[GDT] Jays Series Thread - at Twins May 10 -13

[KelVarnsen]

@
Target Field

Thursday Probable Starters

Henderson Alavrez RHP (2-2) 2.83 ERA vs. Jason Marquis RHP (2-1) 5.40 ERA
6:00 pm MST S-Net

Friday Probable Starters
Kyle Drabek RHP (2-3) 3.34 ERA vs. Nick Blackburn RHP (0-4) 6.84 ERA
6:00 pm MST S-Net One

Saturday Probable Starters

Drew Hutchison (1-1) 6.65 ERA vs. PJ Walters RHP (0-0) -.-- ERA
5:00 pm MST S-Net

Sunday Probable Starters
Ricky Romero LHP (4-0) 3.56 ERA vs. Scott Diamond LHP (1-0) 0.00 ERA
12:00 pm MST S-Net

[Caged Great]

This is a series where we definitely need 3 of the 4 games or sweep them. There really isn't any excuse not to. They are terribad.

Just a quick question, is that the same Jason Marquis from like 10 years ago?

[Sylvanfan]

Well the Jays as of today would still be the team to get that 2nd Wild Card spot in the American League. I still expect the Orioles to come back to being more like who they are. But I'm starting to think something really isn't right with Boston, and I don't think they're going to get themselves back on the right path, plus the Yankees aren't as intimidating as they've been in the past.

So you start looking at other Divisions and if the Angels don't figure things out the Blue Jays really do have a good shot at that Wild Card game this year.

[Caged Great]

Boston is pretty much screwed. Their pitching can't compete really. Not enough talent. Plus to be assured of a playoff spot, they pretty much need to go 85-45 or better. Not too sure of many teams that can do that, especially ones that have as many holes as the Sox have.

[flames_1987]

It all comes down to pitching in my mind.

Right now the Red Sox Starting rotation and bullpen are off to just a god awful start nobody saw coming. Even with Ellsbury and Crawford potentially coming back, they aren't going to win enough games if they don't get quality pitching.

Yankees do have depth at the Starting Pitching position but can they get quality starts at the back of that rotation? Andy Pettite still have the stuff to do it? The Yankees rotation is not going to strike fear into any opposing team, although their offense is so unbelievable, they don't need their pitchers to steal many games.

The Jays have just as many starting questions though. Drabek looked great agains Texas but he's been stranding a ton of batters and getting lucky to get out of some outings. Alvarez is pitching over his head right now, but I think he understands his stuff enough to be a quality #3-#4 pitcher. If the Jays are in the race though, the innings count is going to come into question for both Drabek and Alvarez. That #5 spot in the rotation still is up in the air and I'd feel so much more confident in this team if they had an answer for what it's going to look like, the rest of this season.

If Morrow has figured it out and is for real this season, that does change the entire landscape of the AL East.

[Otsy]

Lineup posted for tonight. Same as yesterday I think

KJ
Escobar
Bautista
EE
Thames
Lawrie
Rasmus
Lind
JPA

[dustyanddaflames]

Jays sign Vlad Guerrero

[OILFAN #81]

Jays signed Vladimir Guerrero to a minor league deal today.

http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=395591

[saskflames69]

Come on Twins, lets sweep the Jays!

[flames_fan_down_under]

Jays need to take 3/4 here. The Twins are really bad, Liriano was just dropped to the bullpen. They have ~100 million dollar payroll, and have won 8 games...yikes.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

Boston is pretty much screwed. Their pitching can't compete really. Not enough talent. Plus to be assured of a playoff spot, they pretty much need to go 85-45 or better. Not too sure of many teams that can do that, especially ones that have as many holes as the Sox have.

How many wins do you think a team is going to need to claim that 2nd Wild Card spot to get the playoff game?

I don't think it's going to be any more than 90. As of today, Texas looks like the only team who'll threaten 100 wins in the AL. Tampa can finish with 95 or so. The Yankees can always turn it on, but even they don't look capable of more than what they won last year which was around 95 games.

Do any of Anaheim, Cleveland, Chicago look like a 90+ win team? Anaheim could be if they figure out how to hit. But all teams seem to have questions this year, which I think is going to bring a total like 87-88 wins into play.

[Caged Great]

I'm also thinking around 90-93, but that would still mean a 78-52, to a 81-49 record, both are a bit challenging

[flames_1987]

It would be great to put some runs on the board early for once

[flames_1987]

2nd and 3rd nobody out and Bautista strikes out. Really hope someone can pick him up

[flames_1987]

Bases loaded 1 out and Thames up at the plate. Let's jump on them early. C'mon Thames

[flames_1987]

Alvarez threw 21 pitches in the 1st but allows no runs.

[flames_1987]

That was an amazing out to end the 2nd. Bautista guns him down

[flames_1987]

4-0 Jays!

[flames_1987]

Alvarez not having a strikeout pitch, really hurts him

[KelVarnsen]

At least the Twins fans have a nice ballpark to watch the Twins in...