Category: Dailies

Game #33: Red Sox at Blue Jays

Getting interactive: I may be setting a dangerous precedent here in the sense that I won’t be able to do this that often, but what the heck. I’m at the Boston-Toronto game tonight at the Rogers Centre, but have the day off from writing. So, to pass the time here in the pressbox, I’ll agree to field some in-game questions from Blue Jays Nation. Just post a question in the comment field below this post, and I’ll try to get to it during the game. I may not get to all of them, so the better your inquiries, the more likely I’ll be to single it out. These can be questions about the game in progress, or about the team in general. Talk to you soon…

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Boston (21-10) at Toronto (13-19)
at 7:07 p.m. ET at the Rogers Centre

Today’s lineups:

RED SOX
Julio Lugo, SS
Coco Crisp, CF
David Ortiz, DH
Manny Ramirez, LF
J.D. Drew, RF
Mike Lowell, 3B
Jason Varitek, C
Eric Hinske, 1B
Dustin Pedroia, 2B

PITCHING: RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka of Tokyo, Japan

BLUE JAYS
Alex Rios, RF
Adam Lind, LF
Vernon Wells, CF
Frank Thomas, DH
Troy Glaus, 3B
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Aaron Hill, 2B
Sal Fasano, C
John McDonald, SS

PITCHING: RHP Tomo Ohka of Kyoto, Japan

NOTES: It looks like RHP Victor Zambrano won’t be making another start for the Blue Jays, but Toronto GM J.P. Ricciardi wouldn’t clarify who might start on Sunday, saying only, "We’ll have something on that later in the week." One option could be RHP Casey Janssen, who is currently in the bullpen. … Ricciardi said LHP Gustavo Chacin (sore shoulder) is feeling better and he’s scheduled to play catch again on Saturday. Chacin, who will need a few Minor League rehab starts, is eligible to be activated from the DL on May 14, but it’s more likely he’s out until closer to the end of the month. … RHP John Thomson has a blister on a finger on his throwing hand, according to Ricciardi, and that will delay his rehab with Triple-A Syracuse by 10 days. That means Toronto won’t have to make a decision on Thomson until around the first week of June.

Game #32: Red Sox at Blue Jays pregame

After a handful of days off, I’m back at the ballpark here in Toronto. I got to spend the last few days absorbing hours of The Sopranos. I’m wrapping up Season 1 and also taking in some of Season 4 (which is how far my wife is into the series). I’ve never had much time to really sit down and watch the show, but I gotta say I’m getting addicted. Now, if only the Jays can avoid getting whacked for the seventh game in a row. Here’s today’s pregame blog:

Boston (20-10) at Toronto (13-18)
at 7:07 p.m. ET at the Rogers Centre

Today’s lineups:

RED SOX
Julio Lugo, SS
Kevin Youkilis, 1B
David Ortiz, DH
Manny Ramirez, LF
J.D. Drew, RF
Mike Lowell, 3B
Jason Varitek, C
Coco Crisp, CF
Dustin Pedroia, 2B

PITCHING: RHP Josh Beckett

BLUE JAYS
Alex Rios, RF
Adam Lind, LF
Vernon Wells, CF
Frank Thomas, DH
Troy Glaus, 3B
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Aaron Hill, 2B
Jason Phillips, C
Royce Clayton, SS

PITCHING: RHP Victor Zambrano

NOTES: RHP Dustin McGowan is scheduled to make his next start on Saturday and Zambrano is slated for Sunday. RHP A.J. Burnett is scheduled to go on Friday. … After experimenting with Hill in the leadoff spot, Toronto manager John Gibbons opted to put Rios back at the top of the order. … Gibbons was hesitant to name who his go-to pitcher was for the ninth inning.

Game #28: Blue Jays at Indians pregame

Toronto (13-14) at Cleveland (16-8)
at 7:05 p.m. ET at Jacobs Field

Today’s lineups:

BLUE JAYS
Aaron Hill, 2B
Adam Lind, LF
Frank Thomas, DH
Troy Glaus, 3B
Alex Rios, CF
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Jason Phillips, C
Matt Stairs, RF
John McDonald, SS

PITCHING: RHP Dustin McGowan

INDIANS
Grady Sizemore, CF
David Dellucci, LF
Travis Hafner, DH
Victor Martinez, C
Trot Nixon, RF
Ryan Garko, 1B
Jhonny Peralta, SS
Mike Rouse, 3B
Josh Barfield, 2B

PITCHING: LHP Cliff Lee

NOTES: CF Vernon Wells sat out due to flu-like symptoms — the same issue that kept him out of action on Monday in Toronto. He visited a doctor in Cleveland on Thursday. … Toronto manager John Gibbons’ cited Hill’s ability to get on base as the reasoning for putting him into the leadoff spot. It’s the first time Hill has ever started in first slot of the lineup. … Gibbons hasn’t decided who will start for the Jays against the Red Sox on Tuesday — a day after the team’s off-day.

THUMBS UP: This afternoon, I took some time out to visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame here in Cleveland. If you’re ever in this neck of the woods, it’s definitely worth a look. The ’90s grunge era is what I grew up on, so the displays that had artifacts from that period were especially sweet for me. Nothing beats seeing old Mother Love Bone concert posters next to a shattered Mike McCready guitar. The special exhibit on The Clash was particularly cool, too. Anyway, check it out sometime if you’re in Cleveland.

UPDATE — 7:19 p.m. ET on Friday, May 4: I didn’t make the trip to Texas. So you’ll have to live without the blog lineups/notes for a few days. I may come back on here and comment on some stuff tomorrow. For now, I’m heading out with my wife to grab some dinner in Toronto.

Game #27: Blue Jays at Indians pregame

Toronto (13-13) at Cleveland (15-8)
at 7:05 p.m. ET at Jacobs Field

Today’s lineups:

BLUE JAYS
Alex Rios, RF
Adam Lind, LF
Vernon Wells, CF
Frank Thomas, DH
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Troy Glaus, 3B
Aaron Hill, 2B
Royce Clayton, SS
Sal Fasano, C

PITCHING: RHP Victor Zambrano

INDIANS
Grady Sizemore, CF
David Dellucci, LF
Travis Hafner, DH
Victor Martinez, C
Trot Nixon, RF
Ryan Garko, 1B
Jhonny Peralta, SS
Casey Blake, 3B
Josh Barfield, 2B

PITCHING: RHP Jake Westbrook

Game #26: Blue Jays at Indians pregame

Toronto (13-12) at Cleveland (14-8)
at 7:05 p.m. ET at Jacobs Field

Today’s lineups:

BLUE JAYS
Alex Rios, RF
Vernon Wells, CF
Frank Thomas, DH
Troy Glaus, 3B
Aaron Hill, 2B
Royce Clayton, SS
Adam Lind, LF
Jason Phillips, 1B
Sal Fasano, C

PITCHING: RHP A.J. Burnett

INDIANS
Grady Sizemore, CF
David Dellucci, LF
Travis Hafner, DH
Victor Zambrano, C
Trot Nixon, RF
Ryan Garko, 1B
Jhonny Peralta, SS
Casey Blake, 3B
Josh Barfield, 2B

PITCHING: LHP C.C. Sabathia

NOTES: RHP Dustin McGowan will start on Thursday for the Blue Jays, who plan to recall him from Triple-A Syracuse prior to that outing. McGowan was on hand with the Jays at The Jake on Tuesday. … LHP Gustavo Chacin underwent an MRI exam on his left shoulder in Cleveland on Tuesday and the results revealed no more than a mild strain. … With the left-handed Sabathia on the mound for Cleveland, Toronto manager John Gibbons opted to move lefty Adam Lind down in the lineup, and subsequently bumped Wells, Thomas and Glaus up one spot. 1B Lyle Overbay was given a day off. … Gibbons said the Toronto coaching staff will keep a close eye on RHP Victor Zambrano’s pitch count during his start on Wednesday. Gibbons didn’t have a specific number in mind, but he indicated that he hopes Zambrano can pitch three or four innings — five, if everything goes perfectly.

No Hard Feelings

TORONTO — That was Gregg Zaun’s message to Boston’s Eric Hinske, who was teammates with Toronto’s catcher on the Blue Jays from 2004-2006. Last Tuesday, Hinske fouled off a pitch that broke Zaun’s right hand during a game on the road against the Red Sox. Zaun made sure to call Hinske after the fluke incident.

"I knew he was really concerned," Zaun said on Monday. "My wife and his wife were text-messaging back and forth and I knew he felt bad. Eric and I are very close still and I felt bad for him, because I knew he’d feel bad about it. I just let him know that it’s part of my position and these things happen."

Zaun had his right thumb broken during the first inning of that game — a 10-3 win over Boston. Toronto’s catcher remained in the game for the rest of the first and even had an at-bat in the second inning, when he grounded out to short. During that trip to the plate, Zaun could only grip the bat with four fingers because he had lost all strength with his right thumb.

"I just pretty much didn’t want to admit that it was pretty bad," Zaun said. "But I knew something was fairly wrong when I took pushed on my thumb on the spot and it made crunching noises. I knew that that wasn’t real good.

"Then I went up and I tried to hit. I was kind of hoping and praying that it wasn’t broken — that it was just really badly bruised and that it was going to be swollen and sore for a few days. But I couldn’t hold on to the bat."

Zaun tried to take his place behind the plate during the second inning, but after catching one warm-up pitch from Roy Halladay, the catcher wasn’t able to throw the ball back to the mound. It sailed over Halladay’s head and Zaun removed himself from the game.

On Wednesday, Zaun visited a hand specialist in Baltimore (Dr. Thomas Graham) and then underwent surgery to repair his hand on Thursday. He had two screws inserted into his thumb during the operation. On Tuesday, he’s scheduled to have his cast removed, and he’ll begin wearing a removable splint.

"There was a small glimmer of hope that it wasn’t going to require surgery," Zaun said. "But when they started talking about the fracture being displaced, and if they let it heal that way it could cause problems down the line with arthritis and sheering off the cartilage in the joint and things like that, it was an easy decision."

Zaun is hoping to return to the Blue Jays six weeks post-surgery, which would be around the second week in June. He figures that it’ll take a month for him to return to baseball activities and then another two weeks or so to get back to full strength. Toronto manager John Gibbons said Zaun is a hard worker and might be able to return that quickly, but the team will make sure he’s good and ready before activating him from the DL. That could mean six weeks is a very optimistic proposition.

Game #25: Rangers at Blue Jays pregame

Texas (10-14) at Toronto (12-12)
at 7:07 p.m. ET at the Rogers Centre

Today’s lineups:

RANGERS
Kenny Lofton, CF
Michael Young, SS
Mark Teixeira, 1B
Sammy Sosa, DH
Hank Blalock, 3B
Ian Kinsler, 2B
Brad Wilkerson, LF
Nelson Cruz, RF
Gerald Laird, C

PITCHING: RHP Vicente Padilla

BLUE JAYS
Adam Lind, LF
Alex Rios, RF
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Frank Thomas, DH
Troy Glaus, 3B
Matt Stairs, RF
Aaron Hill, 2B
Jason Phillips, C
John McDonald, SS

PITCHING: RHP Roy Halladay

NOTES: CF Vernon Wells was a late scratch from Monday’s lineup due to flu-like symptoms. … Toronto manager John Gibbons said he’s been playing McDonald more at short lately because of his recent hot streak at the plate. Entering Monday, Johnny Mac was riding a 10-game hitting streak and was batting .447. … Gibbons added that Glaus has had no complaints so far about his left heel since coming off the DL on Saturday. … Toronto Minor League Matt Roney was suspended 50 games by MLB for using a "drug of abuse." Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi said the team would look into additional discipline for the pitcher, who nearly was called up to Toronto’s bullpen earlier this month. … Texas LF (and former Blue Jays outfielder) Frank Catalanotto has an injured right shoulder and could land on the DL. … Toronto C Gregg Zaun spoke with reporters on Monday about his broken right hand, and he indicated that he hopes to return in six weeks. Zaun will have a cast removed from his hand on Tuesday and will begin working with a hand therapist. … Ricciardi said that if RHP Brandon League doesn’t show much more progress in his rehab down in Florida, the team may have to look into surgery on the pitcher’s right shoulder.

UPDATE: During the game, the Blue Jays placed LHP Gustavo Chacin on the 15-day DL with a sore left shoulder. Toronto hasn’t announced who will start on Thursday against Cleveland, but Gibbons indicated that it would be someone from Triple-A. It’s very likely that someone is RHP Dustin McGowan, who is 0-2 with a 1.64 ERA in five starts for the Chiefs. He has 29 strikeouts versus nine walks and has given up 16 hits in 22 innings.

Game #24: Rangers at Blue Jays pregame

Texas (10-13) at Toronto (11-12)
at 1:07 p.m. ET at the Rogers Centre

Today’s lineups:

RANGERS
Kenny Lofton, CF
Michael Young, DH
Mark Teixeira, 1B
Sammy Sosa, RF
Hank Blalock, 3B
Frank Catalanotto, LF
Ian Kinsler, 2B
Matt Kata, SS
Gerald Laird, C

PITCHING: RHP Brandon McCarthy

BLUE JAYS
Adam Lind, LF
Vernon Wells, CF
Frank Thomas, DH
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Troy Glaus, 3B
Matt Stairs, RF
Aaron Hill, 2B
John McDonald, SS
Jason Phillips, C

PITCHING: RHP Tomo Ohka

NOTES: RF Alex Rios was given the day off, so manager John Gibbons simply moved the Nos. 2-6 hitters up one spot in the lineup. … Relievers Jason Frasor, Brian Tallet and Casey Janssen weren’t available out of the bullpen on Sunday. … RHP Victor Zambrano was available in relief, and if he was needed for a few innings, Toronto may have to reevaluate who starts on Wednesday. As of right now, it’s still slated to be Zambrano.

Game #23: Rangers at Blue Jays pregame

Texas (9-13) at Toronto (11-11)
at 1:05 p.m. ET at the Rogers Centre

Today’s lineups:

RANGERS
Jeryy Hairston, CF
Michael Young, SS
Mark Teixeira, DH
Sammy Sosa, RF
Hank Blalock, 3B
Ian Kinsler, 2B
Nelson Cruz, LF
Brad Wilkerson, 1B
Gerald Laird, C

PITCHING: RHP Kevin Millwood

BLUE JAYS
Alex Rios, RF
Adam Lind, LF
Vernon Wells, CF
Frank Thomas, DH
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Troy Glaus, 3B
Aaron Hill, 2B
Royce Clayton, SS
Sal Fasano, C

PITCHING: LHP Gustavo Chacin

NOTES: Toronto named RHP Victor Zambrano its new No. 5 starter and moved RHP Josh Towers into the bullpen as a long reliever. Zambrano is slated to start on Wednesday in Cleveland. … The Jays also activated Glaus from the 15-day DL and optioned INF Ryan Roberts back to Triple-A Syracuse.

Game #22: Rangers at Blue Jays pregame

Texas (8-13) at Toronto (11-10)
at 7:07 p.m. ET at the Rogers Centre

Today’s lineups:

RANGERS
Kenny Lofton, CF
Michael Young, SS
Mark Teixeira, 1B
Sammy Sosa, DH
Hank Blalock, 3B
Frank Catalanotto, LF
Ian Kinsler, 2B
Brad Wilkerson, RF
Chris Stewart, C

PITCHING: RHP Robinson Tejeda

BLUE JAYS
Alex Rios, RF
Adam Lind, LF
Vernon Wells, CF
Frank Thomas, DH
Lyle Overbay, 1B
Aaron Hill, 2B
Jason Smith, 3B
Royce Clayton, SS
Jason Phillips, C

PITCHING: RHP Josh Towers

NOTES: 3B Troy Glaus (sore left heel) took part in batting practice, infield drills and ran in the outfield prior to Friday night’s game. Toronto GM J.P. Ricciardi said Glaus was "day to day — literally" and it wasn’t out of the realm of possibility that the slugger could come off the DL on Saturday. Glaus looked much better on Friday than he did during pregame activities on Thursday.