Disappointed that it's not Drew Hutchison starting tonight for Lansing

Hutchison started on tuesday night when the Lugnuts played their traditional cross-town showdown against Michigan State University.

Yes, Hutchinson threw in teh exhibition against Michigan State on Tuesday and took the loss.  He looked okay, but he really struggled with his command.  It appeared to me that he was having a lot of trouble gripping the ball in the first two inning as he went to the rosin bag after almost every pich.

Hutchinson is going to start on Sunday.

Thank you, I will withhold my disappointment. Could the weather have factored into his command and grip issues?

Eric Eiland was released by the Jays.

Sam,

I think it was a mixture of weather and nerves.  It wasn't terribly cold as the temp was in the upper 40's / low 50's, but when you come from throwing in weather in the 80's it could have played a roll into it.

Thanks Marc.  That sure explains it.

David Cooper has re-appeared on the Las Vegas roster within the past 10 minutes.  Which makes sense since he was randomly listed in limbo.

Confirmation of releases:

Jays release: RHP Vince Bongiovanni, RHP Ross Buckwalter, RHP David Sever, LHP Ryan Page, C Karim Turkamani, OF Leonard Davis, OF Eric Eiland, OF Joey Hage

Also released by various other teams were these former Jays:  Shawn Hill; Bubbie Buzachero; Zach Dials; and Ty Taubenheim.

Not too surprising... Buckwalter is probably the only one I would've kept, but I can understand he was 26 and not even at AA.

Here's John Lott's article on Stewart. http://sports.nationalpost.com/2011/04/07/stewart-might-skip-triple-a-jays-gm-says/

I find Lott to be the most informative and active of the beat writers. I check his twitter acct before any others for Jays news.

I guess the Lansing Lugnuts game was postponed due to unplayable field conditions. Kind of weird.

Brandon Morrow has given up eight hits in three innings in Dunedin.  Six of the hits were ground balls.  Frank Francisco followed and he gave up a home run.

Deck McGuire now in the game.

Zach Stewart allowed four runs in the AA game including some fly balls and line drives.  He may have been over jacked for opening day which caused him to pitch up in the zone, a la Jo-Jo.

Lansing was postponed because they said that the infield decided to thaw about three this afternon.  The engineer in me doesn't buy that totally and I think they may have had a problem with either a broken sprinkler head or a broken water line, but the infield was very, very soupy.  The mound, home plate and the baselines looked okay.  Between short and half way between first and second looked to be in the worst shape.  It's the first thaw out I have ever heard of.

Not that we need pitching but if Hill doesn't get a better offer, i wouldn't mind seeing him back with Vegas just in case. I have more faith in him than in Perez, to say nothing of MacDonald.

Just a minor note, the former Jays Aaron Matthews is now a Florida AAA player.

Not that we need pitching but if Hill doesn't get a better offer, i wouldn't mind seeing him back with Vegas just in case. I have more faith in him than in Perez, to say nothing of MacDonald.

Not that I have a nostalgia on former Jays and Canadian players, but Hill, Taubenheim and RHP Ryan Braun can be signed to the minor leagues. Luis Perez and Randy Boone are then sent to AA, just as the choice of keeping Stewart in AAA. LaMura and Collazo could be released.

Ok, I'll bite. Is this an allusion to 'Way over yonder in a minor key'? I'm going to Tanglewood this summer and the reference connected.

Nice article on Tiny Tim at  http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news?slug=jp-passan_tim_collins_royals_040711   

The title was not clever in any way.  Opening day, minor leagues, opening day in the minor leagues, too obvious, opening day in a minor key, bingo!

I listened to part of the NH game and learned two things.

1) That the broadcasters talked about the Boston Red Sox more than they talked about either the Fisher Cats or the Blue Jays
2) That in New Hampshire there is a hot line you can call to report underage drinking, whether actual or anticipated.

what the heck happened to Roenicke and Cordero in the 8th? Wow.

Only big positive in the whole minor league slate today was Deck McGuire's 4 iniings. Though, in fairness, Mills' 7 IP with 2 runs, 7K, 0 BB was very good. Would be nice to see him take a step forward in 2011, get himself a real chance to play somewhere. Here, there are too many high ceiling guys banging on the door.

Speaking of a chance to play somewhere, Shawn Hill deserves to be playing baseball, with a shot at a Major League job. I hope he finds it, and if not, I hope we pull the trigger and put him at AAA. Youneverknow....

Biggest downers today have to be Roenicke and Cordero, for their combined 9 run inning with 5 walks. I'm wondering if Roenicke is a lost cause, I really am. I hope Cordero isn't, I really do. Long season to go, for both...

Lowrie's line last night. 1 single in 4 at bats. 1 fielding error.

Roenicke's line last night is one for the ages.

0 IP, 0 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 3 BB, 0 K

There was only one error in the inning, so I'm not sure how he was responsible for five runs.

Ah yes, the HBP.  9 runs without securing an out.

Fresno Bottom of the 8th

• Pitcher Change: Josh Roenicke replaces Brad Mills.
• Emmanuel Burriss hit by pitch.
• With Conor Gillaspie batting, Emmanuel Burriss steals (2) 2nd base.
• Conor Gillaspie walks.
• Brett Pill reaches on force attempt, fielding error by third baseman Brett Lawrie. Emmanuel Burriss to 3rd. Conor Gillaspie to 2nd.
• Ryan Rohlinger walks. Emmanuel Burriss scores. Conor Gillaspie to 3rd. Brett Pill to 2nd.
• Terry Evans walks. Conor Gillaspie scores. Brett Pill to 3rd. Ryan Rohlinger to 2nd.
• Pitcher Change: Chad Cordero replaces Josh Roenicke.
• Thomas Neal walks. Brett Pill scores. Ryan Rohlinger to 3rd. Terry Evans to 2nd.
• Chris Stewart singles on a line drive to center fielder Darin Mastroianni. Ryan Rohlinger scores. Terry Evans to 3rd. Thomas Neal to 2nd.
• Tyler Graham walks. Terry Evans scores. Thomas Neal to 3rd. Chris Stewart to 2nd.
• Darren Ford hits a grand slam (1) to left field. Thomas Neal scores. Chris Stewart scores. Tyler Graham scores.
• Emmanuel Burriss grounds out, second baseman Manny Mayorson to first baseman David Cooper.
• Conor Gillaspie grounds out to first baseman David Cooper.
• Brett Pill flies out to left fielder Eric Thames.