The Blue Jays Thread.

[habernac]

wow, is it ever fun watching Halladay work. Complete game 5 hitter, looks like he barely broke a sweat. The bullpen was in dire need of a rest and he comes through yet again. Lind with his 3rd homer of the series (Reed who?) and a couple more long balls courtesy of the awesome Aaron Hill and Troy Glaus. Nice game by Matt Stairs, a 2 for 3 night and some pretty good plays in the outfield. Great game, guys!

In the "not again" category, looks like Chacin is going to miss a start. Dammit, if this team didn't have injuries they'd be 19-7 I swear.

[KootenayFlamesFan]

Yeah, Halladay is just a beast out there on the mound most times. Unreal.

Nice to see Glaus show some power in his first game back. Still like to see what a healthy Jays lineup could do.

[flambers]

Chacin has been placed on the 15 day DL, hopefully his injury is not serious.

[JiriHrdina]

So what does that mean for the rotation...Zambrano goes in?

[Gravitykillr]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

So what does that mean for the rotation...Zambrano goes in?

Zambrano was already placed in the rotation and Towers was taken out.

[calculoso]

Originally Posted by flambers

Chacin has been placed on the 15 day DL, hopefully his injury is not serious.

http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Baseball/M...44738-sun.html

Gustavo Chacin has become the most recent Blue Jay to find a spot on the 15-day disabled list, after his shoulder became sore during a bullpen session yesterday.

That never sounds good, but at least they are being careful with him. Better for him to get some rest when it's sore than after he needs surgery.

Dustin McGowan gets the spot in the rotation. "McGowan has an 0-2 record but has a 1.64 ERA and has struck out 29 batters in 22 innings." at AAA Syracuse. Nice numbers!

[flambers]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

So what does that mean for the rotation...Zambrano goes in?

I believe Zambrano has already taken Towers spot, the rumour is McGowan will be called up to take Chacin's spot.

New Rotation
Doc H
Burnett
McGowan (DL Chacin)
Okha
Zambrano (Towers was changed to a RP)

[Maritime Q-Scout]

damn it, the boys blew the last two games... a split in Toronto isn't too bad

Go Rangers Go

[CaramonLS]

I'm kind of surprised not to see Janssen or Marcum get the start instead.

McGowan is getting to be on his last legs with the organization. Hopefully he can find the strikezone this time, because last year during his call up, he was absolutely awful.

[oxygen]

I've got to say I haven't been impressed with Gibbons as a coach, mainly with the handling of pitchers (pulling them too early) and how he handled some of the player conflicts last year. But today has got to be the worst coaching performance to date. He knew going in Zambrano was only going to pitch probably max 4 innings (55 - 65 pitches), so he knew going in he'd need some long relief. Now I agree with him pulling Towers after he allowed 4 runs in the fifth. What I don't get is why he wouldn't let Downs go more than 1 1/3 innings. Downs has been effective pitching up to 3 innings. Instead he goes to Janssen, which normally wouldn't be too bad except they're in a tie ball game and there's a good chance the game could go to extra innings. So he uses up another guy that can eat up up to 3 innings, but only lets him pitch 1 2/3. Now all they have left for the ninth inning on is 2 guys who pitched the night before and Marcum who is giving up runs. Tomorrow they have McGowan pitching and you figure they might need to use some relievers that game.

Anyways, besides that he decides in the bottom of the 11th to do the exaggerated shift on Hafner with a person on first and no one out. So you pretty much give the guy a free base when they need baserunners. What does Hafner do he just sticks out the bat and lets the velocity of the pitch do the rest. Ball goes down the left field line where no one is positioned and the guy scores from first.

Kind of frustrating for the fans of this team when the manager makes such poor decisions a few years into the job.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by oxygen

I've got to say I haven't been impressed with Gibbons as a coach, mainly with the handling of pitchers (pulling them too early) and how he handled some of the player conflicts last year. But today has got to be the worst coaching performance to date. He knew going in Zambrano was only going to pitch probably max 4 innings (55 - 65 pitches), so he knew going in he'd need some long relief. Now I agree with him pulling Towers after he allowed 4 runs in the fifth. What I don't get is why he wouldn't let Downs go more than 1 1/3 innings. Downs has been effective pitching up to 3 innings. Instead he goes to Janssen, which normally wouldn't be too bad except they're in a tie ball game and there's a good chance the game could go to extra innings. So he uses up another guy that can eat up up to 3 innings, but only lets him pitch 1 2/3. Now all they have left for the ninth inning on is 2 guys who pitched the night before and Marcum who is giving up runs. Tomorrow they have McGowan pitching and you figure they might need to use some relievers that game.

Anyways, besides that he decides in the bottom of the 11th to do the exaggerated shift on Hafner with a person on first and no one out. So you pretty much give the guy a free base when they need baserunners. What does Hafner do he just sticks out the bat and lets the velocity of the pitch do the rest. Ball goes down the left field line where no one is positioned and the guy scores from first.

Kind of frustrating for the fans of this team when the manager makes such poor decisions a few years into the job.

I think you are being hard on Gibbons. If the numbers supported the move nothing wrong with playing a shift - sometimes it just doesn't work.

As for the management of the pitching staff - his hands are tied. Injuries have put the Jays in a tough spot here and no matter what he does he will be taxing the bullpen.

[Cerebral]

I'm really excited to see McGowan pitch tonight, he has been pretty dominant down in AAA and I still think this kid has ace potential. It looks like he has fixed his command issues down in Syracuse this year so hopefully he has a big game tonight and ends up staying in the rotation for the rest of the year.

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Dear Roy Halladay:

It's not Cy Young



It's Michael Young


BITCH!

(dear mods: please let this slide, as a Rangers fan I get so little joy out of baseball, let me have this one)

[ricoFlame]

six in a row...ouch. i know it's early but still...ouch.

[ricoFlame]

Originally Posted by ricoFlame

six in a row...ouch. i know it's early but still...ouch.

seven...the pitching isn't doing it and the bats don't wanna help right now. gotta jinx this streak now!

[Flickered Flame]

Yeah there is no question they need to get out of this funk if they are going to make a push for the playoffs. What are they now? Last in the division? about 8 games behind the Sox, they must be close to 8 games behind the Wild Card right now as well.

[Roy Keane]

Stick a fork in the Jays, they're done.

Giving AJ Burnett $55 million was a HUGE mistake. BJ Ryan - who is this guy and why does he have a $47 millon contract? Combine that will throwing Vernon Wells upwards of $130 million and you're in big trouble. JP should take a lesson from Billy Beane.

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by Roy Keane

Stick a fork in the Jays, they're done.

Giving AJ Burnett $55 million was a HUGE mistake. BJ Ryan - who is this guy and why does he have a $47 millon contract? Combine that will throwing Vernon Wells upwards of $130 million and you're in big trouble. JP should take a lesson from Billy Beane.

Ok so who should they have got instead of Burnett to be there #2 starter?
Who should they have got instead of Ryan to be their closer?

And should they have let VW walk?

I don't disagree that JP has made mistakes but these 3 guys are not why the Jays are losing (apart from Ryan being injured, last year he was light's out)

[Caged Great]

4th worst team in all of Baseball.

If they lose tomorrow I expect both JP and Gibbons to get the axe

[Flickered Flame]

Originally Posted by Caged Great

4th worst team in all of Baseball.

If they lose tomorrow I expect both JP and Gibbons to get the axe

And replaced by who?