How bad were the Jays going into last night's game? Well, someone on the Royals -- the Royals -- said they expect to win. If I may steal a line from Deadspin (and speak on behalf of Jays fans everywhere):
Suddenly, we can taste food again.
Star of the Game: Shea Hillenbrand for his seventh-inning homer. Must feel good to get your first homer in almost a month, especially after getting nailed earlier in the game.
Unsung Heros: Russ Adams is one. He tripled home the seventh run, running "as if he was being chased by a hungry bear" (thanks, gv27). (Adams is actually quite fast, and I bet not everyone knows that he stole bases at an 83% success rate in college and 84% in the minors. If there's anyone on the team who should run, it's him.) Aaron Hill as well, despite his error -- you don't see four two-out hits every night.
Defensive Misplay of the Game: It has to be the time that nobody covered second base on a steal attempt by Hill. It wasn't really Buck's fault (shouldn't Angel Berroa be covering there?) but I see why he got the error. They need to invent a "team error" or some way to record those types of mistakes. While we're at it, the catchable pop fly that drops between two fielders is not a hit, please and thank you.
For the Blue Jays, it's Marty Pevey missing the foul ball in the seventh.
Squiggy Would Be Proud: Reggie Sanders, one of the few members of the 300-300 club, went down with an injury in last night's game after crashing into the right field wall, which was unfortunate. Not as unfortunate as his middle name, mind you. Surely there's a better choice than that.
Not a Surprise: Pete Walker's poor outing on Friday (during which he did not allow an earned run; don't believe relievers' ERAs) was followed by another DL trip. How many times has he "sucked it up" now for the Blue Jays, and how often did that work out poorly for the team?
Tabler Won't Join Tiger: Pat Tabler says golf requires "too much concentration." This is a baseball player talking here. Not only that, a baseball player who was the DH 291 times and the left fielder 204 times over his career. Let me tell you, left field isn't exactly a staring contest. Focus is an afterthought.
No, Not a Carlos Marmol Update: Dave Bush started yesterday, and MLB.com's Probable Pitchers page contained the line: "He only has a 1-0 record with three no-decisions [in his last four starts], but the team has won three of four games when he has pitched." Bush pitching better than the flawed W-L record indicates? You're kidding me.
Through four innings, Bush had just as many hits himself as he allowed to the Cubs after doubling home the first run in the bottom of the second. He was a one-man team around 8:00 last night, striking out the side in the half-inning after his double. The fifth wasn't as nice, as he gave up four hits and two runs scored. In the end, Bush loses when his team didn't score for him as I feign surprise.
Final line: 7 IP, 2 R, 9 H, 8 K. 14.9 pitches per inning, 68% for strikes. But hey, go A.J. Burnett!
And Finally: Here are 1000 words for you. The scope of the graph is May 1 through July 7:
Suddenly, we can taste food again.
Star of the Game: Shea Hillenbrand for his seventh-inning homer. Must feel good to get your first homer in almost a month, especially after getting nailed earlier in the game.
Unsung Heros: Russ Adams is one. He tripled home the seventh run, running "as if he was being chased by a hungry bear" (thanks, gv27). (Adams is actually quite fast, and I bet not everyone knows that he stole bases at an 83% success rate in college and 84% in the minors. If there's anyone on the team who should run, it's him.) Aaron Hill as well, despite his error -- you don't see four two-out hits every night.
Defensive Misplay of the Game: It has to be the time that nobody covered second base on a steal attempt by Hill. It wasn't really Buck's fault (shouldn't Angel Berroa be covering there?) but I see why he got the error. They need to invent a "team error" or some way to record those types of mistakes. While we're at it, the catchable pop fly that drops between two fielders is not a hit, please and thank you.
For the Blue Jays, it's Marty Pevey missing the foul ball in the seventh.
Squiggy Would Be Proud: Reggie Sanders, one of the few members of the 300-300 club, went down with an injury in last night's game after crashing into the right field wall, which was unfortunate. Not as unfortunate as his middle name, mind you. Surely there's a better choice than that.
Not a Surprise: Pete Walker's poor outing on Friday (during which he did not allow an earned run; don't believe relievers' ERAs) was followed by another DL trip. How many times has he "sucked it up" now for the Blue Jays, and how often did that work out poorly for the team?
Tabler Won't Join Tiger: Pat Tabler says golf requires "too much concentration." This is a baseball player talking here. Not only that, a baseball player who was the DH 291 times and the left fielder 204 times over his career. Let me tell you, left field isn't exactly a staring contest. Focus is an afterthought.
No, Not a Carlos Marmol Update: Dave Bush started yesterday, and MLB.com's Probable Pitchers page contained the line: "He only has a 1-0 record with three no-decisions [in his last four starts], but the team has won three of four games when he has pitched." Bush pitching better than the flawed W-L record indicates? You're kidding me.
Through four innings, Bush had just as many hits himself as he allowed to the Cubs after doubling home the first run in the bottom of the second. He was a one-man team around 8:00 last night, striking out the side in the half-inning after his double. The fifth wasn't as nice, as he gave up four hits and two runs scored. In the end, Bush loses when his team didn't score for him as I feign surprise.
Final line: 7 IP, 2 R, 9 H, 8 K. 14.9 pitches per inning, 68% for strikes. But hey, go A.J. Burnett!
And Finally: Here are 1000 words for you. The scope of the graph is May 1 through July 7:
