A tough opponent and a great pitching matchup are on tap at Skydome tonight. The AL West-leading Oakland A's are sending ace Tim Hudson to the mound against the Blue Jays, who will counter with their best pitcher, former Athletic Ted Lilly. It should be a pitcher's duel, but Oakland can still knock the ball around, and for Toronto, Vernon Wells might finally be breaking out of his horrific slump. No word yet on whether the Syracuse call-ups will be starting tonight; the lineups should be available inside the hour.
Incidentally, the Jays' Unmagic Number for the division title is one, so they must win tonight to avoid falling out of contention for the AL East crown.
Crap crap crap, I plumb forgot that I have an extra ticket for tonight as my friend is going home for the weekend. If anyone wants it, e-mail me at cburley@hardballtimes.com and we'll arrange to meet outside the stadium.
Zaun behind the plate, Gomez at ss, no callups starting the game.
No Callups?? Awwww.
Oh well, maybe they can pinch hit. If not, then we should see one tomorrow, right?
Oh well, maybe they can pinch hit. If not, then we should see one tomorrow, right?
That sucks, but is totally understandable. Having your first major league at bats versus Tim Hudson can probably mess you up for a couple of games. The perfect situation was yesterday against the Mariner's rookie.
OAKLAND LINEUP (MONEYBALL FANS TAKE NOTICE):
E. Byrnes cf
B. Kielty dh
E. Chavez 3b
J. Dye rf
S. Hatteberg 1b
D. Miller c
B. Crosby ss
N. Swisher lf
M. Scutaro 2b
E. Byrnes cf
B. Kielty dh
E. Chavez 3b
J. Dye rf
S. Hatteberg 1b
D. Miller c
B. Crosby ss
N. Swisher lf
M. Scutaro 2b
Will Quiroz start on Sunday, having (presumably) caught Glynn more than a few times this year?
Nice catch, Rob. Big-league debut for Nick Swisher tonight.
Yeah, heard it from Wilner on his 6:00 update. That's all he seems to get now, just 30 seconds at the top of the hour.
Unmagic Number
You can't use that term without my permission, even though it appears I inadvertently stole it from "Dodger Thoughts."
You can't use that term without my permission, even though it appears I inadvertently stole it from "Dodger Thoughts."
Anyone know why Gomez is starting instead of Adams?
Excitied to see Swisher. He played Single A in Vancouver not too long ago and I remember a story about him in the local paper. The writer mentioned how much "character" Swisher had.
His walk totals were freakish in AAA.
He's got future MVP written all over him.
The A's recent first round pick catcher Landon Powell has really cranked it up in Vancouver after a slow start.
Man the A's farm system is stacked.
I wonder if the A's would trade Zito in the off-season to make room for Blanton who looks ready for the Bigs.
His walk totals were freakish in AAA.
He's got future MVP written all over him.
The A's recent first round pick catcher Landon Powell has really cranked it up in Vancouver after a slow start.
Man the A's farm system is stacked.
I wonder if the A's would trade Zito in the off-season to make room for Blanton who looks ready for the Bigs.
The final result wasn't so good, but that was an exciting play.
http://us.rd.yahoo.com/mymod/hdln/mlb/sty/*http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-athletics-swisher&prov=ap&type=lgns
I was supposed to go to this game tonight, but packing for school really sucks. Hopefully it turns out to be a boring win for the good guys.
COMN for a story about Swisher already getting $1100 in fines before his first game in the bigs even happened :)
I was supposed to go to this game tonight, but packing for school really sucks. Hopefully it turns out to be a boring win for the good guys.
COMN for a story about Swisher already getting $1100 in fines before his first game in the bigs even happened :)
Anyone know why Gomez is starting instead of Adams?
Gomez is 8/19 lifetime against Hudson
Gomez is 8/19 lifetime against Hudson
Anyone else not mind seeing Toronto get swept here at all. I am always just wishing for at least one of the redsox and yankees not to make the playoffs....so beating oakland could possibly hurt that!
I wonder if the A's would trade Zito in the off-season to make room for Blanton
There are rumours to that effect. Check out the Advance Scout.
There are rumours to that effect. Check out the Advance Scout.
Wow. I'm really surprised Tim Hudson only has 75 strike outs this year. I thought with his ERA and stuff, that it (K's) would be at a lot higher.
Lilly looks shakey.
Lilly looks shakey.
http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=ap-athletics-swisher&prov=ap&type=lgns
COMN
Hahahaha, that's awesome.
COMN
A's rookie gets razzed before major league debut
September 3, 2004
TORONTO (AP) --
Veteran Mark McLemore forced Swisher to wear a taped helmet with the word 'rookie' on the front of it while he took batting practice.
Swisher was also repeatedly fined by his teammates, including a $100 fine for getting into the lineup in his first day in the majors. He was also fined a $100 for getting called up just because he works the count.
McLemore says he'll keep razzing him.
``He got $1,100 in fines before he even made it to the park,'' McLemore said. ``I've got nothing to do today, so he'll probably end up with $2,500 worth.''
Hahahaha, that's awesome.
I think Mr. Swisher just earned himself another couple of hundred dollar fines.
Give the kid a break. He only made, like, $1600 today.
I just figured he was in trouble when Mark McLemore ended up with the ball from his first hit. That'll cost him $100, easily.
Boy, this place is quiet tonight.
Russ Adams is going to pinch hit...
Russ Adams is going to pinch hit...
Beauty, a line drive the other way for Adams in his first major league AB.
Reed grounds out to end the game, however...why didn't Crozier PH for him? :(
Reed grounds out to end the game, however...why didn't Crozier PH for him? :(
26 posts? Where is everybody?
I was expecting Crozier there as well, Ryan.
I was expecting Crozier there as well, Ryan.
Pretty good game except for the ninth innning in which the Jays defense just imploded. Lilly wasn't as sharp as he's been in the past, and that's now 2 poor starts in a row... I wonder if he's starting to wear down a bit.
Other than that, a well played game by Toronto, it's just obvious they aren't the same kind of team that Oakland is. They are close though.
Other than that, a well played game by Toronto, it's just obvious they aren't the same kind of team that Oakland is. They are close though.
But seriously, is this the fewest posts in a game thread ever?
Way to go Adams. Great to see him get off to a solid start with a hard-hit ground single.
Just to mention, there's a fine new Jays blog out there, Blue Jay Banter, at
http://www.bluejaybanter.blogspot.com/
Enjoy.
Just to mention, there's a fine new Jays blog out there, Blue Jay Banter, at
http://www.bluejaybanter.blogspot.com/
Enjoy.
Did anyone listen to Wilner's postgame? I forgot to tune in; was there anything noteworthy?
gotta fear that yankee mystique now Kevin Brown losing a fight with a wall, ah 200 million will buy lots of things, but you still cant knock a wall down.
I was dissapointed that the Jays lost the game, but I walked out of the dome happy, because I unexpectedly saw the major league debuts of Nick Swisher (I had no idea that he'd even been called up, I remember reading somewhere that he'd probably wait till next year), and Russ Adams. Hopefully when I go on Sunday I'll get to see
another new call-up for the Jays, like Quiroz or Crozier.
Sportsnet's website reports that one of Swisher's fines was for "having sideburns like Brady Anderson two years after they were fashionable". Also of note is that Michael Lewis was at the game.
another new call-up for the Jays, like Quiroz or Crozier.
Sportsnet's website reports that one of Swisher's fines was for "having sideburns like Brady Anderson two years after they were fashionable". Also of note is that Michael Lewis was at the game.
Nice to see Chacin got win number 16 tonight. K's 6 in 5 innings and only let up one run. Hattig also grew into his man strength and hit a dinger.
If Crozier pinch-hit for Sparky, then who would play OF if the Jays mounted a comeback to tie the game? I thought they should have pinch hit for Gross, since he was DHing (I assumed he was DHing so that he could be pulled for a call-up)
What do I know?
Good to see Adams at the game, with his first major league hit, same with Swisher, who's got the eyes of an eagle, it looks like.
If a sweep of the Jays means that NYY or BOS won't both make it to the playoffs, I'm all for it, but isn't Oakland at the top of the AL West? Which means we want Texas and Anaheim to do well.... or am I out of date?
What do I know?
Good to see Adams at the game, with his first major league hit, same with Swisher, who's got the eyes of an eagle, it looks like.
If a sweep of the Jays means that NYY or BOS won't both make it to the playoffs, I'm all for it, but isn't Oakland at the top of the AL West? Which means we want Texas and Anaheim to do well.... or am I out of date?
Russ Adams = Mark Loretta
What the hell, I'm in a positive mood today. It's the long weekend, kid got his first major league hit.
What the hell, I'm in a positive mood today. It's the long weekend, kid got his first major league hit.
If Crozier pinch-hit for Sparky, then who would play OF if the Jays mounted a comeback to tie the game?
Crozier. He played OF this year in AAA.
Crozier. He played OF this year in AAA.
I was at the game tonight. With Hudson on the mound I had no expectations of a Jays win but the Jays put up a hell of a fight for 8 innings. Not sure what happened in the ninth but no-one seemed to want to catch a ball. Reed Johnson's play looked especially ugly since the two infield plays had degrees of difficulty beyond just run forward and catch the ball.
Bobby Kielty just destroyed the Jays. His game deciding homerun was a no doubter from the crack of the bat and I doubt he's hit too many balls that hard this year or last. Give him a lefty prone to giving up longballs and he'll hurt you.
It was exciting in the ninth to see Adams on deck in the ninth and as I quickly did the math (as only I can do) I realized he was guaranteed a plate appearance. He took the first pitch low but the second fastball he put a solid swing on and hit a low liner on the button to left field. Very hard hit and it was easy to see how he had 37 doubles in about 120 games in Syracuse.
I didn't think of it at the time but it would have made all the sense in the world for Crozier to pinch hit for Johnson there. I like Johnson and he even had a couple of hits I think but I don't want him in there against a tough righty when I need baserunners. Crozier has also played a bit of left field so if he had to he could have appeared there in extras. If you're going to get Adams into the game at that point then why not the other guy?
Bobby Kielty just destroyed the Jays. His game deciding homerun was a no doubter from the crack of the bat and I doubt he's hit too many balls that hard this year or last. Give him a lefty prone to giving up longballs and he'll hurt you.
It was exciting in the ninth to see Adams on deck in the ninth and as I quickly did the math (as only I can do) I realized he was guaranteed a plate appearance. He took the first pitch low but the second fastball he put a solid swing on and hit a low liner on the button to left field. Very hard hit and it was easy to see how he had 37 doubles in about 120 games in Syracuse.
I didn't think of it at the time but it would have made all the sense in the world for Crozier to pinch hit for Johnson there. I like Johnson and he even had a couple of hits I think but I don't want him in there against a tough righty when I need baserunners. Crozier has also played a bit of left field so if he had to he could have appeared there in extras. If you're going to get Adams into the game at that point then why not the other guy?
Oops, didn't know about Crozier in the OF, my mistake.... it must have been lack of sleep.... yes.... time to fix that.
Thanks for the heads-up Rob.
Thanks for the heads-up Rob.
Took in my first Jays game tonight; it sure was a great time, although the drive from Ottawa is a little more than bearable when the bus leaves at midnight...
I don't know if it's been mentioned, but I'll ask. At tonight's game they were taking orders for a 'official 2005' Jays hat that was the same 'J' logo, but on a navy blue.
And then after the third an ad for MLB Baseball 2005 came out, and they were showing clips of the Jays playing in the game, and they were wearing blue helmets, and the piping and uniform lettering was in the navy blue again. Are they changing the colours of the uniform again next year or what?
I don't know if it's been mentioned, but I'll ask. At tonight's game they were taking orders for a 'official 2005' Jays hat that was the same 'J' logo, but on a navy blue.
And then after the third an ad for MLB Baseball 2005 came out, and they were showing clips of the Jays playing in the game, and they were wearing blue helmets, and the piping and uniform lettering was in the navy blue again. Are they changing the colours of the uniform again next year or what?
I predict that they *will* change their uniforms, to try to separate themselves (and the fans) from this terrible season.
I wouldn't mind a mild change. Maybe they'll replace the black jerseys or something. But you shouldn't go by MLB 2005's ads. The game came out in April of this year, and that's just a mistake made by the makers of the game. IIRC, in the ad Orlando Hudson is wearing #3, not #1.
Come to think of it, I really hope that the Blue Jays change their hats. Last year, as the Blue Jays announced the new uniforms, they sent me a free hat, because I'd bought a 5 game flex-pack for the previous season.
Come to think of it, I really hope that the Blue Jays change their hats. Last year, as the Blue Jays announced the new uniforms, they sent me a free hat, because I'd bought a 5 game flex-pack for the previous season.