Oct. 2-4: Blue Jays vs. Rays Series Thread

[Antithesis]

Toronto Blue Jays (92-67, conquering Kings of the AL East) vs. Tampa Bay Rays (78-81, worst stadium in MLB)

Probable Starters:

Friday @5:00 Mountain Time: TOR: Mark Buehrle, 14-7, 3.76 ERA; TB: Erasmo Ramirez, 11-6, 3.65 ERA
Saturday @4:00 Mountain Time: TOR: Marco Estrada, 13-8, 3.15 ERA; TB: Chris Archer, 12-13, 3.26 ERA
Sunday @1:00 Mountain Time: TOR: TBD; TB: Matt Moore, 2-4, 5.84 ERA

I personally think it's hilarious that the Jays rested their entire roster including starting pitcher and much of their bullpen over the previous two games vs. Baltimore and almost won one of them. I hope that visitor's clubhouse in Baltimore is well and truly destroyed. Would look good on them.

Doesn't look like we know the times for the ALDS as yet but the Jays will be playing Thursday-Friday-Sunday-Monday-Wednesday. The Jays will be playing in the ALDS! That's awesome! It's too bad that the ending was kind of anti-climactic overall, what with the second game left to play and the game ending on that weird strikeout, but after 22 years, I'm not going to be picky. THE JAYS WON THE AL EAST!

Wrapping up home field advantage would be nice, but I am definitely part of the "let's not kill ourselves to do so" group. You're playing for one more game at home and that's only if you don't get the top spot and the Royals actually make it past the ALDS. At this point I really doubt their ability to do so if they play the Angels or heck, even the Yankees who aren't exactly playing well either.

Here's the scenarios for the Jays to clinch the top record in the AL:

Jays lose all 3 remaining games, Royals must lose all 3 remaining as well.
Jays go 1-2 in the 3 remaining games, Royals must lose at least 2 more as well.
Jays go 2-1 in the 3 remaining games, Royals must lose at least 1 more as well.
Jays go 3-0 in the 3 remaining games, the Royals can go suck an egg.

Stats Time!

Over his career, current Rays hitters have the following stats vs. Mark Buehrle: 343 AB, 94 H, 10 HR, 49 K, 0.274 AVG, 0.313 OBP, 0.414 SLG, 0.726 OPS
Over his career, current Rays hitters have the following stats vs. Marco Estrada: 71 AB, 11 H, 0 HR, 18 K, 0.155 AVG, 0.211 OBP, 0.211 SLG, 0.422 OPS

Over their careers, current Blue Jays hitters have the following stats vs. Erasmo Ramirez: 74 AB, 20 H, 4 HR, 17 K, 0.270 AVG, 0.341 OBP, 0.514 SLG, 0.855 OPS
Over their careers, current Blue Jays hitters have the following stats vs. Chris Archer: 204 AB, 40 H, 9 HR, 51 K, 0.196 AVG, 0.264 OBP, 0.358 SLG, 0.622 OPS
Over their careers, current Blue Jays hitters have the following stats vs. Matt Moore: 74 AB, 21 H, 5 HR, 13 K, 0.284 AVG, 0.384 OBP, 0.554 SLG, 0.938 OPS

OK!

BLUE JAYS!

LETS!

PLAY!

BALL!

[Jiggy_12]

Tulo's back!!! Batting 7th and playing SS.

Rest of regulars back in as well.

[CroFlames]

Don't claim to be more than a casual fan, so can someone tell me when playoffs start? And do we know who the jays are playing?

[chummer]

Originally Posted by CroFlames

Don't claim to be more than a casual fan, so can someone tell me when playoffs start? And do we know who the jays are playing?

For the Jays the playoffs start next Thursday.

Really no idea who the Jays are playing, could be one of Texas, New York or Houston.
Even an outside chance they could face the Angels or Twins.

[Weitz]

Wouldn't it be best for the Jays to not win the AL and play texas? Let the Yankees and Royals hammer each other?

[Dan02]

Originally Posted by Weitz

Wouldn't it be best for the Jays to not win the AL and play texas? Let the Yankees and Royals hammer each other?

#oilersspeak

How about the best team in Baseball just continues to win and win all way through the world series rather then attempting to win by attempting to lose.

[lazypucker]

It is still only 50/50 that the Jays win the AL. They have to equal or better KC's record for these last 3 games.

[CroFlames]

Originally Posted by chummer

For the Jays the playoffs start next Thursday.

Really no idea who the Jays are playing, could be one of Texas, New York or Houston.
Even an outside chance they could face the Angels or Twins.

Nice. I might catch myself a playoff baseball match with the missus if they play the Halos. Great park by the way in Anaheim.

[Enoch Root]

If anyone cares, the Jays are up 1-0 batting in the 4th.

[Roof-Daddy]

Hitting the ball hard, but leaving too many men on base.

[Enoch Root]

2 complete garbage hits create a run and tie the game

[Caged Great]

4-1

[Enoch Root]

Buerhle was pitching well, but just gave up a 3-run homer

4-1 Rays

[Enoch Root]

On a brighter note, Minny just took the lead against KC

1-0 and still batting in the bottom of the 2nd

[KootenayFlamesFan]

So is Buerhle in the rotation in the playoffs? Looks lately like his arm is just tiring out. He's got a lot of mileage on that arm, do you put him in the pen? To be honest he's the one in the possible rotation that looks the weakest to me.

[Enoch Root]

Jays rallying in the 6th

4-2 now with runners at 2nd and 3rd and one out

pitching change

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by KootenayFlamesFan

So is Buerhle in the rotation in the playoffs? Looks lately like his arm is just tiring out. He's got a lot of mileage on that arm, do you put him in the pen? To be honest he's the one in the possible rotation that looks the weakest to me.

I think it comes down to who they are playing and how he is feeling.

Price and Stroman are 1, 2 obviously

Right now, Estrada has to be #3

But a lot of things are fluid on who starts and when

[Enoch Root]

Goins hammers it off the wall for a game-tying triple

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Now Revere with a sac fly, 5-4 Jays.

That escalated quickly.

[Enoch Root]

fall behind by 3 and the bottom half of the order coming up?

no problem - 4 hits and a sac fly and it's 5-4 Toronto