Game #103 - Tampa Bay Rays (59-43) @ Toronto Blue Jays (47-56) - game recap

 

After dropping yet another game due to the ice cold bats and a bad 6th inning for Jeff Hoffman and Mason Fluharty, the Blue Jays were looking to snap the 3-game skid and avoid being swept for the 3rd time this season. Lots of roster moves today.  First, Patrick Corbin was placed on the 15-day IL with a left teres major strain and lefty Adam Macko was recalled from AAA-ball. Sean Keys was optioned to AAA-ball and Davis Schneider was recalled from AAA-ball and he got the start in LF. The Blue Jays claimed IF Rudy Martin Jr. off waivers from the Orioles and optioned him to AAA-ball. Finally Addison Barger was transferred to the 60-day IL. ShaneBieber got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate.  Myles Straw was in CF and Yohendrick Pinago was in RF. Kazuma Okamoto was back at the hot corner after the complete day off yesterday.  Ernie Clement and Luis Urias got the start at 2B. Could the Blue Jays snap the 4-game skid and avoid being swept for the 3rd time this season? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 1st as Alejandro Kirk singled scoring Ernie Clement
• The Rays tied it in the top of the 3rd as Yandy Diaz singled scoring Hunter Feduccia
• Casey Legumina pitching line: 2IP 2H 1R (earned) 2BB 2K 40 pitches (28 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays retook the lead in the bottom half of the inning as George Springer singled scoring Yohendrick Pinago 
• The Blue Jays added a run in the bottom of the 7th as Vladimir Gurrero Jr.  singled scoring Myles Straw 
• Shane Bieber pitching line: 7IP 3H 1R (earned) 0BB 3K 86 pitches (57 for strikes)
• Louis Varland threw a perfect 9th for his 21st save of the season 
• Final score: Blue Jays 3 Rays 1

My Take:

• Shane Bieber fired 7 strong innings, giving up a run on 3 hits while walking none and striking out 3. Bieber retired 9 of the first 11 batters he faced and 13 of the last 14 he faced. It was good timing to have a nice start since teams will likely be interested in acquiring the 2020 AL Cy Young winner. 
• The bullpen threw 2 perfect innings, striking out 3.
• The veteran bats (George Springer, Vlad and Alejandro Kirk) provided the offense with clutch RBI singles. 
• The Blue Jays successfully overturned all three ABS challenges. The Rays were 1-1 on ABS challenges
• The Blue Jays were 3-9 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays hit the road and will likely come home a different team with the trade deadline coming up August 3. They start the road trip in Boston.  The Blue Jays are 5-1 against the Red Sox this season and have outscored the Bosox 24-10. Trey  Yesavage starts against Red Sox lefty Patrick Sandoval

Game # 103 - Tampa Bay Rays (59-42) @ Toronto Blue Jays (46-56)

 

Two out of three ain't bad...

Ten...ten games under .500

That's bad...but maybe not this bad:

I use ten games above .500 as the mark of a decent team with potential for the long haul...this is not a good team.

We have 60 games left in the season and I think even getting to .500 would be a minor miracle.

However...you never know.

 Maybe the anemic offense finally wakes up and the team goes 42-18...do not, I repeat, do not place money on that possibility...just send it to me.

So let's at least win this matinee affair and head off to Boston with some semblance of competency.

2026 In Summary...

POW!!! Right in the kisser!

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Hello friends...tired of listless and lifeless baseball?

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Always guaranteed to spark conversation and lively debate!

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I don't think it was the letter that brought him back...

Game #102 - Tampa Bay Rays (59-42) @ Toronto Blue Jays (46-56) - game recap

 

Alejandro Kirk hit a solo HR in a 4-2 come-from behind loss to the Rays

After another blowout loss due to bad pitching, offense and defense, the Blue Jays were looking to snap the 3-game skid and avoid their 17th series loss of the season. Jonatan Clase was placed on the 10 day IL with left plantar fasciitis. Yohendrick Pinago was recalled from AAA-ball (and got the start in LF. Righty Lazaro Estrada was optioned to AAA-ball and righty CJ Van Eyk was recalled from AAA-ball. It was a bullpen day with Brayden Fisher getting the start and Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Kazuma Okamoto got the complete day off with Sean Keys at the hot corner.  Could the Blue Jays snap the 3-game skid and avoid their 17th series loss of the season? Here is tonight's game recap. 

Game Highlights:

• The Blue jays opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st on a ground out hit by George Springer that scored Nathan Lukes
• The Rays tied it in the top of the 2nd as Victor Mesa Jr. singled scoring Chandler Simpson
• Brayden Fisher pitching line: 1.1IP 0H 1R (earned) 2BB 1K 26 pitches (11 for strikes)
• The Rays took the lead in the top of the 6th on a sac fly by Simpson that scored Yandy Diaz
• A batter later, Mesa Jr. singled scoring Junior Caminero
• Two batters later, Cedric Mullins was forced in on a bases loaded walk to Ben Williamson
• Griffin Jax pitching line: 6IP 3H 1R (earned) 1BB 5K 83 pitches (57 for strikes)
• The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom of the 7th as Alejandro Kirk belted a solo jack to left-center
• Bryan Baker threw a perfect 9th for his 26th save of the season
• Final score: Rays  4 Blue Jays 2

My Take:

• Brayden Fisher was the opener in today's bullpen day, necessitated by Patrick Corbin losing his effectiveness as a starting pitcher and Max Scherzer being a rehab start or two away from being ready to return to the rotation. I still don't like the of the opener largely because it wastes a reliever right away. Also, pitchers are very much creatures of habit and preparing for a start once every five days vs. being a reliever who might pitch on back to back days and comes in often with men on base or the score dictating the situation is very different. One hall of fame pitcher who was excellent as both a starter and a  reliever was the great Dennis Eckersley, who won 20 games as a starter in 1978 and saved 51 games in 1992 when he won the Cy Young award. The Blue Jays should see about getting a starting pitcher back at the trade deadline.
• The bullpen gave up a further 3 runs on 8 hits while walking 2 and striking out 8 over the last 6.2 innings. One huge positive, Brendon Little is looking much more effective since he was recalled a few days ago. Hopefully he keeps building on these positive outings
• Offensively, Alejandro Kirk went deep in the 7th inning and Nathan Lukes scored on a ground out. It has to be alarming to everyone from the front office to manager John Schneider that Vladdy still hasn't gone deep at the Rogers Centre this season.
• Rays catcher Nick Fortes was successful on the Rays only ABS challenges and Alejandro Kirk was 1-1 on ABS challenges
• The Blue Jays were 0-3 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, The Blue Jays try to snap the 4 game skid and avoid being swept for the 2nd time this season. Shane Bieber starts against Rays lefty Ian Seymour

Game # 102 - Tampa Bay Rays (58-42) @ Toronto Blue Jays (46-55)

 

Waiting for some rain? Let me take the mound and do my thing...

Last night was...something else.

Yup... a little bit of everything last night.

Sadly, none of it was anything good.

It's so bad even Ernie is getting pissed off.

To those of you that watched the whole game I salute you.

It might be time to start planning the rest of your summer...

Special JiTH Announcement!!!!!

In light of the recent crappiness of Jays baseball we at JiTH Co. are proposing a change in branding...

WELCOME TO

HiTH!!!

Yes...Hallmark In The House!!

At HiTH we'll be viewing and then discussing the cream of the Hallmark movie crop!

Don't miss this chance to get in on the ground floor of the most radical concept of the century!!

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And now our historic first movie...

Looks riveting....

Game #101 - Tampa Bay Rays (57-42) @ Toronto Blue Jays (46-54)

 

Wild Thing...you made our hearts sing.

It seems that my pleas have fallen upon deaf ears...

Last night was neither a victory or entertaining.

I've said it before but I think the boys have mentally checked out.

Prove me wrong guys...go on a run...smash 5 homers...have an error free game...anything!

Tonight might be one of last few Gausman starts so I hope he throws a Maddux.

And now a special JiTH update!!

Earlier today longtime PITA It's All Over! predicted the possible removal of our current field manager.

One of his predicted startling changes is the installment of Dabbles as batboy.

We've dug out the JiTH ChronoViewer to take a future glimpse of Dabs in his new role...

ACTUAL CHRONOVIEWER FOOTAGE!

Pretty much what we expected...