Sept. 21-23: Blue Jays vs. Yankees Series Thread

[Antithesis]

Toronto Blue Jays (85-64, conquering Kings of the universe) vs. New Boo York Yankees (82-66, could be 5.5 GB by Wednesday)

Probable Starters:

Monday @5:00 Mountain Time: TOR: David Price, 16-5, 2.42 ERA; NYY: Adam Warren, 6-6, 3.33 ERA
Tuesday @5:00 Mountain Time: TOR: Marco Estrada, 13-8, 3.14 ERA; NYY: Luis Severino, 4-3, 3.12 ERA
Wednesday @5:00 Mountain Time: NYY: Marcus Stroman, 2-0, 3.00 ERA; NYY: Ivan Nova, 6-8, 5.11 ERA

Could I just copy what I wrote the last time the Jays were about to start a big series against the Yankees? I could ... with the exception that the Yankees unfortunately won their series against the Mets. Oh well! Moving on.

The series against Boston was disappointing for sure, but I'm trying to take heart in the fact that it took two anomalous outings for the Jays to make it happen: a complete, total blowup from the bullpen and a defensive game that couldn't have been much uglier. That shouldn't be a sign of things to come or anything, because both of those aspects of the Jays' game are far better than they were this weekend.

And look! The Jays are starting the cream of the crop when it comes to the rotation over this series beginning with possible Cy Young winner David Price! That'll work. Hopefully the Jays can make the rest of the regular season more-or-less academic by winning the series.

Stats Time!

Over his career, current Yankees hitters have the following stats vs. David Price: 332 AB, 87 H, 8 HR, 80 K, 0.262 AVG, 0.322 OBP, 0.416 SLG, 0.736 OPS
Over his career, current Yankees hitters have the following stats vs. Marco Estrada: 122 AB, 31 H, 9 HR, 21 K, 0.254 AVG, 0.316 OBP, 0.508 SLG, 0.824 OPS
Over his career, current Yankees hitters have the following stats vs. Marcus Stroman: 65 AB, 11 H, 3 HR, 14 K, 0.169 AVG, 0.260 OBP, 0.323 SLG, 0.583 OPS

Over their careers, current Blue Jays hitters have the following stats vs. Adam Warren: 39 AB, 8 H, 1 HR, 15 K, 0.205 AVG, 0.326 OBP, 0.333 SLG, 0.659 OPS
Over their careers, current Blue Jays hitters have the following stats vs. Luis Severino: 34 AB, 11 H, 3 HR, 13 K, 0.324 AVG, 0.425 OBP, 0.676 SLG, 1.101 OPS
Over their careers, current Blue Jays hitters have the following stats vs. Ivan Nova: 138 AB, 39 H, 5 HR, 20 K, 0.283 AVG, 0.380 OBP, 0.442 SLG, 0.822 OPS

OK!

BLUE JAYS!

LETS!

PLAY!

BALL!

[Jiggy_12]

2 out of 3 would be just great.

We get Price 2 of the next 6 games so 4-2 in this chunk is reasonable to expect.

Anyone know why Tanaka isn't pitching game 3 like originally expected? Not that I'm complaining.

[The Big Chill]

Originally Posted by Jiggy_12

2 out of 3 would be just great.

We get Price 2 of the next 6 games so 4-2 in this chunk is reasonable to expect.

Anyone know why Tanaka isn't pitching game 3 like originally expected? Not that I'm complaining.

Hamstring injury apparently.

[JBR]

Tanaka strained a hamstring running the bases vs. Mets this weekend. They're being cautious. Any weakness in the lower body would potentially affect the delivery. With a short history of arm issues, why take the chance. Save him for a more meaningful game in the playoffs.

[JBR]

How could I forget...

Go Yanks!!

[KelVarnsen]

Yankees suck.

[Enoch Root]

Jays are set up nicely, with Price, Estrada and Stroman. No Tanaka is a bonus.

Just win 2 out of 3 and they are in great shape. A sweep and it's over.

[Street Pharmacist]

Jays are now the worst team in the majors in one run games. Yuck

[whosurnabby]

Originally Posted by Street Pharmacist

Jays are now the worst team in the majors in one run games. Yuck

And most of those losses happened when the Jays had one of the worst pens in the AL.. since the ASG/Sanchez returning from injury and being slotted back in the pen they've had a top 3 bullpen in all of MLB. They'll be fine as long as the starters keep pumping quality starts.

[Enoch Root]

yeah, the early season bullpen is one reason

another is that, when they lose, they lose by 1. When they win, they win big

[Scornfire]

Turned on the TV and it's already 3-0 Jays, what happened?

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Same here. Argh. Would have loved to watch that.

[MissTeeks]

Steve Simmons sums it up nicely:

@simmonssteve: The Yanks 1st inning. A hit batter. A bobbled grounder. A wild pitch. A misplayed liner to right field. Three Jays hits. A walk. 3-0 Jays.

[whosurnabby]

Originally Posted by MissTeeks

Steve Simmons sums it up nicely:

@simmonssteve: The Yanks 1st inning. A hit batter. A bobbled grounder. A wild pitch. A misplayed liner to right field. Three Jays hits. A walk. 3-0 Jays.

Beauty of the game. Yesterday it was the Jays who keeps on bobbling the ball, 24 hours later, it's those damn Yankees' turn. Unlike other leagues, the cellar dwellers don't tank in MLB because there's literally no advantage in tanking. Every draft pick is a 50/50 coin toss and a "sure thing" prospect in baseball is extremely rare. Red Sox came up to play their game on the weekend and it just so happens that the Blue Jays, especially on D, took a couple days off. It's just that simple. Weak ballclubs let the "L's" linger around and fester, the good ones move the f### on and play their brand of baseball the next day.

[ben voyonsdonc]

Not sure what is going on with Pennington. Looking like Jose Reyes over the past couple of days.

[V]

Wow, what a beast, to get out of that. Price is just flat out awesome.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Man I love Price. Even when he gets in a jam he's just calm and gets the job done. Keep hoping the ownership will open the vault and somehow keep him around. Chances may be slim but you never know.

[GirlySports]

Woo!

[whosurnabby]

Originally Posted by V

Wow, what a beast, to get out of that. Price is just flat out awesome.

Not to get ahead of myself, but I hope Shapiro does the right thing by re-signing AA first as GM, get rid of the stupid 5 year max thing to lure awesome free agents, and then re-sign that man on the mound tonight. Guy can pitch in the AL East. Period.

[JayP]

Price better start getting these calls. He is getting squeezed badly so far while Warren gets a massive strike zone. Unacceptable umping but its pretty much the usual inconsistent calls you see every night.