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...

- Game #100 - Tampa Bay Rays (57-42) @ Toronto Blue Jays (46-54) - game recap

 

Alejandro Kirk drove in the Blue Jays only run in a 7-1 loss to the Rays

After dropping yesterday's game due to another poor effort from the inept offense, the Blue Jays were looking to start the week with a win against the Rays, who have won 5 of the 6 games played between the two squads so far this season, outscoring the Blue Jays 30-20. Dylan Ceasse got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. Vlad was back in the field after the half day off as DH yesterday (George Springer served as DH tonight.) Myles Straw got the start in LF. Could the Blue Jays start the week with a win? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Rays opened the scoring in the top of the 2nd as Victor Mesa Jr, hammered a solo bomb to dead center
• The Rays added a run in the top of the 3rd as Jonathan Aranda singled scoring Taylor Walls 
• The Blue Jays got one back in the bottom of the 4th as Alejndro Kirk singled scoring George Springer
• The Rays added a run in the top of the 5th on a fielding error by Andres Gimenez on a ball hit by Yandy Diaz that scored Nick Fortes
• Two batters later, Junior Caminero singled scoring Diaz
• The Rays added a run in the top of the 6th as Cedric Mullins hammered a solo bomb to dead center
• Dylan Cease pitching line: 6IP 7H 5R (3 earned) 1BB 7K 101 pitches (66 for strikes)
• The Rays added a run in the top of the 7th as Caminero doubled scoring Diaz
• Nick Marunez pitching line: 6IP 6H 1R (earned) 1BB 0K 82 pitches (54 for strikes)
• The Rays addeda run in the top of the 9th as Fortes whacked a solo blast to left-center
• Final score: Rays 7 Blue Jays 1

My Take:

• Dylan Cease battled through 6 innings, giving up 5 runs (3 earned ) on 7 hits while walking 1 and striking out 7. Cease was taken deep twice. You have to wonder if the exra days off effected his effectiveness. Pitchers are very much creatures of habit and the starters are used to pitching every 5 days. Unfortunate timing for a bad start with the Blue Jays needing to string together some wins and fast.
• The bullpen gave up a pair of runs on 6 hits while walking 1 and striking out 2 over the last 2 innings. Brendon Little looked ok in the 1st inning he pitched but John Schneider tempted fate and let him throw one more - then he ran into trouble, giving up a run on 3 hits while intentionally walking Junior Caminero. 
• The offense was one RBI single off the bat of catcher Alejanddro Kirk. Vlad was 0-8 and his contract is aging badly - only 13 more years...
• There were no ABS challenges today
• The Blue Jays were 1-5 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to snap the 2-game skid and avoid their 10th season series loss of the season. Kevin Gausman starts against Rays righty Drew Rasmussen.

Game #100 - Tampa Bay Rays (56-42) @ Toronto Blue Jays (46-53)

 

My name isn't Ken...honestly, I'm not joshing you.

Game number 100....ain't much time left boys.

If you aren't going to win at least be entertaining.

After yesterday's snoozefest we're all hoping for some signs of life.

However, considering that Satan's team is in town I'm not expecting much.

So settle in and hopefully we'll witness another Cease gem.

Special JiTH Expert Analysis!!

Watching this offense be like:

Do something FFS!!

Game #99 Chicago White Sox (52-46) @ Toronto Blue Jays (46-53) - game recap

 

Mason Fluharty retired all 4 batters he faced in a 3-0 shutout loss to the White Sox

After eking out a win on the strength of a strong effort from Shane Bieber, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 2 games and notch their 12th series win of the season. Trey Yesavage got the start with Brandon Valenzuela behind the plate. Vlad got the half day off as DH with Sean Keys at 1B. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 2 games and notch their 12th series win of the season? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The White Sox opened the scoring in the top of the 4th on a sac fly by Andrew Benintendi that scored Miguel Vargas
• The White Sox added a run in the top of the 6th as Colston Montgomery belted a solo jack to right-center and into the White Sox bullpen
• Two batters later, Braden Montgomery singled scoring Benintendi
• Trey Yesavage pitching line: 6IP 5H 3R (all earned) 2BB 9K 95 pitches (69 for strikes)
• Sean Burke pitching line: 6.2IP 2H 0R 1BB 5K 98 pitches (69 for strikes)
• Grant Taylor pitched a scoreless 9th for his 5th save of the season
• Final score: White Sox 3 Blue Jays 0

My Take:

• Trey Yesavage fired 6 strong innings, giving up 3 runs on 5 hits while walking 2 and striking out 9. He retired 9 of the first 10 batters he faced. It's been an up and down season for Yesavage, who missed the first month with a shoulder impingement. Hopefully he can build some momentum with a series of solid starts to build on whenever baseball starts (there is likely to be a delay to next season due to a lockout)
• The bullpen pitched 3 scoreless innings, giving up 1 hit, walking none and striking out 3. Mason Fluharty and Lazaro Estrada both retired every batter they faced
• The offense? A measly 4 hits and 1 walk. Nathan Lukes had half the hits and half the hits never left the infield.
• The White Sox were 2-2 on ABS challenges and the Blue Jays successfully overturned all three ABS challeanges
• The Blue Jays were 0-2 with runners in scoring position.
• Very sad to hear about the news of the sudden passing of the best closer in Blue Jays history Duane Ward. May he rest in peace
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to start the week with a win as they welcome the Rays, who are 5-1 against the Bklue Jays this season, outscoring the Blue Jays 30-20. Dylan Cease starts against Rays righty Nick Martinez.

Game #99 - Chicago White Sox (51-46) @ Toronto Blue Jays (46-52)

 

Oh, hai..you can call me Snakeface :)

A win is a win....

Not much in the way of offense (again) but the pitching was stellar and it propelled the Jays to a 1-0 win.

Today's early (very early) start finds the Jays in the position to take the series from the ChiSox.

Maybe we can score a tad more than yesterday...we shall find out soon....very soon.

On a sad note, most of you probably know about the passing of Duane Ward during his stay in Toronto this weekend.

What can you say about Duane except that he was one of, if not the best relievers that the club ever had.

You can look up his stats but I'll leave you with some of my memories about him.

The guy was nails and made some of the most feared sluggers of his day look plain silly.

I always loved seeing Canseco flailing against Duane's breaking pitches...just so much fun.

He sweated a lot...but we never did when he was on the mound.

Rest in peace Duane. You'll be greatly missed.

JiTH Spotlight Time!!!

Today's spotlight falls on Catcher On The Rye...

Actual footage of Catcher watching Vlad's AB's yesterday...

Hey Tommy!! I got this one done on time!!! :P