[GDT] Jays Series Thread - at Angels May 3 - 6

[KootenayFlamesFan]

4-0 final. What a game by Alvarez, complete game, very solid. Super impressive outing.

[KelVarnsen]

Two gems by starting pitchers in a row. Love it.

[Flickered Flame]

I can't stand the Jays but I love how bad the Angels have started.

[flames_fan_down_under]

Jays win! Alvarez only threw 84 pitches. That's very impressive.

Edit: Sorry guys that's wrong. I guess it was 84 pitches through 8 innings. 97 pitches total for the night. Still impressive.

[flames_1987]

If anyone still playing baseball in the majors deserves the benefit of the doubt when it comes to struggling, it's Pujols but man this must be frightening for Angels fans with the contract he signed and age regression kicking in soon to. He's not showing many signs of snapping out of it and I'll take Bautista getting childishly mad at the umpire about balls/strikes then Pujols grounding out to 1st and smiling after it

[flames_1987]

22 innings of shutout ball for the Jays

[The Big Chill]

Wow I just saw the box score. Alvarez must have been impressive, I love it!

[Matty81]

Lol at Zaun post game - ' as a batter you are aroused by the pitch '. You could almost immediately see the regret on his face.

[GirlySports]

Glad to see the Jays take advantage of an absolutely awful team. Jays at times struggle out west. A sweep would be great!

[Wise Gamble]

Toughest game tomorrow of series

[flames_1987]

While their lineup is certainly struggling right now, the Angels still do have arguably the best rotation in the AL, the Jays bats still face quite a test these last two games.

[Machiavelli]

Santana 0-6 to start the season is surprising.

[flames_1987]

Originally Posted by Machiavelli

Santana 0-6 to start the season is surprising.

"Ervin Santana is the 1st pitcher in major league history to start 5 consecutive games, with his team being shut out in each game"

[Caged Great]

Nice to see Alvarez pitch so dominantly.

Hope he can keep it up.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by flames_1987

While their lineup is certainly struggling right now, the Angels still do have arguably the best rotation in the AL, the Jays bats still face quite a test these last two games.

Yes although the Jays missed Weaver and have gotten past Haren and Santana so that's the worse of it. Wilson is meh and I can't remember who is their 5th starter.

Even so, the Jays pitching has been great which should take the pressure off the offense somewhat. That Jays could afford to rest Bautista as some has suggested.

[Sylvanfan]

Alvarez is really composed for a pitcher his age. His change up is still a work in progress, if he can develop it, than I think the strikeouts will go up. When you can throw strike one as a pitch at the bottom of the strike zone consistently, you really give yourself a chance to succeed. Hitters either got to hit a tough pitch early on, or fall behind 0-1, leaving themselves in an unfavorable hitting position.

As for the Angels they look like a big time failed chemistry experiment. I think they have too many players who think they should be playing regularly being shuffled around the lineup. Abreu and Morales are more or less the same player. Trout, Bourjous, Hunter, Wells, and Trumbo are crowding the outfield. Trumbo is lost when they put him at 3B, leaving them in a position, where Izturis, or Callaspo has to play for defensive purposes. Pujols is not handling the big contract, and the change of leagues at all. I don't think Angels ownership spent all that money to see their attendance fall below 30,000 a game this early in the season, after exceeding that figure for 600 consecutive games. They'll have to offer Vernon Wells a Bobby Bonilla deal where they agree to pay him 5 million a year for 20 years to void his contract and leave the team.

[Matty81]

Hope Drabek does well again today, always worried that he is about to blow up at any time after last year but he's also the guy in the rotation I am pulling for the most, both because I think his ceiling is so high and I want to see the Doc trade validated.

[flames_1987]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

Yes although the Jays missed Weaver and have gotten past Haren and Santana so that's the worse of it. Wilson is meh and I can't remember who is their 5th starter.

Even so, the Jays pitching has been great which should take the pressure off the offense somewhat. That Jays could afford to rest Bautista as some has suggested.

I wouldn't call CJ Wilson meh, he's an All-Star pitcher and off to another great start. He might be slightly overpaid, but having him as a #4 is ridiculous.

The Jays have two unproven arms pitching against the Angels the next two games, so I doubt we see Bautista get a night off soon anyways.

[flames_1987]

Pujols sits tonight. Jays lineup- Johnson 2b Escobar. ss Bautista rf Encarnacion dh Lind 1b Lawrie 3b Davis lf Rasmus Cf ...

[flames_1987]

Adam Lind career vs C.J. Wilson: 4-for-7, 2B, 3B. 2 RBI, 2 BB

And Snider could be back tonight for Vegas if batting practice goes okay.