Series Thread: Rays @ Jays | May 31-June 2

[HiJiNX]

We are in desperate need of a closer...or even a decent setup man. We have no reliable relievers...none.

[J-Roc]

Everyone had a whipping boy yesterday in Gregg or even Cito. Bottom line is Tampa is just better and they didn't let us squeak out wins. I'm impressed by how the go for a full 9 innings. They have a "better than you" aura about them.

[s e n s i]

Gonzo with the stat-whoring single. Geez, why am I still watching.

[Geddy]

Well if you want to look at the bright side at least we didn't get mauled and could have got a sweep had it not been for 9th inning collapses. Just have to keep rolling for the next series.

[Randle McMurphy]

We are in desperate need of a closer...or even a decent setup man. We have no reliable relievers...none.

That's just not correct. They have plenty of good relievers, don't let a couple of bad games cloud your judgement.

The Jays lost tonight because of the Rays' great defense, and because of Cito's odd unwillingness to pull Marcum even after he got into trouble in the 9th (though, in hindsight, it may not have even made a difference). Very tough series for this team with the close losses, but that's baseball.

[Kaizen]

I forgot that Overbay should have gone to 2nd on Navarro's bunt. This loss is all Overbay's fault...

[spykelee]

I'm not that dissapointed... i mean sure we had the lead in all three games going into the 9th and we had the potential to sweep... but we hung in there with the best team in baseball, and barring 1 or 2 collapses, we win the series or sweep. We didn't embarass ourselves at all. I'm happy with how this series turned out even inspite of the 2 losses.

The rays are a great team and hats off to them but we hung right in there and didn't embarass ourselves at all. Our bullpen definetely appears to be a soft spot for our team that needs upgrading, but otherwise, we're pretty solid. I'm really lookin forward to the yankee series and don't feel like we've lost alot of momentum personally.

[spykelee]

We are in desperate need of a closer...or even a decent setup man. We have no reliable relievers...none.

That's just not correct. They have plenty of good relievers, don't let a couple of bad games cloud your judgement.

The Jays lost tonight because of the Rays' great defense, and because of Cito's odd unwillingness to pull Marcum even after he got into trouble in the 9th (though, in hindsight, it may not have even made a difference). Very tough series for this team with the close losses, but that's baseball.

I had 0 problems with leaving marcum in. I can understand the other side, but it was his game to win or lose. The bullpen had been roughed up last game, Marcum earned the chance to try and finish it off, even when he got into trouble IMO.

[Randle McMurphy]

We are in desperate need of a closer...or even a decent setup man. We have no reliable relievers...none.

That's just not correct. They have plenty of good relievers, don't let a couple of bad games cloud your judgement.

The Jays lost tonight because of the Rays' great defense, and because of Cito's odd unwillingness to pull Marcum even after he got into trouble in the 9th (though, in hindsight, it may not have even made a difference). Very tough series for this team with the close losses, but that's baseball.

I had 0 problems with leaving marcum in. I can understand the other side, but it was his game to win or lose. The bullpen had been roughed up last game, Marcum earned the chance to try and finish it off, even when he got into trouble IMO.

I don't believe in giving players a shot because they've "earned it." That's how games are blown and arms are blown out. I would make decisions based on what gives you the best chance to win, and I don't think a contact/fly ball pitcher in Marcum is a better choice with 2 runners on than Downs, Camp, or Frasor.

[spykelee]

^^ fair enough, like i said i can understand the other side but i disagree. These are human beings that where talking about. Too often people always want to play the numbers and the percentages... sometimes you have to go on instinct and on feel. Whatever way you go, sometimes it works out and sometimes it doesn't, but the reason we have managers is because sometimes they make decisions that are against the grain. If u just want somebody to go by the book always you might as well have a computer manage the team.

And i definetely believe in giving a guy a shot because they've earned it. That's what sports is all about. If somebody gives there all, and has had a great performance, especially when the bullpen blew it the day before, and it's our best pitcher on the mound and he's still at a reasonable pitch count, and through the "worst" part of the order your damn right I'd send him back out there. That's how you earn your players respect. His game too lose. Like I said, I have no problem at all with that stance, none.

[Randle McMurphy]

Yes, I can see the other side, and I'm not sure it would have made any difference, anyway, but I don't think it should be "his game to lose" just because he pitched well the previous 8 innings.

[James Ready]

...let us not forget that if the third base ump (Hernandez) hadn't blown the appeal play (runner "missing" third base) the game would have actually been 2-2. Last night was not the jays night for victory.

We should probably send Hernandez a nice thank you card, he helped keep the jays in both the last 2 games - maybe we could sign him as a closer?

EDIT: spelling mistake...

[Lateral Quicks]

Damn, it's hard to lose two out of three when we had the lead each game going into the ninth. However, both were more our fault than Tampa Bay's execution.

Tuesday was Gregg and his 5 walks. Enough said there.

Wednesday was failing to capitalize on a couple run-scoring chances late in the game. We should have had a 4-1 lead in the 9th, not 2-1. Yes, the bullpen blew it, but I bet Marcum would have finished it off w/ a 3 run lead.

We can salvage a 4-5 record here, we just need to go .500 the rest of the way. That's still very doable.

The bullpen needs to regroup. There is talent down there. Downs has been lights out the last couple years. Frasor was lights out last year. And Gregg, well, he's always been volatile. Our bullpen does not suck. It just sucks recently. Could it use a boost? Absolutely. Should it come from outside the organization? Only if you don't have to give up any prospects.

[Raps in 4]

Damn, it's hard to lose two out of three when we had the lead each game going into the ninth. However, both were more our fault than Tampa Bay's execution.

Tuesday was Gregg and his 5 walks. Enough said there.

Wednesday was failing to capitalize on a couple run-scoring chances late in the game. We should have had a 4-1 lead in the 9th, not 2-1. Yes, the bullpen blew it, but I bet Marcum would have finished it off w/ a 3 run lead.

We can salvage a 4-5 record here, we just need to go .500 the rest of the way. That's still very doable.

The bullpen needs to regroup. There is talent down there. Downs has been lights out the last couple years. Frasor was lights out last year. And Gregg, well, he's always been volatile. Our bullpen does not suck. It just sucks recently. Could it use a boost? Absolutely. Should it come from outside the organization? Only if you don't have to give up any prospects.

Our bullpen has declined from past years. I wouldn't invest too much in re-tooling it though, bullpen pitchers are always streaky and not worth trading any assets for.

[Raps in 4]

Well if you want to look at the bright side at least we didn't get mauled and could have got a sweep had it not been for 9th inning collapses. Just have to keep rolling for the next series.

That's a good way to look at it, I just hope the players aren't demoralized after these losses though.

[craig01]

We are in desperate need of a closer...or even a decent setup man. We have no reliable relievers...none.

Watching Toronto reminds me of the Rays of last year.....in that the bullpen blew so many games in the late innings. It's disappointing every time it happens.....

Jays have a lot of firepower....good luck against the Yankees.