Game #90 - Toronto Blue Jays (42-47) @ Seattle Mariners (46-44)

 

Monkey never cramp!

Fugly...yesterday was....fugly.

Let's try to be better today....

Game #89 - Toronto Blue Jays (42-47) @ Seattle Mariners (46-44) - game recap

 

Brayden Fisher struck out the side in an 11-0 shutout loss to the Mariners

After a win yesterday on the strength of 7 excellent innings from Dylan Cease and a 2-run 3rd inning rally, the Blue Jays were looking to extend the win streak to 3 games and notch their 11th series win of the season. Shane Bieber 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 3 games and notch their 11th series win of the season? Here is today's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Mariners opened the scoring in the bottom of the 2nd as Victor Robles singled scoring Cole Young
• Three batters later, Randy Arozarena hammered a grand slam to left; also scoring Robles, Colt Emerson and JP Crawford
• The Mariners added a pair ofd runs in the bottom of the 5th as Dominic Canzone belted a 2-run jack to right-center; also scoring Arozarena
• Shane Bieber pitching line: 4IP 6H 7R (all earned) 3BB 3K 89 pitches (53 for strikes)
• The Mariners added a run in the bottom of the 6th as Canzone singled scoring Emerson
• A batter later, Cal Raleigh drilled a 3-run blast to right; also scoring Canzone and Arozarena
• Logan Gilbert pitching line: 7.1IP 1H 0R 0B 7K 91 pitches (63 for strikes)
• Final score: Mariners 11 Blue Jays 0

My Take:

• Shane Bieber ws lit up for 7 runs on 6 hits while walking 3 and striking out 3 over 4 innings. The 2nd inning was a complete disaster for him which he barekly escaped, needing 44 pitches, giving up 5 runs in the inning, capped by a grand slam from Randy Arozarena, who stopped to play rocks paper scissors with the first base coach during the home run trot. Bieber came out for the 4th and gave up a 2-run HR to end his day. It has been a struggle to find consistent form for the veteran righty after missing te first couple of months of the season with injury.
• The bullpen gave up a further 4 runs on 5 hits with 0 walks and  6 strikeouts over the last 4 innings. Brayden Fisher, who struck out the side in the 8th inning, and Myles Straw both retired every batter they faced.
• Not much to say about the offense, that managed one bloop single to break up the no hitter and perfect game on a day where Logan Gilbert was pulling his best Greg Maddux, needing basically 10 pitches to get through every inning. To be fair, he was nasty today with his fastball consistently touching 97/98 MPH. Sometimes you just have to tip your cap to a nice pitching performance
• The Blue Jays were 1-1 on ABS challenges. The Mariners did not attempt an ABS challenge
• The Blue Jays did not get a runner into scoring position today
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to notch their 11th series win of the season. Trey Yesavage starts against Mariners righty Emerson Hancock

Game #89 - Toronto Blue Jays (42-46) @ Seattle Mariners (45-44)

 

I Pitched for the Jays....and I was not good.

I hope today's game makes up for Canada's loss in the World Cup...

I also hope we actually get some offense going.

Once Dabs gets that propane we're all gonna show Fergus how to party!

Game #88 - Toronto Blue Jays (42-46) @ Seattle Mariners (45-44) - game recap

 

After an off-day/travel day yesterday, the Blue Jays began a west coast swing in Seattle against the Mariner, a rematch of the ALCS that propelled the Blue Jays to an opportunity for their 3rd world series of which they fell inches short. In the regular season, the Blue Jays won the season series outscoring the Mariners 31-24. Dylan Cease got the start with Alejandro Kirk behind the plate. The rest of the lineup was the same as Wednesday's Canada Day blowout against Bo Bichette and the Mets. Could the Blue Jays extend the win streak to 2 games and start te west coast swing with a win? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game Highlights:

• The Blue Jays opened the scoring in the top of the 3rd as Andres Gimenez doubled scoring Sean Keys
• Two batters later, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. singled home Gimenez
• Luis Castillo pitching line; 6IP 5H 2R (both earned) 1BB 4K 101 pitches (712 for strikes) 
• Dylan Cease pitching line: 7IP 3H 0R 1BB 9K 102 pitches (70 for strikes)
• Louis Varland threw a scoreless 9th for his 18th save of the season
• Final score: Blue Jays 2 Mariners 0

My Take:

• Dylan Cease fired 7 shutout innings, scattering 3 hits, walking 1 and striking out 9.  He hit into a jam in the bottom of the 3rd but pitched his way out of it witth the help of a nice double play executed behind him. That was really his only stressful inning and Cease retired 13 of the last 14 batters he faced
• The bullpen held the Mariners to a walk and a hit while striking out 3 over the last 2 innings. Hoffman was placed on the highest leverage situation he's been in for a while, pitching the 8th with a 2- run lead. Hopefully John Schneider keeps him where he is and doesn't try to make him a closer again.
• The sputtering offense got two clutch base hits off the bats of Vlad and Andres Gimenez. Maybe just maybe Vlad is starting to slowly turn it around, but he is still executing far below what one should expect someone paid aikm to stars like Shohei Ohtani and Juan Soto, who have been earning their mega deals a lot better. Vlad basically had his career year in 2021; a year where the Blue Jays were playing their home games in minor league ballparks due to the COVID-19 restrictions. He is almost certainly playing through something and should seriously consider an IL stint to get over whatever the ailment is so he can better help the team. No one should be questioning his commitment to trying to improve - Guerrero Jr. has been spent hours in the batting cage - perhaps too much time.  Maybe he should try some video sessions to try and find the flaw in his swing.
• The Mariners Randy Arozarena was unsuccessful in both his ABS challenges and Alejandro Kirk successfully overturned the Blue Jays only ABS challenge.  Mariners manager Dan Wilson can't be happy that Arozarena blew both their ABS challenges
• The Blue jays were 1-4 with runners in scoring position
• Up next, the Blue Jays try to extend the win streak to 3 games and notch their 11th series win of the season. Shane Bieber starts against Mariners righty Logan  Gilbert 

Game #88 - Toronto Blue Jays (41- 46) @ Seattle Mariners (45 -43)

 

Hey Cito, my swing doesn't need to be fixed.

Time for a little JiTH after dark baseball.

The embark on a nine game west coast road swing.

Without getting too dire this trip could pretty much sum up the season for the team as they head into the all star break.

So with everyone not having any duties and responsibilities to attend to settle in and enjoy some left coast baseball.