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A week ago I wrote "The Toronto Blue Jays are fatally flawed. I think it may be time to run up the white flag." Toronto was 14 games out and was finishing up what would be a miserable 2-4 west coast trip. Since then, the Jays swept the Orioles and took two of three from the Yankees while the Rays have lost seven straight.
Now the Blue Jays are 8.5 back at the break.
A.J. Burnett was masterful today on three days rest: 8.1 IP, 6 H, 1 ER 1 BB 8 K on less than 100 pitches--it was the sort of completely unexpected effort that gives fans hope that better days are ahead; all the more so since Roy Halladay was even better on Friday (9 IP, 2 H, 0 ER 0 BB 8 K ).
Yes, despite taking two of three from the Yankees the Jays did all their scoring in the first two innings over the weekend with four runs in the first inning on Saturday and four in the second frame today before reverting to their usual getting men into scoring position and leaving them there the rest of the way.
Still, it’s a better outcome than I thought would happen this weekend. I figured after Halladay, since Gaston’s initial plan of having Jesse Litsch go Saturday and lefty reliever Brian Tallet on Sunday (in what would be a Charlie Wholestaff game) would mean two losses. After all, Litsch hasn’t been pitching well of late and the Bronx Bombers always hit him hard and the Wholestaff game versus Andy Pettitte looked to be a foregone conclusion.
I had guessed that Cito figured with Litsch starting, Saturday would be the game where the bullpen would be needed for a lot of innings and opted to see what Burnett could do on three days rest. Well, Litsch delivered as expected and couldn’t hold a three-run cushion for 30 pitches (although he did throw the inning ending pitch that was booted by Marcos Scutaro) and A.J. did the unexpected and probably made his best start of 2008.
The Jays are 12-9 under Gaston and are so despite the struggles of Litsch (1-5, 5.56 ERA over his last eight starts), Dustin McGowan (1-3, 5.81 ERA over his final five starts before being shelved) and Burnett (4-3, 6.91 ERA over his previous seven starts prior to today), not having Shaun Marcum available, Vernon Wells getting hurt recently, Alex Rios away for the series (to be with his wife during delivery), Scott Rolen batting .111/.238/.139 in July (before today), Gregg Zaun hitting .087/.250/.087 over the previous nine games, Rod Barajas doing no better (.167/.167/.333) over his last nine, Matt Stairs batting .205/.333/.325 since mid May and of course not having Aaron Hill.
Still, the Jays have gotten it done.
Amazing.
It’s still a longshot to think the Jays will be in it come September but Adam Lind is hitting well since his recall (.350/.369/.633), Alex Rios is .338/.370/.506 since Cito took over the Jays, Joe Inglett .339/.383/.482 likewise, have hit into just nine double plays over their last 15 games and there’s a player on the market (or soon to be) who hit .260/.363/.512 on the road and kills lefties .344/.423/.623 this year. He's hitting .350/.435/.500 in Toronto this year and is a career .316/.397/.565 hitter at the Dome and he‘d cost the pro-rated minimum.
I speak of course of Richie Sexson.
He’s not the saviour to be sure but he’d be a very useful bat and a source of pop--especially against lefties of whom the Jays are batting just .244/.323/.335 this year.
Considering he costs chump change and a roster spot (such as Kevin Mench or Brad Wilkerson’s cadaverric .182/.325/.212 the last month) it strikes me as a no-brainer--he’d be the team leader in home runs right from the get-go.
At the very least, the post All Star break will quickly settle whether the Jays will be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline--they cannot ask for a better schedule to get back into things: they have four against the Orioles, three against the Mariners and six against the Rays. If they go 9-4 with at least four wins against the Rays (preferably five) and I think they have a half-decent shot. In the “dare to dream” department--two sweeps could conceivably have them within three games of the Rays with the Red Sox in their sights as well.
I said it was a dream.
One week ago I was ready to officially run up the white flag--well, the Jays have been given an extension until the end of July before I start looking to 2009 in earnest.
Best Regards
John
P.S.
Free Wayne McMahon!!
Follow the links and read up to the saga of a Rogers Centre institution. Thanks to the good folks at Drunk Jays Fans word is getting out about the firing of a legendary suds-salesman. If you’re at the Dome raise a cheer and show your support in getting Wayne his job back.
All you have to yell is: ICE. COLD. BEEEEEEEERRR!!!