Jays @ Astros pregame
Drove through a driving rain to get to ol’ Osceola County Stadium here this morning and with an hour before game time the tarp is still on the diamond. The rain has let up, though, and I don’t think a rainout is in our future.
Chatted with manager Cito Gaston about a few things today. One being that Vernon Wells, Travis Snider and Rod Barajas — all circled on the travel roster for today — did not make the trip to Kissimmee. Wells hurt his left wrist yesterday and had a cortisone shot, out for a few days. Snider jarred his left knee yesterday and Barajas is nursing a sore back.
Gaston said he doesn’t believe any of the injuries are serious and the disabled list hasn’t been discussed for any of the players at this point, even with the season right around the corner. Well broke the same wrist last year and Cito said the center fielder hurt it during his last at-bat yesterday.
Also talked about Shaun Marcum and Dustin McGowan, who continue to make their way back from injuries. It’s been tossed out there that Marcum might be ready by August or September, but Cito says he doesn’t see the point in bringing him back before next year. As for McGowan, he continues to be behind and Cito said he might be out of the picture until next year as well.
On the hill today is Ricky Romero, making his last bid for a job in the rotation. It’s down to Romero, Brad Mills and Scott Richmond. Gaston still isn’t showing his hand in terms of which way the Jays are leaning for the Nos. 4-5 slots. I’ve been saying Richmond/Mills all along, but now I could just as easily see them going with Mills/Romero.
We’ll know soon enough…
Today’s lineup:
BLUE JAYS
Marco Scutaro, SS
Aaron Hill, 2B
Alex Rios, CF
Kevin Millar, DH
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Adam Lind, LF
Jose Bautista, 3B
Raul Chavez, C
Moises Sierra, RF
Ricky Romero, P
ASTROS
Kaz Matsui, DH
Hunter Pence, RF
Darin Erstad, 1B
Carlos Lee, LF
Miguel Tejada, SS
Geoff Blum, 3B
Ivan Rodriguez, C
Jason Michaels, CF
Jason Smith, 2B
Brian Moehler, P
~JB
Major League Bastian 
Wells out again, Big money for what.Wells is starting to look like AJ Burnett. Way to go JP another bad deal for you a-sshole.
JB.are you going to take on the new job too.
Nice to see Cito telling us the truth about McGowan and Marcum. I think it’s a good decision to put them both on the shelf until next year.
JP are you listening?
I wonder if all that talk Wells gave us about working out so hard in the off-season was true. It sure doesn’t look like it was.
It looks like a rain out to me, what do you think JB.
Garry
Jb posted a start of 1.35 on twitter.
Thanks.
I thought he was going to post those things here first.
Well, it does look like Romero wants the job; nice quality outing.
garry i am not a big JP fan myself he is arrogant and concited. However he is the guy that drafted Mills, Romero, and Emanus ect. Singing Veron to a long term deal was very critical to the teams identity and future. I wish i had a crystal ball to tell me every time someone would get hurt I just might make money on proline. As for Wells hamstring injury, I think it was all a front to give Vernon some rest and some playing time to the younger Kids in camp.
JP has done an admiral job at the helm of this team, I do not think the players he has brought has been the problem, the problem has been in the managers he has hired.
Blue Jays will contend for a playoff spot this year but a lack of experince will be there short fall.
Good game Romaro best of luck in the bigs.
So, let me get this straight. The reason that the Jays have not had a sniff at the postseason for JP’s tenure is not the fault of the players on the field, but the only other person on the bench (other than the trainer) that does not take the field? Sorry, but JP is going to be let go later this year, and with good cause. Unfortunately, it may be harder to get rid of some of the under achieving players he has signed to ridiculous contracts.
I just hope that we get a chance to see a lot of these young kids get a chance to play if injuries sideline the overpaid, overrated veterans!
Vernon Wells faking an injury has to be the dumbest thing ive heard on here in a while, and I’ve heard some pretty stupid things.
Well denoit I have to agree with you again about stupid remarks and 99% come from you.
When you make a remark like that you insult everyone on this blog including Jordan ***-hole.
Denoit-“I’ve heard some pretty stupid things.” For once you make a post, I absolutely 100%, whole heartedly agree with. So get yourself some ear plugs sonny, so you stop hearing all those pretty stupid things, you keep saying.
Oh and by the way it’s I’ve not ive. So what is going on here; Spectanator spelled both Vernon and Emaus wrong and you’re quiet as a church mouse. And Garry called you ***-hole instead of what he should have said which is a…..sshole and again you say nothing. Tsk, tsk, tsk.
By the way, wouldn’t your Mommy spot you the $100.00 to place your money where your mouth is, sonny or are you just a chicken s…hit like I thought, just big mouth and no action?
Denoit it’s not that I disagree with you because your right wells would NEVER fake an injury but you just have a very rude way of posting your opinion. Wheither or not you agree with someone or not there is no need to resort to petty insults and spelling corrections! GROW UP!
I don’t think JP will be let go. They’ll respect his contract and he won’t be back after 2010 (mutual parting of ways), even if the Jays would win the World Series between now and then.
I seem to remember Beaston saying he hopes JP stays for many years to come, shudder shudder.
I hope the new Prez. has a different view than Beaston.
I wonder if i spelled everything right.
garrryguy:
Didn’t I read last year that JP was told by his bosses to give Wells that deal?
If so, JP can’t be blamed for that, no matter what else he has done.
Steve
I’m sure JP had a lot to do with Wells contract, All his
bosses did was put up the money.
You guys are all over denoit, and he said nothing wrong there, ihe stood up for Vernon. It was a silly opinion to state that Vernon would fake an injury, yes I’VE also heard some silly opinions here as I’m sure I’VE stated some myself in the past.
This blog is getting beyond dumb, I’M ashamed to follow it and wish I could stop but I like the Jays too much. The bickering is embarassing to me as a Jays fan. Seriously, man up and lets talk some baseball. I don’t care about grammer, yes it is weird that GS can quote every stat perfectly yet not spell the name right but who the hell cares, you know who he means. Its a shame I have to worry if I spell I’ve with an apostrophe. Unbelievable.
You are all a bunch of pansy ***** if you ask me. Arguing over what? Bitttttches!
Vernon faking an injury is stupid so be prepared to take some flack when you say stupid things. Explain to me why he would fake an injury?
Gary lay off the sauce it is evidently screwing with your mind.
This blog can be good if people actually stick to Baseball and not this childish crap that happens all to often on this. I’m alway here because I’m a huge Jays fan but honestly I can’t stand listening to some of you morons.
Same thing every year always one JERK to spoil it for everyone else, [DENOIT], Matty the only Moron here is you.
okgojays It’s GARRY not GARY NOW HOW DO YOU LIKE IT.
As for Denoit It’s not the first time he has insulted gsjays and you two would know that if you read all the posts, also if you don’t like what I’m saying don’t read my post and certainly don’t respond to them[THANK YOU].
Also pea brain matty I don’t drink.
Again Gary (and I’ll spell your name however I want) well said. You are a true genius. I live in Sask too bud so feel free to invite me over for a beer or coffee and we can have a nice chat about baseball and the jays or any topic you care to enlighten me with.
Do you live in Moose Jaw rfatty39inchwaist.
Hey guys don’t blame garry. Put the blame where it belongs and that is Denoit. He was warned mutliple times to clean up his act and post responsibly. He still hasn’t, and I doubt if he will.
That being said, Denoit is getting what he’s asked for. This board is here to talk Jays and express opinions of which every one has a different one. There is no need for personal attacks, abuse or nasty language directed at another poster.
Example is the post on Vernon faking an injury. That opinion was that posters opinion, and whether one agreed with that opinion or not doesn’t matter. However, there’s no need to call the opinion or poster dumb and there’s not need to “give him flack” or attack him for it.
And to be frank a statement of “laying off the sauce and you’ll be fine” and calling people morons is a perfect case in point. So rmatty, if you don’t want abuse back, then don’t post it. Oh-one last point, be carefull what you ask for, you might get it.
Congratulations, to Rickie Romero for making the rotation and Brad Arnsberg for his help in making that happen.
Its finally starting to feel like spring even in Saskatchewan! baseball season is fast aproaching and I cant wait! Congrats to Romero he earned his spot and looks like he should be a solid starter for years to come.
I belive we will see lane up here before to long, It looks like Wells will be on the DL a few times this year.
I don’t think his wrist has healed yet nor his hamstring it may take the rest of this year and playing hurt can’t help this team.
I agree on Romero. Like all young ptichers, he’s going to have good and bad days, but with Romero,
after Arnsberg straighted out his mechanical flaw, I think it’s all about confidence. This last game went a long ways to building that and I expect the more he succeeds the better he’ll get.
Imagine, we might have 3 lefty starters. I’m not sure any other team has that. I’m wondering if that changes any of Cito’s decisions on who goes north in the pen.
I’m concerned about Wells also, I didn’t ever expect we’d hear about that wrist again. I thought he stated he’d really worked hard this off-season to ensure no injuries.
Saskatoon isn’t far away from MJ and I pass through all the time. Have some relatives and a buddy that lives there too so I’ll let you know when I’m in town next and we can hook up for that coffee.
Just looked at my schedule and I have a bike rally in MJ to Regina May 25th. Maybe we can hit up BP’s for a bevy and take in a Jays game. I’m a nice guy Garry I promise.
Interesting articles on the Ryan situation in the Globe, Star and National Post in which Cito expresses concern about Ryan’s performance and states Downs might be the closer until Ryan becomes more effective-which I think is what Cito should be saying and I agree with Cito.
The interesting part of the articles, though, is Ryan’s reaction to what Cito said; it certainly wasn’t positive. Ryan believes his performance today was a major step forward which I find surprising considering he gave up a run on a double and triple.
To date this spring, Ryan has gone 7 innings, given up 8 hits, 7 runs, walked 7 and struck out 6 for an era of 9.0. Certainly, not a closer’s stats.
Frankly, I really hope Ryan makes it back, but he’s damn dillusional if he feels he should remain in the closers role until he does. That would be giving games away and I don’t think Cito gets paid for that.
Click on the Globe, Star or National Post icon to the right of the blog to read the articles.