Game #129: Jays at Angels pregame
Toronto (64-64) at Los Angeles (75-53)
at 9:05 p.m. ET at Angel Stadium
Today’s lineups:
BLUE JAYS
Reed Johnson, LF
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Alex Rios, RF
Vernon Wells, CF
Frank Thomas, DH
Troy Glaus, 3B
Aaron Hill, 2B
Gregg Zaun, C
John McDonald, SS
PITCHING: RHP Shaun Marcum (10-5, 3.65 ERA)
ANGELS
Reggie Willits, LF
Orlando Cabrera, SS
Vlad Guerrero, RF
Garret Anderson, DH
Gary Matthews Jr., CF
Maicer Izturis, 3B
Kendry Morales, 1B
Howie Kendrick, 2B
Jeff Mathis, C
PITCHING: LHP Joe Saunders (7-1, 3.25 ERA)
NOTES: The only thing different on Saturday’s lineup card was the date and the starting pitcher. … Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi said there could be as many as five players called up on Sept. 1. It appears as though it will be Adam Lind, either catcher Sal Fasano or Robinzon Diaz, possibly pitcher Josh Banks and one or two other players. … Jays manager John Gibbons said RHP Brandon League (oblique strain) threw a simulated game on Thursday in the Gulf Coast League and the pitcher will likely make two rehab outings before being activated after rosters expand on Sept. 1. … Zaun is in the midst of an 0-for-21 skid at the plate. He said his struggles have been a combination of running into some tough luck, having his right hand not back at full strength, and batting eighth. Batting in front of the light-hitting McDonald has led Zaun to be more aggressive at the plate, which helps explain his dimishing on-base percentage.
AL WILD CARD RACE
entering Saturday
1. Seattle 73-53 (–)
2. New York 71-57 (3)
3. Detroit 69-59 (5)
4. Minnesota 65-63 (9)
5. Toronto 64-64 (10)
REALITY CHECK…Since 1995, the runner-up in the AL Wild Card race has finished with an average of 89 victories. The Blue Jays would need to go 26-8 over their final 34 games to reach 90 wins.
Major League Bastian 
Here we go again sad very sad
Interesting
Gibby said yesterday the call ups would be limited to a catcher and maybe an arm or two. JP says today there could be 5 call ups. I wonder if there’s a message there.
Jordon-I disagree with calling up Banks-he’s been medicore at Syracuse-so I don’t feel he’s earned it.
From AAA, I expect they’ll call up Lind, Diaz and possibly Ryan Houston-who’s been going really well the last while.
They might bring up Ty Taubenheim, from AA-who appears to have gotten it, in the last few games.
I also hope they call up Sergio Santos from AA who’s the only short stop in the minors, I can find who’s hit 20 HR’s this year.
way to go Johnny Mac
Jhonny Mac the man I hope the Jays keep him next year,But remember other teams are looking at him also.
I mentioned Banks because he was one player Ricciardi said was in the mix for a callup today.
Jordon
Thanks for that. I don’t understand why JP would want to call up a mediocre starter-when’s he going to start-who’s turn. I hope not Jessie-Da Kid needs every start he can get.
Garry-Johnny Mac-the rbi machine. lol
When is the last time we got a rbi with two out-it’s so long I can’t remember it.
Nice outing by the bulldog-just kept hanging in there without his best stuff.
gsumner.
our pitchers have earned their pay this year for sure,
BIG NEWS.
Homer Bush at the rogers center soon, he has the home run record for players named Homer,Hall of fame for sure LOL.
Lets call Burnett rubberarm make it one word.LOL.
Zaun’s comments on his slump
*My hand is still hurting
*I’ve had bad luck
*It’s the spot I’m batting-in front of Macdonald
*I should be batting 2nd.
Please,in case you haven’t noticed Greg, Macdonald is hitting .263-which is ahead of:
Johnson-.261
Overbea-.256
Wells-.258
Glaus-.251
Zaun-.230
If I was Macdonald, I’d be complaining about the lack of prodution in front and behind him.
Garry-homer-lol
Actually I was warming up to Ace. It can’t be any more than two syllables
Another clean inning by Wolfe-man, this kid has pitched well for us. His era now down to .186.
gsumner your a card.
We all should send Zaun a crying towel lol.
ACE IT IS.
Na, we should send him a mirror and a bandana gag-with instructions.
He’s starting to look like he’s lost it-good thing we have Thigpen, Diaz and Fasano.
Like Pudge in Detroit-production fell off the table in August. I read an article on the Yanks site about Pasada in which the writer stated most catchers hit a wall at 35 or 36 and he pointed out Pudge. He also went on to say Pasada was different and very unique.
Well, Zauny turned 36 in April-so maybe the writer’s right. I hope not, but he sure has lost his trowing arm, so maybe hitting comes next.
But it was unfair to state his problem was because of Macdonald. It was stupid to state he felt he should be batting 2nd.
Well there’s no question about Wolfe’s nickname-it has to be Wolfman.
Hey, how about these
Tallet-Preacher or Blue
Accardo-Locks
Frasor-
Downs-
Casey Janssen-
Johnson, Overbea, Rios, Wells
2 for 18. Ouch
Great game by Glaus, Macdonald, Hill and Thomas
Frasor gumball because of the gum he chews.
Downs Lefty.
Frasor’s nickname should be “Waldo” as in “Where’s?”
gsumner.
WALDO fits how about it.
Last night the Doc pitched his heart out the same guys gave him no run support, tonight they put 9 runs on the board, where is the justice.
Zaun has a pretty big mouth at times.
Garry
you know I was thinking about gumbo for frasor for the same reason. lol
Ya-too bad Zaun’s performance doesn’t match his mouth speed.
Take care see ya tommorrow
SEE YOU LATER.
I think that Waldo nick name will be taken by Towers soon enough.