2013 Toronto Blue Jays Thread

[Derk]

Looks like Ricky's first start of the year was a failure. Blew through the first three innings, then a HBP, home run, single and three walks. He managed to get through the inning with only 3 runs being scored, but was yanked to start the 5th. It sounded like his confidence issues had returned as he kept burying his changeup in the dirt. Did they bring him up too soon? Is he done as not only a Blue Jay but as a major league pitcher? All this and more, in the ongoing saga of the Blue Jays! I swear can anything else possibly go wrong for this team?

He looked like he had some kind of issue with his finger, was probably affecting his pitches.  I wouldn't really call it a failure.

They didn't mention him being concerned about his finger until after the third walk. It sounded more like he lost control, then had problems with his finger, then got hit by a line drive.

Speaking of which, unfortunate that Izturis lined into that double play with runners at the corners and none out in the 8th to kill that rally. Jays may have been shut out on 5 hits, but there were a couple of hard hit balls that were turned into outs.

Edit: Just read the game report and you are right - the injury came before the walks. When I was listening on the radio, I must have missed that part. Good news at any rate, if it was an injury and not him losing his confidence.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

He says it didn't affect him, though.  But that could be just the kind of person he is, not making excuses.  We'll see if/when he gets another start.

 

[Derk]

He says it didn't affect him, though.  But that could be just the kind of person he is, not making excuses.  We'll see if/when he gets another start.

I certainly hope it affected him. If it didn't, that mental block is still there.

 

[TML fan]

Anthopulous' shirts have gotta be feeling a little tight in the collar lately...

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Dickey's stats his last few starts, and up until that inning, were basically back to his last 3 seasons with the Mets average.

A guy who hadn't hit a homer this season, and never hit a Grand Slam either....when is it going to end?

 

[bustaheims]

when is it going to end?

When all hope is gone?

 

[Deebo]

Have they even won a series yet?

 

[bustaheims]

Have they even won a series yet?

Just one - they took 2 of 3 from KC. Also, the only time they've won consecutive games.

 

[L K]

I think I'm done with the Jays for this year.  Maybe things rebound next year but this hitting style is not going to produced a winner on the field and they are about to go 8.0 games back of the division barely over a month into the year.

It would be one thing if the pitching was struggling while the hitting was carrying the load or the other way around but absolutely nothing is working.

Offense 30th - AVG 28th - OBP 27th - OPS 25th - RBI, Strikeouts 24th - Runs 21st - SLG 20th - Double Plays 17th - BB 8th - SB

...

Starters 30th - Runs, Earned Runs, Home Runs 28th - ERA 27th - Home Runs, OBP, SLG, OPS, Walks 26th - WHIP 24th - Wild Pitches 22nd - Hits, Batting Average 20th - Strikeouts

...

Relievers 29th - Stolen Bases 25th - Walks 24th - Home runs, Earned Runs, Runs 22nd - OPS, SLG, WHIP 21st - OBP 20th - Strikeouts, Batting Average 15th - Wild Pitches 14th - ERA 13th - Saves 11th - Strikeouts 10th - Holds

Absolutely no redeemable qualities.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Which is crazy, because they've definitely had far worse teams that weren't this bad.

 

[bustaheims]

Which is crazy, because they've definitely had far worse teams that weren't this bad.

Yeah. It's more that pretty much the entire team are having off years. The homerun totals are nice, but, none of the bats are otherwise contributing. The only starter that isn't having a bad year so far is Happ, and in the pen, outside of Janssen and Cecil, there's really not much worth talking about either (Delabar's been okay, but, that's pretty much the extent of it). The team is a mess right now. They basically need a 12-15 game win streak just to get back in the playoff conversation.

 

[Derk]

Yeah, this is getting frustrating. I was planning on going out to some games this summer, but I think I will cut back on that for now. 10-21, and 11 games out of first, further back than any other team in the majors right now.

Most of the team has been atrocious.

 

[Derk]

Jays "avert the sweep" again with a 10-2 drubbing of the M's. Morrow 8 strong innings of 3-hit ball. Nice to see a good game out of him finally.

 

[iwas11in67]

Yeah, this is getting frustrating. I was planning on going out to some games this summer, but I think I will cut back on that for now. 10-21, and 11 games out of first, further back than any other team in the majors right now.

Most of the team has been atrocious.

I feel the same way.

 

[bustaheims]

Jays "avert the sweep" again with a 10-2 drubbing of the M's. Morrow 8 strong innings of 3-hit ball. Nice to see a good game out of him finally.

More importantly, 15 hits and they only struck out once.

 

[GhostofPotvin29]

Yeah, this is getting frustrating. I was planning on going out to some games this summer, but I think I will cut back on that for now. 10-21, and 11 games out of first, further back than any other team in the majors right now.

Most of the team has been atrocious.

You should still go, it's a pretty reasonably priced sports viewing option, and is great on a beautiful day like today.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

Bringing the family to a game in July! The way things are going, I'm glad I picked the Astros game

 

[Derk]

Yeah, this is getting frustrating. I was planning on going out to some games this summer, but I think I will cut back on that for now. 10-21, and 11 games out of first, further back than any other team in the majors right now.

Most of the team has been atrocious.

You should still go, it's a pretty reasonably priced sports viewing option, and is great on a beautiful day like today.

I may still, but it is still a trip. I live in Guelph, and working pretty much cuts the evening games out of the equation unless I want to take a half day.

Who knows, there is still time. If they start playing up to their potential, things will get interesting again.

 

[Corn Flake]

Jays "avert the sweep" again with a 10-2 drubbing of the M's. Morrow 8 strong innings of 3-hit ball. Nice to see a good game out of him finally.

More importantly, 15 hits and they only struck out once.

The first 3 runs were very encouraging... good situational hitting used to manufacture them.  Something that has been completely missing since day 1 this year. 

Hopefully they continue to abandon this all or nothing approach at the plate, where every swing is for a home run... and chase every pitch too.

 

[TML fan]

Jays "avert the sweep" again with a 10-2 drubbing of the M's. Morrow 8 strong innings of 3-hit ball. Nice to see a good game out of him finally.

More importantly, 15 hits and they only struck out once.

The first 3 runs were very encouraging... good situational hitting used to manufacture them.  Something that has been completely missing since day 1 this year. 

Hopefully they continue to abandon this all or nothing approach at the plate, where every swing is for a home run... and chase every pitch too.

I don't mind their 3-4-5 guys taking huge hacks, but the rest of the lineup needs to take a different approach.