Oh, hello. Apologies for the lack of rumour-mongering today, but it’s kinda been a slow day anyway, and I’ve kind not felt great. But… hey! Now we’ve got some west coast baseball!
It’s the last game before tomorrow’s non-waiver trade deadline, and it’s Ricky Romero’s latest chance to try and right himself, after there was talk of demotion following last week’s disasterpiece for the two-time Opening Day starter and nominal ace. You couldn’t pick a better location than Safeco or a better opponent than these Mariners for him to try and get back on track against.
Of course, if it all goes badly off the rails…
Scuttlebutt
Adam Lind is out of the lineup again tonight, which makes total sense when you realize that he was placed on the DL, and David Cooper has been called up to replace him. So… there’s that.
Tonight marks the start of a ten game road trip for the Jays, which takes them to Seattle, Oakland then Tampa. Then they get the Yankees, White Sox and Rangers when they return home. Better get some wins in early– besides, the fine contingent of BC Jays fans who are making the trip to Seattle for this series deserve it.
A little bit of rumour-ness, as Dan Connolly of the Baltimore Sun includes the Jays among teams who’ve been interested in the Phillies’ Joe Blanton… for some reason. The Orioles are thought to be the frontrunners, for whatever that’s worth.
Shi Davidi of Sportsnet talks to Yunel Escobar, who is confused about why he’s being labelled as a clubhouse problem. Davidi wonders if other teams are trying to lower his value, while I, personally, blame Jeff Blair for all this.
Lastly, for your between-inning viewing pleasure, here’s today’s Parkes-hosted episode of Getting Blanked…
TV: Sportsnet One
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
R. Davis DH
C. Rasmus CF
B. Lawrie 3B
E. Encarnacion 1B
T. Snider LF
Y. Escobar SS
K. Johnson 2B
J. Mathis C
A. Gose RF
R. Romero LHP
Seattle Mariners
D. Ackley 2B
M. Saunders CF
J. Montero C
J. Jaso DH
K. Seager 3B
C. Wells LF
M. Carp 1B
C. Peguero RF
B. Ryan SS
H. Iwakuma RHP
Image via Brad White/Getty.
This is the night EE breaks .300. CALLING IT.
This is the night Ricky Romero breaks my heart (again).
You’ve had plenty of time to fortify yourself.
Snidey discussing meats in the pre-game show – priceless.
who needs a backup OF? Not the Jays, I guess.
According to Tabby, all Rickey has to do is get ahead, stay ahead, and finish them off. Easy.
that didn’t work
Jays fans in Seattle are awesome, but man, if I were a Mariner fan I’d hate ‘em.
Nice start, Rajai!
How is that possible? HOW THE FUCK DID THAT JUST HAPPEN?
Attaboy! accentuate the positive as per usual.
Colby looking terrible.
I’d feel more confident if Villanueva or Laffey was on the mound _ never thought I’d say those words!
anybody having issues with rogersondemand online? Jays feed won’t play for me..
I believe in you Ricky
I believe he won’t get through 2 innings.
Romero looks good tonight, countenance-wise. Methinks this is the bounce back game.
Agreed. Seems like there’s a bit more attitude there.
/intangibles
Doh.
This keeps the triple play in order
As Meatloaf said…
Holy shit.
We would have just had a line out. Fucking ump
no problem with Rogers on Demand here, that is what I am watching currently
LookoutLanding in full bitch mode about the number of Jays fans at the game (hating on Canada, “worse than Red Sox fans” comment, blah blah wahhh wahhhh)
http://www.lookoutlanding.com/2012/7/30/3205435/7-30-open-game-thread#comments
That was a SWEET little toe tap on second by Esco.
Fuck Seager killed the Jays last series
Thank God! 4 bases hits and only runs, could have been worse
Bases loaded with no out, I’ll take the two runs.
Jays making this guy look like the fucking Japanese Nolan Ryan.
Noran Ryan?
??Really?? I am not setting myself up as internet police or some moral high ground, but you can’t be proud of that – change your posting name and come back with better shit – all will be forgotten and you won’t get banned I’m sure
Sorry man, can’t edit my posts. Otherwise I would for sure. for realz.
I thought it was funny.
Very South Park lol
Me rikey a joke too!
Ricky fooling no-one. Lucky to get out of that with just 1 run, could have easily been 4+. Pathetic against one of the worst offensive teams in baseball. Just shut the guy down, he’s done at least for the year.
Whoops, 2 runs
It does appear that every team has figured out Rimero. Open assho…I mean book. I hope it isn’t the case.
Any chance we could trade him for Kevin Correia?
Safety squeeze? Really? It’s going to take like 18 runs to win tonight. Does Farrell completely not understand the game?
That was a swinging bunt. Yunel would have gone on his own.
That was indeed retarded.
Gose being here is simply fucking retarded.
Bah, Mathis hit that in the worst possible place. Behind Escobar, at the bag… Had no where to go.
Did the jays trade for soto, please no
Never mind the fucking rangers got soto the rich get richer i guess?
It’s Merman
Stick a fork in Romero.
Rickey has to strart pitching inside to lefties, send a calling card once in while.
Done and done.
And he got a K
Was that inside enough for ya? LOL
Jesus electrifying Christ.
I don’t think this current catastrophe we call Ricky Romero is a phase he’s going through. Ricky is just plain awful right now and this shows no signs of slowing. If I remember correctly, this all started back in May when the Jays were playing Texas at home on a Wednesday afternoon and Ricky was spotted a lead of something like 8-1 in the fourth inning and when he came out to pitch the 5th inning he was walking everybody and he hasn’t been right since. Ricky has NO confidence to throw any of his pitches for strikes. This isn’t a problem you resolve at the major league level, this is a problem you resolve at New Hampshire or Dunedin.
Say hello to the Jays’ version of Dontrelle.
It is anything but pretty.
Hmm…wasn’t that pretty much exactly how Brett broke his finger at the end of last season?
oh fuck, the Wild Pitch, Passed Ball, Infield Hit run (that is OPPORTUNISTIC/LUCKY offence) and Brendan Ryan’s Steve Zahn pornstache is outrageous
Pitch count? Has to be 30-40
Just hit the 40 mark…
Does Romero have to be put on waivers to be sent down?
Who cares at this point? He’s so fucking bad its unbelievable.
Romero for Cust.
But of we release / dfa him I fear a team with a good pitching coach (don Cooper) and will become a Cy young winner
Well we don’t have Don Cooper so I don’t see what the point is.
How this team of fucking hackers has scored as many runs as they have is astounding.
WE SCORE THE MOST FUCKING RUNS DUDE BEST OFFENSE IN THE WORLD WTF YOU HATER
1-2-3 inning for Rickey lets go!
Iwakuma just had one with nine pitches.
I’m sick and tired of this shitballing Rickey. So stop it – get the out
Wow dawg, very effective. Can I suggest yelling with caps lock like jesuscristo?
Damn it boy I want results – ARE YOU LISTENING??
It took Rickey 12 pitches. But it’s a definite improvement.
I think I prefer Ricky being bad tonight. At least that way there’s no question he needs to be sent down, and he needs to be sent down and fixed so he can come back here and dominate.
It’s too bad Mel Queen is dead.
Its about fucking time!!! Now get your ass in the dougout
Rickey getting some love from the umps. I’m cool with that.
Romero starting to show some signs of life. Gun says he’s throwing 95, is that possible?
Starting to think jesuscristo is brad fuller fan in disguise or as Ginger campbell
No rumors of the jays except for morneau hopefully a trade goes down tomorrow
Hey, I thought Texas landed Yu Darvish?
Hahahaha. Wish the Jays could have afforded this fucking ace for 1.5 million.
Iwakuma was a strike throwing machine but now he suddenly can’t find the plate.
Why would you make that comment with KJ up?
Yeah he threw enough strikes then. He is looking a little less sharp though.
ok KJ Double time
takes a meatball right down the middle for strike one.
fouls off, late, somehow..a hanging changeup-…then wiffs on a ball way up and out of the zone..great work johnson
Sounds like Mr Martinez could have used some Bucky Bailey’s Bully Buckers tm on that play
Looking like it’s going to be another one of those games where we just can’t hit shit pitching.
Gotta get back to .500 somehow
It’s a mystery to me where these teams find all these aces.
Because everyone looks like an ace against the Jays.
Ugh… Hopefully pitching help comes…. Oh wait we have j.a happ
Thought you guys would be interested in knowing that this deusche bag iwakuma has tied his career high in strikeouts in only four innings.
Tabs really keen on line drive strokes out in Seattle. Guess he’s hitting the town tonight.
I suspect Tabby isn’t your cup of tea.
But have you seen his HAIR?
Wait, are you implying I wouldn’t be HIS cup of tea?
I’m so confused.
DJS-You’re female; trust me, you’re HIS cup of tea.
It’s always nice to feel appreciated.
It would be awesome if Romero could miss bats.
Ricky: “It’s a game of inches.”
Jeezus am im tired of these dum fuckin soots rojers gives me. Where can a fellar get a decent pair a ovaralls in this city?
Took the first game in NY tonight. How’d you guys do there? Oh yeah, broom time. How you doing tonight in Seattle? Think you can beat the Mariners? I don’t.
I’m with you bro,.
Colby slides on GRASS to make the catch.
Snider wishes he could have done the same back at Rogers.
Sam cosentino “Romero hasn’t been getting run support as of late”. The spin doctors are out in full force
Doesn’t matter when you give up 8 fucking runs in less than 2 innings does it?
Snider seems to have gotten into the habit of seriously pulling off the ball the last few games. He is chopping broccoli up there, either way ahead of changeups or grounding 30 hoppers to first base foul. Im quite certain this is the “Murphy” effect. It usually takes a few games to set in which is why Travis always starts hot and then goes into a funk..that is the half life of Matolla’s coaching I guess.
why cant they just leave him bee?
Need new hitting/pitching coaches asap.
Anyone else notice Colby’s new motion to signal two outs?
Must’ve happened when he cut the swagger sleeve.
Stark says jays bearing down on garza, ho hum
Can he hit japanese pitching? can he hit sinkerballers like derrick lowe, masterson, and fister?
new career high now through 4.1 innings for this guy.
How many dudes set season high in Ks against the Jays? Jeez louise.
Seems like I hear that a lot.
TOTALLY SAFE WTF IS BOB DAVIDSON AT SECOND NOW ARRRGH.
Bad call.
that was a crappy call ump!
Yeah, Gose definitely had his hand on the bag before the tag.
I’d like to send all these fucking gay ass umps to concentration camps
I could tell he was safe and I’m watching this on a shitty online feed, what’s the umps excuse?
Mariner broadcaster calling Gose play “close.” Not even. Terrible.
By calling Gose out the ump saved Lawrie from striking out against k doctor once again.
I blame JPA for RickRo’s left arm shitiness.
That dude has a killer stache!
That’s some heinous facial hair Brendan Ryan is sporting there…but maybe it’s helping him hit.
Has Toronto lost one game in a row all season? Must go on losing streaks, it’s a rule.
just a hose from right
Well shit…however Gose did shoot that throw to infield out of a cannon.
Saunders is better than Lawrie. Who would have thunk that a year ago?
Shitty about the run, but Gose’s throw almost beat the guy to second.
Romero needs to develop a slider. Until he does he’s meat to lefties.
Romero approaching Towers-territory.
hey Hey HEY! You go too far.
I wish I spoke Japanese
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8voaUuvG1X8
ANGRY TIME – 5 RUNS THIS INNING – SNIDER DOUBLE IS PART OF IT, ESCOBAR HR
Brett Lawrie is a fucking joke.
What niche are you attempting to fill?
How can anyone watch this shit and not get really really fucking pissed? I know Wilner and Stoeten are just raring to claim we are making big shit out of nothing, but fuck if you sit and watch this game, its really fucking mysterious how they can make this guy look so good
I dunno, looks like he has pretty good stuff tonight
Agreed.
Lawrie’s too ramped up with his family there.
He’s gonna burst a blood vessel in his head.
Golden sombero.
By contrast, Snider’s having a pretty good night.
Snider’s got his Zen going.
Lawrie’s plate discipline has completely gone to shit this year. He’s fast becoming one of those guys who will have to hit 300 to have a decent obp
Murphy is the problem. We have 1, maybe 2 patient hitters on this fucking team. Everyone else is a fucking hacker. That’s institutional.
Lawrie gets amped up everytime theres a runner on base and starts swinging at everything. i wouldnt now where to look for the numbers but id love to see some analysis on what lawries plate discipline is like in different situations.
Just off a quick glance at fangraphs, but:
Bases Empty | Men on base
K%: 15.5 | 10.3
BB%: 16.1 | 4.1
Avg: .280 | .340
SLG: .439 | .398
Weird.
Based on our last two games, I would urge Rajai Davis to NOT score in the first inning. It immediately results in the other team scoring three runs and then the jays not scoring the rest of the game.
Snider’s Rosacea strikes!!!
I think the Jays should claim Torrealba
why? he is fucking awful
Because….Gomes isn’t really a catcher, he’s more of an emergency catcher.
i wonder what the jays collective batting average is vs change ups. im sure its really low and Im sure the murphy effect comes in to play
Another bullshit fucking game.
this teams garbage
Raise your hand if you were thinking sweep once u realized we missed King Felix?
jose would make this game alot more interesting, hed hit some dingers fer sher
Get er done
Yawn the Jays lack of offense is making me sleepy. Hopefully now that I’ve stopped watching they might do something. If not I’ve saved another hour of futility. Night all.
nite nm.
sweet dreams about AA aquiring FA’s in the offseason.
And visions of playoffs dancing in your head.
Actually the time zone change is probably a part of the problem. The Jays will adjust to playing Pacific time evenings over the next couple of days.
what happens if Lind faces romero?
There would be a virtual crack in the space/time continuim creating a vortex of suckage never seen before in the galaxy.
Samuel L Jackson killing it with his Olympic coverage tonight (lightening the mood of this frustrating game)
https://twitter.com/samuelljackson
why burn loup in this game?
Most teams don’t think in terms of “why burn a half-decent middle reliever” because they have many of them.
Only recently did we get a number of decent relievers. Thus we can go back to a more normal bullpen usage.
I wonder if EE cares that Buck has dropped two syllables from his name.
He’ll add a couple more next game and it’ll average out
This must be what other teams fans feel like when Laffey stymies them…
Laffey doesnt strike out 50 percent more than his career high though.
I guess you can’t really expect the jays to score a bunch of runs against japanese Noran Ryan.