The Blue Jays Thread.

[habernac]

and then the bottom of the sixth happened. Crap.

[ricoFlame]

Originally Posted by habernac

and then the bottom of the sixth happened. Crap.

yeesh, not ideal. the good: they got their hits on dice-k, the bad: a billion runners left in scoring position, and boston got their hits off of everyone in a jays shirt. gotta make those baserunners count, converting them when there's two outs would be nice too.

[Sylvanfan]

The Jays are a terrible situational hitting team. Case in point, 9th place hitter Jason Phillips leads off the inning with a gift double. Reed Johnson is up next and Gibbons lets him swing the bat. Than Rios comes up and flies out harmlessly. I know Phillips is slow, but in a situation like this you can get a good lead off second as both middle infielders have to cheat towards the corner bases to cover them which should give the runner an advantage. In fact I'd think thats an easier play to make work than the first to second base sacrifice. I can't understand that when you face a pitcher like Beckett who isn't going to give you much why you wouldn't have tried a bunt with Johnson and than give your #2 hitter a chance to bring him home with a fly ball to the outfield or hit, and still have your 3 hitter having a chance to bring him in with a hit. The Jays have squandered so many chances this year to cash in runs with guys leading off with a double and than Gibbons letting some of these lighter hitters swing the bat.

[Resolute 14]

Personally, I despise sacrifice bunts unless one run will win you the game. Outs are finite, and throwing them away is not advisable, IMO.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by Snakeeye

Personally, I despise sacrifice bunts unless one run will win you the game. Outs are finite, and throwing them away is not advisable, IMO.

I'm not a big fan of using them to move runners from first to second. But to get a guy to 3rd base when you have a light hitter up and your big guys on deck is something I don't mind. Ideally you hope your players can handle the bat well enough to get the job done and hit the ball to the right hand side. But I've seen Jays hitters screw that up so often it's pathetic. Especially with zero guys out. Runner on 2nd with one out and runner on third with one out....big difference in terms of % to get a run scored.

Besides I think Becket qualifies as a guy who you need to get that extra run to beat. Boston can hit and score in bunches, but a 3-0 lead is better than a 2-0 lead and a pitcher like Beckett probably isnt' going to give you too many chances. Especially when your #9 hitter got a gift double.

[CaramonLS]

The only time I like bunts is with runners on 1st/2nd, no outs and a light hitter at the plate.

[Sylvanfan]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

The only time I like bunts is with runners on 1st/2nd, no outs and a light hitter at the plate.

Sort of depends on who you have coming up next as you run the risk of taking the bat out of the hands of a good hitter. But if your 7 and 8 hitters get on base type of thing I don't mind doing it with the 9 hitter to give the top of your lineup a chance to bat with some guys on base. But I don't think I'd ever try it with a #2 hitter and than have your 3 hitter coming up with an open base unless my 4 and 5 hitters were so hot that the opponent would feel obligated to pitch to the number 3 guy.

[Sylvanfan]

Well didn't matter in the end. Jays hang on for a 2-1 win. Good effort by Litsch to get through 6 innings and a nice job by the pen to hold that lead. Twice in the series the Jays held 1 run leads for 3 innings against the Sox lineup, thats impressive. The young guys for the most part continue to give the team some pretty decent efforts, if only some of these vets could figure out how to pitch again.

[ricoFlame]

Originally Posted by CaramonLS

The only time I like bunts is with runners on 1st/2nd, no outs and a light hitter at the plate.

not a fan of the squeeze? works well with hitter at the plate who typically never bunts, though is very tough to defend when it is ececuted properly from any player in the correct situation.

[socalwingfan]

Question for Jays fan - not meant to start a war or anything - do you think the Jays are going to welcome A-Rod with some chin music on Monday or do you think it's pretty much forgotten?

[ricoFlame]

Originally Posted by socalwingfan

Question for Jays fan - not meant to start a war or anything - do you think the Jays are going to welcome A-Rod with some chin music on Monday or do you think it's pretty much forgotten?

i doubt it's forgotten. i hope there's a strong message sent, there's no place for that kind of crap in the big leagues. first pitch of his first at bat hopefully. if nothing happens, i won't lose any sleep over it, it would just be nice to see that's all.

[ricoFlame]

jays activated league today: http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/news...=.jsp&c_id=tor

[JiriHrdina]

Originally Posted by socalwingfan

Question for Jays fan - not meant to start a war or anything - do you think the Jays are going to welcome A-Rod with some chin music on Monday or do you think it's pretty much forgotten?

Not forgotten but I think they'll wait for an opportunity to do it where it doesn't hurt them in the actual game.

[Machiavelli]

Originally Posted by socalwingfan

Question for Jays fan - not meant to start a war or anything - do you think the Jays are going to welcome A-Rod with some chin music on Monday or do you think it's pretty much forgotten?

Great question! I'm glad people still remember.

Personally, if Burnett wasn't on the DL, I would be hoping for a 96 mph fastball in the ribs. However, we've gotta run with what we've got.

So . . . we're looking at a hard slide into 3rd base, with (insert-player-name-here)'s cleats aimed right at the shin.

That would be enough, I think.

[EN FUEGO]

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

Great question! I'm glad people still remember.

Personally, if Burnett wasn't on the DL, I would be hoping for a 96 mph fastball in the ribs. However, we've gotta run with what we've got.

So . . . we're looking at a hard slide into 3rd base, with (insert-player-name-here)'s cleats aimed right at the shin.

That would be enough, I think.

I second that motion!

Should be a great series, as it's make or break for both teams. (How long have we been saying that though)

[flames_1987]

It was right around this time last season, the Jays had finally shown some life and were still within striking distance of the division/wildcard, and they went into the Bronx. They got the absolute crap kicked out of them every game and that was the end of the season. They defintley have a chance to make up for that, taking 3 out of 4 against the Yanks would be a big boost for this team

[metallicat]

Go Yankess Go!

[ricoFlame]

hey, josh towers is back - 3 homeruns given up in 3 innings. good lord.

[flames_1987]

My god is this ever a tough game to watch. Igawa makes Trachsel look like someone I'd pay to see pitch! The dude takes a lifetime just to get in his stance.

The Jays really missed a chance in the 4th with those two guys on and VW up, looks like he just missed hitting that out.

[ricoFlame]

Glaus just hit his second bomb of the night. that's alright.

EDIT: now each team has 4 runs all via the long ball. (rios just hit shot to tie it at 4)