Game #121: O's ay Jays pregame
Baltimore (56-63) at Toronto (61-59)
at 7:07 p.m. ET at the Rogers Centre
Today’s lineups:
ORIOLES
Brian Roberts, 2B
Corey Patterson, CF
Nick Markakis, RF
Miguel Tejada, SS
Kevin Millar, 1B
Aubrey Huff, DH
Melvin Mora, 3B
Ramon Hernandez, C
Jay Payton, LF
PITCHING: LHP Garrett Olson (1-1, 4.60 ERA)
BLUE JAYS
Reed Johnson, LF
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Alex Rios, RF
Vernon Wells, CF
Frank Thomas, DH
Troy Glaus, 3B
Aaron Hill, 2B
Curtis Thigpen, C
John McDonald, SS
PITCHING: RHP A.J. Burnett (6-6, 4.09 ERA)
NOTES: INF Russ Adams was back at the Rogers Centre, where he once took the field as Toronto’s starting shortstop. Now? Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi’s first-ever draft pick is the new utility man — only after Jason Smith, Ryan Roberts, Howie Clark, Royce Clayton and Hector Luna didn’t work out. Jays manager John Gibbons said Adams can be used to spell Hill at second or Glaus at third. Gibbons did say that we won’t be seeing Hill at short and Adams at second at all. At Triple-A, Adams was hitting .262 with 11 homers and 54 RBIs in 113 games. He made 102 starts at second, five at third and one at short and committed 18 errors along the way. … Other than the triumphant return of Adams, the Jays are waiting for the triumphant return of the long ball. Toronto hasn’t homered in 47 innings and has a Major League-worst four homers this month. … At least those doubles keep coming — at least one in 23 straight games to be exact. .. The Jays have also now notched 66 quality starts, which is one more than in all of last season.
AL EAST STANDINGS
entering Friday
1. Boston 72-48 (–)
2. New York 67-54 (5.5)
3. Toronto 61-59 (11)
4. Baltimore 56-63 (15.5)
5. Tampa Bay 46-74 (26)
AL WILD CARD RACE
entering Friday
1. Seattle 66-52 (–)
2. New York 67-54 (0.5)
3. Cleveland 66-54 (1)
4. Toronto 61-59 (6)
5. Minnesota 60-60 (7)
6. Oakland 60-62 (8)
THE CLOCK IS TICKING…Over the past 10 seasons, the AL Wild Card winner has finished with an average of 95.7 victories. The Blue Jays would need to go 34-8 over their final 42 games to reach 95 wins.
Major League Bastian 
Haha … that would be quite the finish
But on average the wild card winner won the wild card by like 5 games.
I’m sick of Rios/Wells not homering in the 3/4 slots. Can we move them back to slots where they hit well? 2/5, perhaps? And Overbay has been terrible against lefties this month.
Welcome back Russ,This time show them what you are made of
“JP” Picks up another has been pitcher then releases him over and over again.
“JP” Picks up another has been utilty player and releases him over and over again.
If you need another pay check call 1-800-JP.
I wish I knew what end of the bat to hold then I would make the call.
Fair enough, Torgen.
Tomorrow, I’ll update that factiod in this way:
“Since 1995, the AL Wild Card runner-up has finished with an average of 89 victories. The Blue Jays would need to go 29-13 over their final 42 games to reach 90 wins.”
Maybe 22-20 would be my guess and I belive that is being fair, remember no bats less wins.
The pitchers are the only reason we are still in the race.
Garry
Personally, I have no problem with JP continually picking up guys from waivers and trying them out-sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.
I don’t think he should be bashed for that, in fact we should applaud his efforts.
The thing I do like is, when they realize it isn’t going to work they dump them.
Jordon
Could you do us all a favor and find out what’s happened to David Purcey. He’s listed on the DL at New Hampshire-for a while now and no where on their web site do they list what’s happening.
It’d be nice to find out what his injury is, recommended treatment and expected time of his come back.
I sent an email to New Hamsphire today to find out, but all I got back was, they couldn’t talk about players injury’s.
Why try to steal 3rd base? Why do the Jays keep trying that play?
Are you trying to tell me that Rios cannot score from second on a single?
Stupidity and they keep doing it over and over and ovar again.
You guys can forget about getting the Wild Card. It’s been over for you losers for a long time now. My Yanks sure have enjoyed pounding on your pathetic team, it’s really helped getting my Yanks into contention. Well, maybe next year. Maybe not!!!!!!! LOL!!!!
sentinel Can’t you feel the hot breath of the Jays on your neck but you like it that way don’t you.
Don’t crow to loud we may have the last laugh.
Have you noticed our pitchen staff is the best in the league.
You guys are too far behind us for us to feel anything. Don’t get your hopes up we will always find a way to get into the playoffs leaving you ******* in the cold like we always do!!!!
You’re right sentinel, these losers couldn’t find their way to the post season if their lives depended on it.