Tagged: Roy Halladay
The Not-So Magnificent Seven
Most Blue Jays fans knew this was coming at one point in the season. The offence has fizzled in their last seven games. After a great bounce back sweep of the White Sox, at which I was at Robert Ray’s gem on Saturday, The Jays set out on a 9 game road trip. Currently they have played 7 of those games, all losses.
The sweep of the White Sox came after losing 2 of 3 to the Yankees. This series had close games and some domination from the Blue Jays. 
The Jays looked like they had bounced back nicely after a heart breaking series with the Yankees. In the game on Saturday Robert Ray gave a glimpse of what he will be able to do. Although I was nervous throughout the entire game with the Jays offence struggling they pulled it out in the end.
The game on Sunday our Ace Halladay took the mound and after giving up two runs in the first he settled down and pitched another gem.
Many of my friends from Ottawa actually went up to that game and the picture below of Rios is courtesy of one of those that was there.
After the sweep it was looking good for the Jays heading into Boston. Alas, the Jays failed to win the any games in Boston. And even worse the Jays offence, even while spitting out hits, couldn’t drive in any runs. It was Deja Vu of last year when they could get people on and not score them.
After the series the Jays sent down rookies Ray, Cecil, and Snider while calling up Janseen, Romero, and Inglett. These moves I feel were appropriate and the only one that caught me a little off guard was Snider. But the reasoning behind it was simple. He wasn’t going to get starts in interleague so why not keep him batting every day. Hopefully Snider can find that confidence he had at the beginning of the year and really help the team.
Even after the sweep to a division rival the Jays remained in first in the east. Unfortunately their offence did not show up in Atlanta either. The team failed to capitalize on chances yet again and lost all three games to Atlanta. Losing the first two games by one run and keeping the last game close until the bullpen couldn’t hold it in the eighth. All the games in this series were within one run in the eighth inning and where as the beginning of the year was filled with comeback wins lately they have been filled with disappointing losses.
This series in Orioles is now a very important one for the Jays. They will need to regain their confidence for the upcoming series with Boston. With Ricky Romero making his first start after the DL tonight hopefully the Jays can pull one out for the rookie who has been nothing but great to start his big league career.
Jays fans this is no time to panic. The Jays will be able to bounce back and they have the benifit of having such a great April that even after losing 7 in a row they are only a game and half back. Rios has been making better contact and Wells has been adjusting to his mini-funk by stealing bases. So let’s keep on supporting those Jays!!
Series One is Done
The first series is in the book s for the 2009 season. So what have we learned up to this point? One thing is for certain this is not the Blue Jays team that started last season.
The first game showed the offence supporting their ace Roy Halladay, who struggled only in his own eyes. In the first game of the season we were witness to Adam Lind setting a record of 6 RBI in the opening game of the season. Travis Snider also opened up the season with a home run. One of the things that was needed this season was for these two rookies to step up. If this is a sign of things to come the Jays of the future should be an exciting team to see.
The second game ended up to be a splendid pitcher’s duel between David Purcey and Edwin Jackson. David Purcey seemed to unravel mentally a bit in the seventh but finished the inning and ended the game with seven very solid innings. With the Jays down by 3 in the eighth things looked grim. But the thing that the Blue Jays couldn’t do until the second half of the seaosn last year they did in the second game. Two home runs laters, by Scott Rolen and Aaron Hill, the Jays had the lead going into the ninth. The Tigers managed to tie it in the ninth but Barajas gave the Jays their first walk-off win of the season in the bottom of the ninth after a sac fly.
In the third game of the season the Jays suffered their first loss. The long ball of Inge, hitting a home run in his third consecutive game, and the other Tigers really hurt the young Jesse Litche. The offence of the Jays was not able to bail out their pitcher in this game unfortunately and the Jays fell to 2 and 1.
Going into the final game we saw a little bit of baseball history. It was the first time that two first rounders had ever made their respective major league debut’s against each other. In this game the Jays fell behind 2-0 early. However the batters for the Jays didn’t want to disappoint Romero, or his family, in his first start. Following home runs from Adam Lind and Aaron Hill, Romero was able to leave the game with a lead after six solid innings. Marco Scutaro added another home run to secure the victory for the Jays.
This first series most likely shocked Jays nation. After watching this series most fans should be looking forward to a team that can provide a lot of excitement and hopefully continue to surprise people all season.
Let the real games begin!
Well it has been an extra long spring but it is time for our boys to come back home. Many people are not looking forward to this upcoming season for the Blue Jays but I am. Why? I want to see the Blue Jays shock the world!
There were many positives to take out of this spring training. The one that was most exciting was seeing Travis Snider continue to look like he belongs. This kid does nothing but impress. I am looking forward to seeing him in the Rookie of the Year race.
Perhaps the fact that Travis Snider and Adam Lind have benefited so much under Cito Gaston will push the veterans of the team to work that much harder.
Now even though these games did not matter and it is too early to tell but another positive I took out of the spring was that the Blue Jays were able to actually hit the ball and drive in runs past the 7th inning. This was a big problem last year and hopefully this will carry-on into the regular season and fans will not have to wait till half the season is done to see a come from behind victory.
The biggest question coming out of the spring is the starting pitching. Roy Halladay, of course, will be spectacular as always but what of the rest? Jesse Litche will have to step up to an unfamiliar roll and guide the rookie pitchers on the staff through what he went through just two years ago.
David Purcey has had an impressive spring and should continue his strong outtings for at least a month but we will see how long he can handle the added pressure. Ricky Romero and Scott Richmond have had a mixed spring. Ricky Romero seemed to be constantly improving so it will be interesting to see if he continues this trend. Scott Richmond unfortunately wasted some starts by sitting on the bench thanks to Ernie Whitt.
Overall, I am looking forward to an exciting season and cannot wait till Monday night when it will all begin.
Go Jays Go!
Air Miles Points for the Jays 