Holy shit, it’s PJ Walters! The right-hander who was briefly a Jay after he came over as a bit of chaff in the Colby Rasmus deal!
After being demoted mid-season, after one clean inning of relief work for the Jays, he went 1-3 with an 8.38 ERA in seven starts for Las Vegas. He then elected free agency this winter, and signed a minor league deal with the Twins, who… it says here… are actually starting him in today’s game!
Holy shit!
But… I don’t know, he can’t be much worse than Kyle Drabek looked yesterday, amiright? HEYO!
Though, to his credit, Drabek managed to mitigate the damage for a while– though it took him about a billion pitches to do so, and I’m not sure if on any single one of those he had any clue where that ball was going to end up from the moment it left his hand. I don’t think we’re quite sliding back into 2011 territory for Drabek, but… he’s got to get it the fuck together.
Ahhh, but why dwell? Today’s another day, there’s another game, and the Twins are still bad. Unlike last night, I sense good things… of course, that’s not exactly Nostra-fucking-damus shit when your opponent has PJ Walters on the hill and Darin “Pat” Mastroianni isn’t even their ninth hitter.
Scuttlebutt
I dunno… just a couple of things from Buster Olney via MLB Trade Rumors, which are that the Jays don’t have a master plan for Vlad Guerrero, and that it was almost certainly the Phillies, and not other teams, who put out feelers last week about the availability of Cole Hamels and Shane Victorino– to whom the Jays were linked.
TV: Sportsnet
And now the lineups, by way of the live box score at theScore.com. And for those of you who’ll be out and about, be sure to follow all the action on your phone with Score Mobile…
Toronto Blue Jays
K. Johnson 2B
Y. Escobar SS
J. Bautista RF
E. Encarnacion DH
E. Thames LF
B. Lawrie 3B
C. Rasmus CF
A. Lind 1B
J. Mathis C
D. Hutchison RHP
Minnesota Twins
D. Span CF
B. Dozier SS
J. Mauer C
J. Willingham LF
R. Doumit DH
T. Plouffe 3B
C. Parmelee 1B
D. Mastroianni RF
J. Carroll 2B
P. Walters RHP
Image via Brad White/Getty.
Yes this game is needed, losing 2 in a row to Minnesota would be embarrassing.
Trevor Poufffffffff
More negativity by the “fans” here
Oh sorry, mcclimax…i will restate it
Losing to Minnesota would be fine, it would show real character. Even 2 losses in a row would be ok, because it would be “character building”
see, i am a positive jays fan, just like you
No dude I am just saying show a little faith, the club is playing well lately
Jesus the attitude in this city towards its sports teams is pure rot
And what i am saying is losing 2 games in a row to a team playing .267 would not be a good sign and would raise serious doubts as to the jays ability to compete this year. ( i know there is debate if they will compete or not)
So what? They took 2 of 3 from the best team in baseball about 10 days ago
If I remember right we lost a series to the dogshit Houston Astros last year
What does one shitty game against the Twins really mean?
well all is good, they won.
mute point
3/4 in the series would be nice. haha.
It’s a bit silly to take the comments of a few mouth breathers on a forum and extrapolate from that the attitude of an entire city
so now buck cant count to four
Yep. Should send that into buckblunders
there’s such a thing?
found the site and submitted
I’m starting to believe in Perez.
Perez is most effective when he goes fastball and then breaking ball/change.
when he went on his little slump, he started falling in love with the junk
Well that’s two no-doubter innings from the pen. Buck says it was a “good job” so who could disagree?
Casey Jansen isn’t a bulldog, he can’t be our closer…he’s not established (*barf*)
He’s mustard.
That’s a good looking hit from Bautista. I’ll take it.
One of the most confident swings of his season
Jays approach to hitting today
-take meatballs down the middle till you have two strikes.
-swing at ball way off the plate to ensure strikeout
Classic methodology.
Who would have believed before the game started that it would be 2-1 in the 9th?
Here’s a fun fact. If my calculations are correct, four times this season the Jays have taken a one run lead into the ninth. They’ve failed to hold that lead all four times.
that defies all odds. the odds for that happening must be about 0.2 x 0.2 x 0.2 x 0.2
Yeah, they finally break the streak today, but that’s what was going on. So frustrating.
You must be tons of fun at parties.
You wanna invite me to one? I got plenty more like that.
No no, that was quite enough! I too am glad they broke the streak today.
Buck comments on how the Twins have had a problem remembering how many outs there are and then promptly forgets what inning it is and throws to the Sportsnet desk for an update that always occurs at the end of the 8th.
Buck is becoming the liquor like Jim Lahey.
I like the Janssen “hop” after each pitch
Joey Jeremiah, no batter
I am standing and clapping now with 2 outs, SHUT ER DOWN CASEY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Makes it look easy.
And all of a sudden, not to concerned about Santos
There is nothing wrong with having an embarrassment of riches. Hurry back, SS.
wow, another clean ninth inning.
after janssen gets a save, i think it appropriate that we shout “shake and bake”
Casey Janssen, folks.
Casey’s the man. Or something like that.
http://mopupduty.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/caseyjanssen.jpg
I’m starting to think you’re a little twisted Karen, but in a goodish way. Cheers.
The Mighty Casey
Hutch good. Janssen OK. Bautista definitely coming out of it and starting to sock homahs. Feels good.
I’ll feel more confident if he can hit like this away from Target.
Hutch OK. Janssen good.
Casey’s “don’t waste time”, “throw some damn strikes”. “and no look like a fat-ass” routine on the mound seem to be working the last two saves.
Is that like Zahn’s 3 ways to win?
Can’t believe how many were predicting a loss 90 minutes ago. Nattering nabobs of negativism.
I dont think it was people were predicting a loss, they were probably worried about a loss. big difference.
because there clearly was no data this year that would lead one to believe, even for a minute, that a one run lead in the 9th inning would be anything but safe .
Francisco Corder was pitching in a one run game. Totally justified.
I’m always pleased to meet another Spiro Agnew fan. Cheers, Randy.
It was mostly Ginger Campbell who was sure it was over:
Not sure I’m ready to blame this soon-to-be loss on the pitcher who gave up 1 run through 4 (so far). Maybe hitters 1-9 need some more minor league seasoning.
Bautista up to a 106 wRC+, he’s better than league-average again!
WOO HOO!
Jays were lucky to win this one. Against any other team they probably would have lost this game. A couple of things that piss me off and /or concern me:
1) Can escobar hit a fucking ball in the air for once? Hes a groundball machine and a rally killer also.
2) Johnson strikes out WAY too much for leadoff i think. On a good team hes more of a #9 hitter.
3) Thames cant tell the difference between the strike zone and the lake ontario. Ive seen enough of him and lind already.
So many questions, so few answers.
1) yes, troubling. He’s at his best driving the ball with some power. I wonder if “being the lead-off guy” got in his head.
2) He has, I think, the highest OBP on the team. Hits for enough power, gets on base. Perfect lead-off guy.
3) Thames is terrible on both sides of the ball.
Not to interject to much negativity,
but does it feel like the Blue Jays record has been smoke and mirrors this year.
I mean, high average with RISP, lots of double plays by the opposing team.
I shudder to think what will happen in the remainder of May when they play the Yanks, Rays, and Rangers
Very good point. The Jays are very lucky the record they have. It’s weird though because the Jays used to have a better avg but low RISP. Now it’s the reverse. Farrell has to understand that you can’t allow Francisco Cordero to pitch in close games.
they could be 20-12 as they should be with a little different luck — and asshelmets here would still find a way to rip them
Mcclimax, man settle down, we are all fans here, some fans want to win more than others. When the Jays lose sure i get pissed off, that game the other night sucked.
Their record is decent but its the fundamentals people are voicing concern about, as in they hope the record can last but cant see how thats possible unless a couple things start improving.
16 walks in 2 games vs twinkies. can’t wait to see what happens when they actually face a patient team like the yanks
as I was saying
the Yankees have a mess of problems, they are ripe for the taking
I mean good God we have a likeable team for once with likeable dudes and likeable young star talent (and more on the way), and all people do is tear them down
Would you rather have Jayson Nix playing third and JoJo pitching every fifth day
no doubt a likeable team, they are a great bunch of guys and exciting to watch, but i still think its acceptable to rag on Thames.
If you get so worked up about people commenting negatively on the Jays I would suggest that you are probably in the wrong place
any of you dusters know of good batting cages in the GTA? i’m hitting up this place in burlington. the awesome thing about this hole is, the cages are at the back of the bar. 50/75 mph synthetic hardballs, and a slo-pitch cage. nothing better than cracking cold dusters and swinging ash. that said, it would be nice to know of some other places.
It’s been awhile since I’ve been there but Pickering Playing Fields on Bayly.The very fast cage is quite a challenge.
There’s a few baseball academy’s who have complete facillites for teams.
One Is run by the Butler brothers another by Nigel Wilson.
Contact either Team O or the OBJ’s and they should put you in touch with the best cages available and locations.
Not sure if the Frozen Rope program is still running but you could check it out for info.
Also contact Burlington minor Baseball Assn.they’ll give you a list for local batting cages.
Please stay on the topic of baseball or take a hike
I’m sorry,please forgive me.It’ll never happen again.
Can I send you $20,to make up for it?
Maybe we could get together for some hot cocoa and talk about the good old days.
Thanks man…
Casey Janssen’s Track: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1i543VU25s
The Blue Jays have to be disappointed. They’re coming out of their easy April/May schedule against teams like the Twins, A’s, Royals, Angels – and they’re in fourth place. Now they get to face TB, NY, TB, Tex and Baltimore.
Any doubt about who’s in last pace by the end of the month?
Remember when the Jays were 27-14 and leading the league? I think Baltimore’s in for that kind of fall.
The fact that the Jays are several games over five hundred with Bautista wandering in the desert is pretty nice. After all:
- Our bullpen has already given up an ungodly number of blown saves for losses, but the starters are picking up the slack by not allowing the bullpen into games
- Bautista is showing signs of coming around
- VLADDY!
Everyone looks good, when they’re winning. I think the Jays’ usual July collapse may not occur until late August this year.
They will get Santos back and Bautista will get back to normal so its a wash.
4-0 against KC, probably 3-1 against Minnesota, 1-1 Oakland, so against these weak teams you mention they will be 8-2 after today, you cannot critisize for an 8-2 record even against weak teams.
Sadly, Angels are not a weak team. If they win against Twins and finish series 3-1, they would have an 10-4 record against the 4 teams you named. Not too shabby at all
Wow.
They’re three games back. It’s May. Baltimore will collapse. Bautista will hit better.
If you can’t look at the rosters and see the difference between NYY, TB, TBJ, and BOS on one side, and Baltimore on the other, you should probably take up watching hockey.
Another fake post by you, but I agree that with a weak schedule , we should have done better. We cannot afford to play fire with the bullpen by having Coco Cordero anywhere near the mound without a 4 run lead. He nearly blew the game yesterday against the weakest team in baseball.
Ugh. Seriously? Comments like that make me understand why Wilner is so snarky to over the top negative callers.
If they win today, 20-15 is a great start. The team looks like it has a legit shot to make a run at a WC to me.
What would have made you happy? 25-10?
I mean seriously, if they win today that 7/8 against the Royals and Twins. What is there to complain about here?
I don’t think they’re possibly dumb enough to look at it through the negative twat glasses you constantly wear, or to actually look at the standings and give a shit at this point of the season, or to actually think that worst-team-in-the-division-by-far Baltimore isn’t the no-doubt last place team you’re laughably suggesting the Jays will be.
Funny, though, how Baltimore is included in both the “soft” and the “hard” portion of the schedule the way you see it– Texas too! And Tampa! And the Jays played Boston in April/May as well. It wasn’t the cakewalk your intellectually dishonest pisspants comment makes it sound.
Stoeten and Parkes have come a long way since Stoeten was spending his meager pay cheque on Parkes’ lap dances at Remington’s. Now Parkes is pulling in an easy $11k with his gig at The Score, and Stoeten almost half that much for writing childish insults like “twat” and “pisspants” on his blog. With the money he mooches off his parents and with stealing his roommates’ food from the frig, he makes by.
The next three series are very important as its against three good to very good teams, and the jays also need to improve their so-so home record .
If they win this afternoon, they’re 20-15. If they go 10-10 over their next 20 against mostly strong opponents, they’re still 30-25, pretty much on pace to be a very good 87-92 win team.
That’s a good assessment. This will be a very interesting week facing the rays & yankees. I will go see them play the mets next saturday.
I believe Baltimore will win the division. They just seem like they have the talent.
Baltimore wont win. They dont smoke enough weed like me and the boys .