The Blue Jays: 2009 Season Thread - Page 23 - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Sylvanfan · 05-17-2009, 11:47 PM

I'm happy to see Gaston continue to get pretty good results. I don't think he was given a lot of credit for those World Series teams because of the talent they had, but I think the ability to juggle that many big ego's and get them to win was pretty under rated. The Jays the way they are right now could probably win the West or Central Divisions. But in the East it will be tought. But winning 26 out of the first 40 games has made it a bit easier.

Saint Troy · 05-18-2009, 10:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sylvanfan

I'm happy to see Gaston continue to get pretty good results. I don't think he was given a lot of credit for those World Series teams because of the talent they had, but I think the ability to juggle that many big ego's and get them to win was pretty under rated. The Jays the way they are right now could probably win the West or Central Divisions. But in the East it will be tought. But winning 26 out of the first 40 games has made it a bit easier.

Seeing the results this year, and his overall record since taking over, it amazes me that Gaston had been out of manging for so long. I think the Jays are looking like a wild card at the very least, cripes they are getting mediocre production from their 3-4 hitters and are still the best offensive club in baseball. If the bullpen continues to pitch as well as they have, I think not getting to the post season will be a major disappointment.

Antithesis · 05-18-2009, 11:16 AM

I'm excited but not yet declaring them champions of the world. So exciting watching this team right now, top to bottom. It's looking like I may be out in Toronto in October ... hmm ...

Machiavelli · 05-18-2009, 11:40 AM

Scott Rolen just made an absolutely dazzler of a defensive play. Wow. Give the man another gold glove.

Jiggy_12 · 05-18-2009, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

Scott Rolen just made an absolutely dazzler of a defensive play. Wow. Give the man another gold glove.

That play brought me out of my chair. And I am hungover today, so that tells you how good a play that was.

ricoFlame · 05-18-2009, 12:48 PM

super bounce back game for richmond to this point. great stuff.

Sylvanfan · 05-18-2009, 12:53 PM

Well 7 innings and no runs allowed so that is a good comeback outing for Richmond. Managed to avoid getting killed by the lefty's today.

I wonder what the Jays will do if they continue to play well and win. They have a pretty good arsenal of younger arms built up with guys like Accardo, Janssen, Litsch, Marcum, McGowan, Purcey all currently injured or in the minors. Than you have the likes of Ray, Richmand, Romero and Cecil up in the bigs currently and getting the job done. Behind Hallady they don't have very much in terms of experienced pitchers so if they did want to make a playoff push this year would they need to go out and acquire a veteran guy? Or given the injury nature of the position and that it is the one thing that could keep them competitive in that Division do they hoard it and continue to try and stock up on it. Tough call.

ricoFlame · 05-18-2009, 01:01 PM

ouch...carlson..tie game.

Machiavelli · 05-18-2009, 01:02 PM

This is on the hitters. Richard was super wild to start the game and the Jays were taking pitches.

Since they scored the two runs, the Jays stopped doing that, and have been swinging at every first pitch.

OILFAN #81 · 05-18-2009, 01:17 PM

Rios comes through with a triple to score Bautista. 3-2 Jays.

flames_fan_down_under · 05-18-2009, 01:18 PM

Rios bats one in! Jays back up 3-2!

It would be really nice if Wells and Rios would go on a little tear. Rios has started to heat up slowly. But Wells, man, the guy must be injured because to have the lowest batting avg. on the entire team is a disappointment.

Machiavelli · 05-18-2009, 01:26 PM

Yes! Four game sa-weeeeeeeeeep!

Too bad Richmond didn't get his W, though.

OILFAN #81 · 05-18-2009, 01:29 PM

27-14 now. Jays are on the road for 3 straight series' now. 3 in Boston, 3 in Atlanta and 3 in Baltimore. Halladay will be pitching once in Atlanta and once in Baltimore but not in Boston.

EN FUEGO · 05-18-2009, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flames_fan_down_under

Rios bats one in! Jays back up 3-2!

It would be really nice if Wells and Rios would go on a little tear. Rios has started to heat up slowly. But Wells, man, the guy must be injured because to have the lowest batting avg. on the entire team is a disappointment.

Wells has always been a slow starter, give him time. The only hot start he had was after the last World Baseball Classic IIRC. I think that was the year all the bats were on fire, especially him and Rios, in April. At this point there's nothing disappointing in the 27-14 start except the losing record against the Yanks. Bring on the Bo Sox.

Flickered Flame · 05-18-2009, 01:31 PM

Its a good time for the Jays to go into Fenway and beat up the Sox, who are really beat up right now. Lester has been awful, Dice K might be back this week, Youkilis has been out with an injury.

JiriHrdina · 05-18-2009, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flames_fan_down_under

Rios bats one in! Jays back up 3-2!
.

What an awesome sequence in that at bat. First Rios nearly gets his head taken off by an errant pitch that bounces right back to the catcher preventing the run from scoring.

Next pitch HAMMERED but foul

Next pitch a triple to bring in the run.

Ziggy Lidstrom · 05-19-2009, 12:14 AM

The jays are playing wonderfully right now. I thought that this team was capable of this type of offensive production last year. I think it goes to show how poor of a hitting focus Gibbons used to have; and how much credit Gaston and Tenace deserve.

If the Jays were in the AL Central division they would have been in the pl'offs enough to keep Gibbons around, but I do prefer reality to the alternative scenario. It seems like the jays own the central. I thought that the Tigers would be the class, yet it hasn't worked like that for whatever reason.

Scutaro is a soldier and a helluva find, leads the majors in walks with a plus 400 obp. Rolen is a stalwart at the corner and the way he is hitting, I see a trip to the asg for him. And the patchwork inexperienced pitching is performing for their grizzled captain Roy Halladay. Thus, Riccardi is looking like he may stick around for a while, considering the team will perform at a semi-consistent clip.

Riccardi, thanks. This man deserves our respect. He was under pressure from day one being in the divison he was entering. I still talk about the last two winning seasons that never led to playoff consideration and contention because of quality of opponents in the AL East. That is an impressive stat and considering the Rays success last year, I think that we perhaps may see the jays in October. But it's only two months into the season leaving a 2/3 remainder. Go Jays.

EN FUEGO · 05-19-2009, 12:49 PM

I think the biggest difference this year is the mental makeup of the team. It was said a few times by players on other teams that the Jays were "too nice" a team. They seemed to lack that killer instinct and also would fold under adversity. Yesterday's game is a perfect example......2-run lead blown in the eighth only to come back and win in gutsy fashion. I'm pretty sure Rios would have struck out there last year.....heck, he probably wouldn't have gotten a chance to bat. It's going to come down to the young players handling the heat down the stretch. Wells is going to break out and have a monster year, I'm sure of it. Hill and Rios will do damage at the top of the lineup. If the Jays keep getting above average production from the bottom of the order and even decent pitching from some of the kids there's a chance for sure. They've gotta stay sharp, aggressive, and mean. 2/3 from the Sox this week and I'll book a ticket to Toronto in October.

octothorp · 05-19-2009, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

What an awesome sequence in that at bat. First Rios nearly gets his head taken off by an errant pitch that bounces right back to the catcher preventing the run from scoring.

Next pitch HAMMERED but foul

Next pitch a triple to bring in the run.

Not to mention Bautista stealing third uncontested, which ended up being huge, as it forced Podsednik to go for the catch, rather than conceding the single and trying a throw to the plate.

Sylvanfan · 05-19-2009, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by octothorp

Not to mention Bautista stealing third uncontested, which ended up being huge, as it forced Podsednik to go for the catch, rather than conceding the single and trying a throw to the plate.

Yeah, that was quite a sequence there, mind you I think Bautista could have taken 3rd on that wild pitch. That was reasonably alert base running by him to not get caught in no mans land and get picked off third after he did get there as that wild pitch came back to Pierzynski pretty fast. Still having the runner at third forced Posednik to have to make the catch rather than be able to catch it on a hop and try to throw out the guy at the plate was definitely to the Jays advantage. Have to give Posednik credit though...he knew the only play to save the run was to go all out for the catch, just came up a few inches short.