Who The Hell Is Carlson...

Yes it was a tough loss last night but I am pretty sure I predicted it...sorry about that. It didn't really help our cause when we use every single relief pitcher we have. So I don't blame the game on A.J. Burnett just because of that wild pitch in the 14th. Even though I think it was ruled as a passed ball. O well. The Jays will bounce back tonight with Roy Halladay on the mound and will snap their four game losing streak at home.

Anyways about today's blog....I always enjoy seeing new faces for the team....except obviously when the player is useless or just plain bad. So I welcome newcomer Jesse Carlson, who I think is going to be one of the break out guys of the season. Carlson pitched three extra innings last night and only allowed one hit. Yes I know it was against the Rangers but that is still pretty impressive for a rookie. I'm excited to see where his season/career will be going if he keeps this up.

I am slowly starting to dislike Marco Scuturo. I don't really have any reason behind this, except for some horrible fielding choices, it's just that I always seem to have a player on the team whom I hate. For the longest time it was Eric Hinske. Now I think I have turned my hatred over to Scutaro. Don't ask me why. and yes he made an awesome throw to home in yesterday's game to stop a run...he still sucks.

I am going to be able to watch the game tonight finally. Not just pieces of a game or my buddy Mike texting updates whenever someone scores a run. It's going to be a nice lazy Thursday night.

-Stanton X

What A Nice Trip...

4-1...Pretty good road trip. Had that little hiccup on Monday but other then that the trip was pretty successful if I don't say so myself. And even in that Monday game Alex Rios got his first home run so it wasn't even that bad.

That being said the Jays are back in T.O. tomorrow to start a little set against the Rangers. But it is the Friday game against the Tigers I am most looking forward to. The big event? Pat Hentgen is honoured. Hentgen was my favourite pitcher as a kid so it's nice to see him get recognized.

Back to tonight's game...I have noticed in the past that when the Jays have a really good blowout (11-3 against the O's tonight) that they seem to lose the following game. I hope they prove me wrong.

I have mentioned it before and I will mention it again but I like Shawn Marcum so much better the McGowan. He pitched another solid game tonight and I think he should have been placed as the third starter. Also a quick thing on Roy Halladay...not sure where i read it but a saw an article that was saying how Roy should go back to pitching every fourth game. I like this idea, this would more then likely improve our chances greatly. Unless of course he blew out his arm or something...but I remember that they had tried this a couple of years ago and it seemed to work really well. Something to look at...

Not quite sure but I don't think I am going to get to watch Wednesday's game or the next. School is wrapping up and I am working a bunch so we will see. Jesse Litsch is looking for his third win so all the best to him.

-Stanton X

What's With All The Sweeping...

We swept the Red Sox. Then got swept by Oakland. And now we just swept a team that always seems to have our number in the past. 23 years to be exact. 1985 is that last time the Jays swept the Texas Ranges in Texas.

Wow. I wasn't even born yet.

None the less good series and it's nice to see the Jays back on top.

Plus side to this weekend? Vernon Wells has really stepped up. Which is obviously a really good thing. He now leads the team with rbis with 12, so it's nice to see him playing like he did in '06. That shoulder problem or whatever it was seems to have disappeared. Also the first save of the season for B.J. Ryan is always great. Too bad though that Brandon League got sent back down to AAA. O well. Hopefully he can work out some kinks and come right back.

Down side so far to the season? (other then our familiar inconsistency) Alex Rios is only batting .273 with no home runs and only 5 rbis. Plus he leads the team in strike outs with 14...but also leads in stolen bases with 4. So I guess he just has to read the pitches a bit better and things should snap back in place. He may be a bit distracted with the recent contract negotiations...but hey Hill ain't doing to bad...

So I was hoping that between the A's and Rangers the team would go 4-2. We got the next best thing and went 3-3. So not so bad. Next is the Baltimore Orioles who we are tied with for first place in the A.L. East division. Just two quick games...neither of which I will get to watch fully...o well. Gotta make money somehow.

-Stanton X

Don't Get Me Wrong...

Not going to watch the game today. Not because I'm upset or anything but because I have to work. That's a good reason right?

Of course I still love this team and yes they are only 4-5. They can easily bounce back from this sweep. I just get so frustrated with the team and get so down. But I have to carry on with my head held high.

Quick note though...if these types of games continue to happen and the season starts to get (somehow) worse, then the Jays really need to rethink the coaching and managing staff. All the pieces for the team are in place and I really think are big issues might lie within management. John Gibbons and J.P. Ricciardi have done reasonably well over the last couple of seasons. Ricciardi has brought in some players that have really boosted this team and have given them a fighting chance. But lately I am on the fence with Gibbons. I like the guy but I think his meter is running out here in Toronto. It has been shown in the past that he has not gotten along with certain players...so who knows what his relationship is with the current team. Do the players respect him? Do they to him for advice and such? Personally I would prefer Ernie Whitt as the boss...but that's just me.

I Dub Ye Coach Whitt...

...So good luck tonight to Jesse Litsch and the Jays. And I will post a much longer and more in-depth blog later on tonight or tomorrow afternoon.


-Stanton X

Everyone Give Them A Round Of Applause...

Clap. Clap. Clap.

Well somehow the Jays managed to be swept by the Oakland A's. The worst part to me is that I can only name two players in their starting lineup...Jack Cust and Bobby Crosby. The rest are just a bunch of no names. How did we mess this up? It seemed like only days ago when I was cheering how sweet it was that we swept Boston. Oh wait...it was only days ago...

Well I am going to keep this short due to frustration and lack of sleep. I don't know what else to say. I don't if there is anything else to say. But things better change quick. I had the feeling that after the 9-8 lost on Tuesday, that the offence would keep it up and the pitching would shut it down. Well for the most part the pitching did their job with little bloops here and there.

But the offence? ugh. I have a head ache so I am going to end this. I'll leave with this...We better dominate the Rangers. And I mean Dominate.

-Stanton X

Oh Scutaro...

This was tough....I mean really tough. This game seemed like a shoe in from the beginning. Oakland had some newbie pitching his first MLB game and the Jays were looking to keep the runs rolling and bouncing back from the loss the previous night.

As you may know...they lost.

And this time I will point fingers. Before I have been nice and have said that it wasn't certain players but the team as a whole. This time it was just one player.

Marco Scutaro.

He could have gone for the inning ending double play...at least tried for it...but he decided to maybe play hero and throw the pitch home. Even though he completely threw it away. The A's scored two more and the Jays never came back.

Scuty...Don't Be A Hero...

The best part of this loss and the others this season (best part) is that they have never been any blow outs so far. There was Hill's fumble in the first loss, Down's deja vu fumble in the second, and now Jeremy Accardo pretty much blowing the last two. Both in the ninth. The team somehow needs to work under pressure and just get the job done. Yes I know it is easy for me to say, as I am just a fan from the stands. We are keeping it close, it just seems that one more thing needs to click and who knows what will happen then.


Plus of the day? Our batters walking nine times. I just wish we could have done something when we had loaded the bases a couple of times. Still though good eyes guys...keep it up.

Down side?...I don't have to tell you...

We swept the defending World Series Champions and we can't even beat the A's. I had predicted that we would go 4-2 against the A's and Rangers in these two series. Well so far we have gone 0-2. So here's to a four game streak!

Shawn Marcum is up for us tomorrow and personally I like him better then Dustin McGowan. Don't get me wrong I like ol' Dusty, I just think Marcum is more of a complete pitcher. Dusty pitched well today but obviously it wasn't enough.

One last thought...my grandfather is quite sick in the hospital and it is not looking well. I wish I could be there with him but he lives a fair distance away. He is the main reason I ever started liking the Jays. Without him who knows what I would like. He is in my thoughts and my heart and I wish for a speedy recovery.

-Stanton X

First Of Many Forgettable Days...

I awoke this morning feeling like absolute crap. My head was thumping and my throat was extremely sore. I decided to skip school and just rest up. The little lady came over to comfort me which cheered me up for a bit...until it was time to go to work. ugh...

So off to work I went. Only to discover that there was very few people I actually enjoyed working with...working. What a crappy day thus far. After an hour my manager came up to me to tell the Jays were already down 3-0.

Crap.

As you may or may not know...the Jays lost. It seemed to be a constant struggle all game. They would give up the lead then tie it ...only to give it up again. Until finally the A's kept the lead by scoring a run in the top of the ninth. Plus side? Frank Thomas, Aaron Hill, and Vernon Wells all getting home runs. This really shows that our bats are swinging.

Down side? The bullpen continually giving up runs. Yes it's one game so hopefully this doesn't continue for the whole season. These types of games are to be expected.

The thing that bothers me the most...is how we sweep the defending World Series Champions...then lose to Oakland. Our next five games are against the A's and the Rangers so we better take advantage of these "weaker" teams and go at least 4-1.

Other note....the NHL playoffs are about to start and I could care less. The playoffs go on for way to long for me. My buddy Mike wants to watch the first game between the Penguins and the Sens. But obviously I want to watch McGowan and the Jays.

We'll see what happens.

-Stanton X