B.J. Ryan Lands on DL (plus pregame)
TORONTO — The Blue Jays placed All-Star closer B.J. Ryan on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left elbow on Sunday.
Ryan, who blew his second save of the season on Saturday against Detroit, is flying to Birmingham, Ala., where he’ll meet with renowned orthropedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews on Monday. At that time, the Blue Jays will be able to evaluate the extent of the injury.
Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi said that Ryan’s elbow had been the source of some mild discomfort during the first week of the season, when the Jays opened the year in Detroit. Ricciardi indicated that the pain worsened during the last week.
Last season, Ryan recorded 38 saves and posted a 1.37 ERA in his first season with Toronto, which signed him to a five-year deal worth $47 million in November 2005. This year, the 31-year-old closer was 0-2 with a 12.46 ERA and three saves in five chances.
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Detroit (7-4) at Toronto (6-5)
at 1:07 p.m. ET at the Rogers Centre
Today’s lineups:
TIGERS
Curtis Granderson, CF
Placido Polanco, 2B
Gary Sheffield, RF
Magglio Ordonez, DH
Carlos Guillen, SS
Ivan Rodriguez, C
Sean Casey, 1B
Marcus Thames, LF
Brandon Inge, 3B
PITCHING: LHP Nate Robertson
BLUE JAYS
Alex Rios, RF
Aaron Hill, 2B
Vernon Wells, CF
Frank Thomas, DH
Gregg Zaun, C
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Royce Clayton, SS
Adam Lind, LF
John McDonald, 3B
PITCHING: RHP Josh Towers
NOTES: With Ryan out, RHP Jason Frasor moves into the closer’s role. He saved 17 games for Toronto in 2004. … Toronto purchased the contract of RHP Jamie Vermilyea and added him to the bullpen, where he’ll serve mainly as a middle reliever. The Jays transferred LHP Davis Romero (torn left lebrum) to the 6-day DL to clear room on the roster. … LF Reed Johnson "has a decision to make," according to general manager J.P. Ricciardi. That means Johnson will likely have to decided whether or not to have surgery on the herniated disc in his lower back. If he does opt for the operation, he could miss at least two months. … 3B Troy Glaus might be available to play on Tuesday against the Red Sox. … Wells, Thomas, Clayton and hitting coach Mickey Brantley each donned a No. 42 jersey on Sunday in honor of the Jackie Robinson Day.
Major League Bastian 
Who will get the setup role with Frasor closing? Zambrano? Janssen?
It will probably be a mix of guys. Ricciardi said Vic Zambrano and Shaun Marcum could see time in closing situations on days Frasor isn’t available. So those guys would likely help with the setup role, along with Jeremy Accardo, Casey Janssen and Scott Downs. I don’t think there’s one set guy for the 8th inning now.
i’d like to see accardo get some time in the closer’s role. when we got him last year he was praised as the next great reliever. i wanna see what this guy can do and whether or not he will step up.
Any update on League? With Ryan down, his return is even more important. If Ryan and League both returns during the season, that’s a great boost to the bullpen, which should be taxed by then.
Tough news on Reed. Lind might steal his job while he’s down. That’s tough to see, but Reed might be traded later to make room for Lind finally.
There’s no timetable on League. He originally was optioned to Triple-A with the hope that he could return quickly and get in some Minor League games before being brought back up. When his progess wasn’t moving quickly, Toronto placed him on the 15-day DL. His is an odd situation and it will take him time to get back to where he was. He isn’t throwing off a mound except in bullpen sessions, and he’s working with a long toss program to try to break up the “overdeveloped lat muscle” and any issues that might be leftover in his shoulder. So don’t count on him joining the Jays for some time.
Last night on Sunday Night Baseball during the Jackie Robinson Day game Joe Morgan mentioned the fact that back to back World Series Winning Manager Cito Gaston has not managed since. The Blue Jays should have honoured Cito Gaston as the first African American manager to capture a World Series on Jackie Robinson Day. Albeit short the Blue Jays have a fantastic history and they should do more to commemorate it. Cito Gaston’s great achievement should not be forgotton. Cito Gaston deserves another shot in the MLB. His quiet leadership is an anecdote to the Lou Pinella style and has proven to be just as or even more effective.
Jordan,
I noticed that that David Purcey, the hard-throwing left hander, has had a good initial outing giving up only one walk with 7 strike-outs. If he can maintain his control, how likely do you think it would be that the Jays would call him up to have a hard-throwing left-hander in the pen?