Game 27: Baltimore at Toronto pregame
For the first time this season, Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston pulled one of his regulars off the field and pinch-hit for him based on the situation. It happened in the eighth inning on Saturday, with an Orioles lefty on the mound and Lyle Overbay at the plate with bases loaded and two outs.
Overbay was mired in a 1-for-20 funk at the plate, while Millar was batting more than .300 with one grand slam already this season. So, going against his typical trend, Gaston sent Millar to the plate and called Overbay back to the dugout. Millar flew out to end the inning.
“He’s struggling right now,” Gaston said of Overbay. “I haven’t done that all year, but I just felt like he’s struggling and Millar, I don’t think he’s struggling, so I thought we’d give it a shot. It didn’t work out for us, but if Millar is struggling and we get in that situation, and Overbay is swinging the bat really well, then I’ll pinch-hit for him, too.
“There’s very few people that you will pinch hit for on this team.”
It marked only the third time that Gaston used a pinch-hitter this season — the second-fewest in the Majors, trailing only the Indians (twice). The only other times Gaston pinch-hit for someone came during a blowout (John McDonald on April 25 and Travis Snider on April 15).
What the latest situation did show, as Gaston has said all along, is that he is willing to change things every now and then, even though he feels very strongly about certain philosophies.
Along those same lines, Gaston is very hesitant to change his lineup. That’s why someone like the struggling Alex Rios remains in the No. 3 hole game in and game out. Gaston has no plans on pulling Rios out of that spot right now, either.
“In order for us to win, he will have to hit and he certainly has to be a part of this team,” Gaston said. “So why knock him down by moving him and taking away some of his confidence? So, you know what? I might get criticized for not moving him, but we’ll see what happens in the end.”
Today’s lineups:
1. Brian Roberts, 2B
2. Adam Jones, CF
3. Nick Markakis, RF
4. Aubrey Huff, 1B
5. Melvin Mora, 3B
6. Luke Scott, DH
7. Chad Moeller, C
8. Felix Pie, LF
9. Cesar Izturis, SS
Starter: RHP Jeremy Guthrie (2-1)
TORONTO BLUE JAYS (17-9)
1. Marco Scutaro, SS
2. Aaron Hill, 2B
3. Alex Rios, RF
4. Vernon Wells, CF
5. Adam Lind, DH
6. Scott Rolen, 3B
7. Lyle Overbay, 1B
8. Rod Barajas, C
9. Travis Snider, LF
Starter: RHP Scott Richmond (3-0)
~JB
Major League Bastian 
Can anybody tell me where I edit my personal info on this site? I went to comment on an article, and it now asks you to enter a nickname. Eh?
Another quality outing from Richmond and good performance from the team. Looks like Rios is starting to warm up.
Boston must have felt today’s game was stolen from them, with Tampa Bay stealing 8 bases. Carl Crawford tied a modern day record by stealing 6 of them. I guess Jason Varitek doesn’t have the arm strength he used to have.
gnorman ,
Here is where you go to manage your account
http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/help/faq_general_mlbcom.jsp
Good game yesterday , it looks like Wells and Rios may be warming up . Baltimore always seems to be a tough win for the Jays . Lets hope the sweep keeps the momentum going .
Thank you, Indigo. I just added a nickname to my account, so after this, I will show up as yerouttaheah.
Go Tampa! I think the Schlox just found out that we shouldn’t count TB out of it. They are going to win a lot of games this year. Right now, Joe Madden is facing the same questions with Upton as Cito is with Rios, but once BJ gets going, and their pitching staff shakes off the cobwebs, look out!
I just checked how the Yankees starting rotation lines up for the next week and how’s this for game 1 of the Toronto/New York series…Burnett VS. Halladay. That one should be alot of fun!
The pupil vs The mentor
that is one game i dont want to miss,
what day is it? i hope its not close to may 12 – 15 >.<
and is it being played at Rogers Center?, then expect alot of boos for Burnett, but arnsberg will know exactly what burnett throws and expect the jays hitters to have a solid plan at the plate.
however the same can be said for the yanks, should be a real fun one.
Lets see if the amazing Yanks offence (on paper) can back burnett enough.
It’s set for the 12, first game of that 3 game series.