Game #32: Red Sox at Blue Jays pregame
After a handful of days off, I’m back at the ballpark here in Toronto. I got to spend the last few days absorbing hours of The Sopranos. I’m wrapping up Season 1 and also taking in some of Season 4 (which is how far my wife is into the series). I’ve never had much time to really sit down and watch the show, but I gotta say I’m getting addicted. Now, if only the Jays can avoid getting whacked for the seventh game in a row. Here’s today’s pregame blog:
Boston (20-10) at Toronto (13-18)
at 7:07 p.m. ET at the Rogers Centre
Today’s lineups:
RED SOX
Julio Lugo, SS
Kevin Youkilis, 1B
David Ortiz, DH
Manny Ramirez, LF
J.D. Drew, RF
Mike Lowell, 3B
Jason Varitek, C
Coco Crisp, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B
PITCHING: RHP Josh Beckett
BLUE JAYS
Alex Rios, RF
Adam Lind, LF
Vernon Wells, CF
Frank Thomas, DH
Troy Glaus, 3B
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Aaron Hill, 2B
Jason Phillips, C
Royce Clayton, SS
PITCHING: RHP Victor Zambrano
NOTES: RHP Dustin McGowan is scheduled to make his next start on Saturday and Zambrano is slated for Sunday. RHP A.J. Burnett is scheduled to go on Friday. … After experimenting with Hill in the leadoff spot, Toronto manager John Gibbons opted to put Rios back at the top of the order. … Gibbons was hesitant to name who his go-to pitcher was for the ninth inning.
Major League Bastian 
One the one hand, Hill was getting wailed on in the leadoff spot (0 for 13, I think). On the other hand, I don’t remember Rios doing great there either. I’m assuming Accardo is the 9th inning guy, but with Zambrano on the mound we may be more worried about who the 5th-8th inning guys are. (Maybe 4th too.)
I wish I hadn’t predicted that so well. For some reason I have my doubts that Zambrano is still scheduled to start again. Towers got cut off with an ERA under 5. Zambrano’s is somwhere around 11. It’s probably Janssen’s turn; the question is who gets the remaining spot if McGowan continues to pitch like he always has. Will Thompson be healthy yet, or will Marcum get it by default? Also, will Zambrano stay in the ‘pen, where he has also been terrible, or will he get sent down?
Quite frankly, if the jays get swept by the red sox which they probably will, they will be 10.5 game behind first place. And there is noway the jays are going to be 10 games better than the sox down the stretch, the jays would have to be really hot and the sox have to be worse than the jays. So if the jays get swept this series, please can Gibbons finally get fired. I know he probably wont because Ricciardi loves him so then I say to Godfrey to step in and fire both of them. This is getting out of hand and embarrassing to watch and I know i’m not the only one who thinks that. You have to start somewhere, so Fire Gibbons first. For the love of God please fire him. The players dont want to play for a ***** like Gibbons, and it shows.