I would have to say our pitching has been solid other then the few fumbles we have come across, but I am sure any team faces those at one point or another. I think we are fortunate to be facing them as early as we are to work around them, and through them. At least it's not late in the season where every game counts, then again one can argue these games early are the reason you have must win games at the end of the year. Either way I think the starters, aside from Morrow giving up solo shots has been great and Ricky has struggled. Our big Ace has not been what we thought he would be. He really has to come out give us a shutout, to lift us on a day where are offense is struggling to help us get a lift against some the Aces vs other teams (Rays being one of them). The series coming up vs Tampa will give us a good idea of how our team will fair against some of the young arms of the Rays. I really look forward to some of those pitching duels even the arms out the pen!
Now equally so Jose has not been what we thought he would be as our big bat in the line up thus far, hence why we have been playing in so many close games that shouldn't have been. No one wants to talk about Jose flying out and popping out like its in style, yet people beat up on Lawrie who I think was almost, if not safe at the plate when trying to steal home. Who are we kidding Jose cant hit a beach ball right now. He popped out with the bases jacked with the game on the line. He started off not bad with a big fly, well for the first game. I think he just needs to find a game where a pitcher is totally off or we need to play few games away from the Rogers Center to get him going. I think we have some unsung hero's like Johnson who have kept us in a few games but we are not getting base hits like we should be at the top and bottom of the line up and it's is hurting us. EE and Johnson are the spine of the offense and Lawrie has managed to chip in with 7 RBI thus far. Right now I think both our offense and pitching is almost 50/50 for the success of our winning and is equally responsible for our success and the few close game losses we had.
I love what we are doing on the bases, I think we need to continue the small ball till the big flys start coming from those we expect them from. Rajai Davis is a weapon and a half to have I would like to see more double steals (take 2nd, and the runner at 3rd take home if a throw is made to 2nd). I think Lawrie was safe by a hair but that is only because I was really routing for him to make it, as it is a very exciting play I remember when Raul Mondesi made it when Jose Cruz Jr was up to bat many seasons ago. I remember playing in my high school days I stole home twice and both times you slid in feet first before the tag but I am sure I would have been given grief if it ended an inning. Jose has me convinced he is not where he ended the season off and is struggling EE would have many more RBI's if he could get on base and he isn't taking many pitches either.
Snider may need to be given a call up as Thames is mediocre right now and Snider seems to be doing alright. He has the hustle and hard work, really wish we had a spot for him in an every day roll. I really did not see EE pulling the type of production he is. Next few games I will be watching for Colby, JP and Yunel to get it going, I will let Jose turn it up on his own because I think his presence in the line up alone maybe very effective.
Cheers and the push for the play off bound season continues vs the Rays in few days!
