the most irritating team of them all. As much as I despise Steinbrenner and the MFYs on principle, when you watch them play... how can you hate Bernie Williams or Mariano Rivera?

Well, I can hate Bernie sometimes. And Posada. I can learn to hate A-Rod. Sheffield, no problem. Kevin Brown ditto.

And I have hated Mike Mussina since the 1994 All-Star Game.

But I like Matsui, and the mighty Q was always a favourite. And even Jeter - I mean, it's not Jeter's fault that Tim McCarver is in love with him.

And last October, I found myself incapable of cheering for a team associated with Loria in any way. I didn't actually cheer FOR the Yankees. I just watched the games...

What might be fun this year is an Oakland-Los Angeles showdown, just to hear the Joe Morgans of the baseball explain that one away...

That should have read "the Joe Morgans of the baseball world" of course.

And this year - for the first time ever - I am cheering for the Braves. Because there is just no way, right? Glavine walks, Maddux walks, Sheffield walks. They traded Millwood for a backup catcher.

Just no way.

It's like institutional momentum. We got to play the season, guess we might as well win it...

I know that feeling. Last year's world series was a nightmare. I couldn't [and didn't want to] cheer for the Marlins, but the Yankees . . . ugh. During last year's playoffs, I pulled for the Red Sox, only because I always cheer for the team with a knuckleballer. But after the Basebrawl game in the ALCS, I couldn't cheer for the Sox anymore.

This year, I would like to see the A's or Dodgers win it. I'd like to see the A's win, if only to shut up the media types who complain that Beane hasn't won a world series. The Dodgers I'd like to see, if only to spite the "chemistry" argument. The Cards wouldn't be so bad, Larry Walker getting a ring would be nice. I just can't cheer for the Braves, though. It's a nice story, and I'm glad that they're going to keep the Marlins / Phillies out of the playoffs, but I hate the Chop. If the Braves tank in three games, I'll be happy.

My nightmare series right now is Rangers vs Giants, or Braves vs Yankees. Cards vs A's or A's versus Dodgers would be nice. Heck, even Cards vs Yankees would satisfy me.

Went out for dinner taped the game once I left (from 7th inning on) and once Roberts got on base I knew the Sox would win.

This season has been so dreadful and painful that the Caberea hit didn't even sting me. I'm like oh well just another lose. I'm so use to it now it feels normal.

BTW on the subject of Man-Ram I heard he actually cut-off a throw in the OF by Damon about a month ago. Cutting off a throw in the OF ..... I wish I saw the highlights

I might be the only person in the world that's a Yanks AND Red Sox fan.

This is my order of fav. teams

1. Jays
2. Mariners
3. Red Sox
4. Yanks

I actually dont mind the Yankees players. I mean, the Yankees are the Yankees and I hate the Yankees, but the actualy players are okay. I like A-Rod, Sheffield, Matsui and Bernie.

The Red Sox though...blech. I actually like Ortiz when he's not being a punk like today (he's mostly a pretty cool guy.) The rest of them though...Millar, Varitek, Mentkaybitch, Mueller, Damon, Ramirez ... ugh.

Mentkaybitch....

HA HA HA. Never heard that one before. Funny.

I share all the sentiments about the Sox already discussed, but oddly enough I thought I was the only one to like a "team" but hate the "players". Durring the playoffs last year my friend and I were having a conversation about how it sucks either way if the Sox win or lose in the playoffs. We agreed we liked the team and felt the city deserved to win and have the streak ended, but got kinda a sleezy feeling imagine these ninnies being the team to break the curse and win the rings.

I usually call Mentkaybitch something else, but I'm censoring myself so as not to appear homophobic.

I guess I shouldn't repeat some of the things we used to do with Chuck Knoblauch's name, especially after he moved to NYC...