M. Scutaro rf
D. Eckstein 2b
A. Rios cf
V. Wells dh
A. Lind lf
R. Barajas c
L. Overbay 1b
S. Rolen 3b
J. McDonald ss

Eckstein at second?  weird.

Late lineup change, Rolen scratched. Brad Medicine hits 8th and plays RF. Scutaro moves to 3b.

Fun with Numbers. Kevin  the Uber-Mench is outhitting Brad Medicine, .233 to .225. But Brad has a better BAVG against both RHP and LHP.

I have this feeling that as long as Jay's Connected calls Wells "the franchise" he doesn't actually have to do anything for this team but collect a pay cheque. (Worst contract ever)

While this game still has a ways to play. It really sums up the Blue Jays in that they can sweep Oakland and then turn around and be swept by the last place Indians. When does Halladay throw up a white flag and asked to be moved.

(Worst contract ever)

Don't be silly.

Hey, this Cliff Lee is pretty good.

Hey, this Cliff Lee is pretty good.

I'm very hesitant to praise the opposing pitcher when he faces a lineup with Scutaro, Eckstein, Wilkerson, and McDonald (and Overbay is just as useless against a LHP). He looked entirely hittable to me today, the Jays unfortunately are just not a very good hitting team.

Alex Rios looks awful in CF. I for one can't wait to see Vernon back out there, despite what RZR thinks.

(Worst contract ever)

I hope you mean "worst JAYS contract ever"

Alex Rios looks awful in CF.

I don't know if he could have actually reached any of the balls that fell in front of him, but it looked like someone had to get his attention and tell him there was a baseball headed his way. Yikes.

He looked entirely hittable to me today

Well, appearances are deceptive. Although 8 hits against Lee is actually  pretty good.

Well doesn't really matter where it ranks in the awful contracts department, but for an average payroll team like the Jays its going to cripple them for years to come.

The Jays sure got a boost from his presence in the lineup today. Rios gets a couple of hits until some guys get on base. Then he hits into a double play. ARRRGH!

By the standard above, Vernon always looks awful in CF.  He is the poorest regular centerfielder in the league on the ball in front of him. He is, of course, much better going side to side and back.  Still, Rios is a much better defensive centerfielder at this point of their respective careers.

I am sure somebody said something at the time, but Overbay being thrown out at second (by a good margin) down 4-2 with 2 outs in the ninth yesterday was utterly inexcusable.  Francisco did make a good play playing the carom off the wall perfectly and throwing a strike to second, but the situation dictated continuing on to second only if the runner was certain that he would not be thrown out.  The crew on RSN said nothing about it, but I can't imagine that Alan Ashby was silent on the radio broadcast.  Overbay seemed to me to be running in quicksand, but perhaps that was a mirage...

Mench's trip to Syracuse was a short one. He might not have even got on the airplane. Rolen's been placed on the DL and Mench is taking his spot on the roster.

but I can't imagine that Alan Ashby was silent on the radio broadcast

I am not sure about Ashby's reaction, but here in Cleveland the radio announcer was rather emphatic calling it a boneheaded baserunning mistake.

Overbay's gaffe Saturday was a brain fart of Riosian proportions. Any grumbling anywhere about Gaston not pinch-hitting for McDonald in the 8th inning, down 4-2? I've not heard any. Gaston may be a highly competent manager of men, but his in-game tactics often leave me puzzled.

And today's mess? Yuck. Several hours of my life spent in a car to witness it first hand. Many, many dollars spent on tickets. And for pure, unadulterated dreck. I feel ashamed having recently mocked those who would elect to pay to watch a team that bats Russ Adams clean-up. Much better value for the dollar than the product at Rogers Centre these days.