Game #157: Jays at O's pregame
Toronto (79-77) at Baltimore (67-89)
at 7:05 p.m. ET at Camden Yards
Today’s lineups:
BLUE JAYS
Reed Johnson, RF
Hector Luna, 3B
Alex Rios, CF
Frank Thomas, DH
Aaron Hill, 2B
Gregg Zaun, C
Curtis Thigpen, 1B
Adam Lind, LF
John McDonald, SS
PITCHING: RHP A.J. Burnett (9-7, 3.40 ERA)
ORIOLES
Brian Roberts, 2B
Melvin Mora, 3B
Nick Markakis, RF
Miguel Tejada, SS
Kevin Millar, 1B
Aubrey Hugg, DH
Ramon Hernandez, C
Freddie Bynum, LF
Tike Redman, CF
PITCHING: LHP Brian Burres (6-6, 5.27 ERA)
NOTES: Who knew I had so much influence in baseball decisions? The other day, I asked Jays manager John Gibbons if he knew rookie Josh Banks was from Baltimore. "Oh yeah?" he responded. "That’s good to know." And what do you know, Gibby said today that Banks will indeed get the nod to start for Toronto on Thursday here in Baltimore. Banks said he will have in the neighborhood of 500 family and friends making the trek to Camden Yards. The way the O’s have been drawing lately, that just might double the attendance. … 1B Lyle Overbay had surgery to remove four pins from his ailing right hand in Baltimore and Dr. Thomas Graham found a lot of scar tissue in the Jays’ first baseman’s hand. The club said the operation to clean up the hand went well. … CF Vernon Wells was also scheduled to have an operation to remove a cyst and repair a torn labrum in his right shoulder on Tuesday. Prior to the game, the club had no updates on the surgery. … Gibbons said that SS John McDonald does have a sports hernia and he will have surgery to fix the issue after the season. It’s not a serious injury and McDonald was still in the lineup. … Banks, David Smith, Josh Kreuzer, Travis Snider, Brett Cecil, Johermyn Chavez, Welington Ramirez and Yensy Perez each were awarded a Webster Award this season — the organization’s accololade for the top player at each minor league level.
BREAKING EVEN…Toronto needs to post a 3-3 record over its final six games to finish the season above .500.
A DAY AT THE RACES:
AL EAST
entering Tuesday
1. Boston 92-64 (–)
2. New York 90-66 (2)
AL WILD CARD
entering Tuesday
1. New York 90-66 (–)
2. Detroit 85-72 (5.5)
AL BEST RECORD
entering Tuesday
1. Cleveland 92-63 (–)
2. Boston 92-64 (0.5)
2. Los Angeles 92-65 (1)
4. New York 90-66 (2.5)
Major League Bastian 
Thank you for the info Jordan . Please keep us informed about Wells , when you hear something…. good luck Jays
Congratulations to all the minor league players
One surprise in the Webster Awards and that’s Yohermyn Cavez who played with the Gulf Coast Jays. He was one of the GC Jays best hitters, but only ranked in the league top 15 with so-so numbers.
I expected the award would go to either James Dougher or Brian Letko, both pitchers for the same team, who lead the Gulf Coast League in era (1.50 & 1.56) and whip (0.98 & 0.88).
Looks like we finally have some speedsters in the system with Welington Ramirez (26 SB) and Yensey Perez (28 SB).
Garry don’t get your hopes up-the two speedsters are in the DSL, so they’re a long ways away. lol
It’s hard to believe that from all the starting eight position players, the only two not getting surgery this year are Hill and Rios. Knock on wood for Hill and Rios.
So with the 5 pitchers (Doc, Marcum, Ryan, Chachin & Romero), and counting two for Overbay, we now have had 14 player surgical procedures. We should negotiate a team discount. lol
Jordan-that must be a record.
Thomas in the booth should be good soft spoken and smart.
In a game that means nouthing the Os put their best team on the field????
Jordan good luck in the playoffs at least you made it.
As for Abner no praise from me he is not a good manager and never will be,bosox is just trying to make himself look good on the Abner matter if he likes him so much he can have him,Remember we never made it and Abner was the manager [HOW SOON WE FORGET].
Garry
Lets trade Abner for Francona
Hate the gum chewin fool but would be a big upgrade.
well at least he doesn’t chew tobacco lol
hear hear.
pigpen MVP lol.
How many times has Zaun got caught in a bad base running move lately-seems like every game.
Hey, Thigpen is a good hitter, we just needed to play him
well, thats gotta be the best at bat for Reid in maybe 5-10 games-took 10 pitches. Actually maybe it’s the only quality at bat in that timeframe. lol
Luna throws out tehada and the tsn announser gives the credit to lind DUH.
SMACK says frank.
Well da big hurt just did da big hurt
gsumner do you think Burnett likes this lol,
we were overdue to beat Burres, the last time he faced us we got no runs off of him and lost.
I’m sure Ace likes it, it’d be nice to see him keep focused and go deep though to give the bullpen a break.
I think Ace has grown a lot this year,What do the rest of you think.
UPDATE ON VERNON WELLS, COPIED AND PASTED FROM THE JAYS NOTES:
In Birmingham, Ala., arm specialist Dr. James Andrews went to work on Wells’ left shoulder. Andrews repaired a torn labrum in the outfielder’s arm, but did not remove the cyst that had developed. A team official said Andrews didn’t want to remove the cyst due to its close proximity to a nerve in Wells’ shoulder.
According to the team official, though, the cyst was not related to the torn labrum, which Andrews believes was the primary source of Wells’ discomfort. Wells should be able to begin swinging a bat in three months and the Blue Jays believe he’ll be healthy and ready to go by the time Spring Training rolls around.
I’m not sure that’s good news on Wells, I just don’t like the sound lof that.
Jordan, is there any idea how long the cyst has been there?
A-Rod hits a grand slam in Tampa. Yanks 5-TB-0
Glad he waited a few days. lol
Whats up with Ace.
I don’t think a cyst is a big deal but being to close to a nerve might be a big problem.
Burnett looks like he is in another world tonight,maybe what happend at home????.
bases loaded no outs only one run not good.
I think i’m talking to myself.
I think Burnett tried to make too many of them hitters and got hurt
That’s the burnett we know.
I dont know-that cyst news just didn’t sound good to me
I think the Ansrberg chat did the trick
Hey Hill just tied Alomar’s record for HR’s by a Jays 2nd baseman with 17. Hes already got the Doubles record.
Congratulations Aaron
Hill has been on a tear in September, I thin k he’s hitting close to .400 for the month
Too bad Baltimore is replacing Rocky Cherry-he was rather tasty for our guys. lol
Hill is better than Alomar and he will prove it in the years to come.
It might be a good time to bring in Towers-he should be able to hold a 8 run lead for 3 innings.
Maybe yes maybe no lol.
I agree with you on Hill. It’s going to be a dog fight in the AL East beteen Hill, Cano and Pedrolia. But I do think Hill will win most years.
lol Tampa bay just hit a grand slam TB6-Yanks 5
Why is Burnett still in there?
Why leave Ace in the game means nothing.
It would have been a perfect time to bring in Towers-why leave Ace out there
Abner is to late Ace leaves with a bad feeling in his gut,If he put someone in for the 7th he could have said we have a big lead have a rest you earned it and Ace is happy.
Abner is brilliant in how he handles pitchers isn’t he.
Burns Burnett for an inning, Wolfe and now Frasor all with a 7 run lead.
Towers could have gone 3, maybe given up a few runs and saved the pen.
Brilliant-just brilliant