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Friday, September 9, 7:07 PM ET
Guthrie vs Cecil

Saturday, September 10, 1:07 PM ET,
VanderHurk vs Alvarez

Sunday, September 11, 1:07 PM ET,
Hunter vs Morrow

McGowan is now starting on Sunday, so I'm assuming Morrow is pushed back until next series

What a great series vs. the Red Sox. Good payback for the last beat-down at Fenway. Ricky pitches well against them for a change, Lawrie continues beasting, Cooper has a triumphant return, Encarnacian handles the cleanup spot well, McGowan earns a start, etc. And now they're back to .500. Depending on other roster moves, I'd like to see Cooper up with the team next year as a platoon guy/bench bat. I think they could find 300-400 ABs for a leftie who figures to get on base at a high rate.

A sweep here is very possible against our beloved Orioles.

On an out-of-the-blue note, I'd really like to see Cecil work hard on his conditioning this off-season. When he has a low-90's fastball, he's a pretty good middle of the rotation type guy. If he enters training camp out of shape and with an high 80's fastball, a rotation spot will not be waiting for him.

Right now I think we have only three locks for the rotation next year:
Romero #1 or #2
Morrow #3 or #4
Alvarez #5

Cecil, Litsch, Drabek, Hutch, Molina, Carreno, Deck and quite possible one established vet. will be competing for the other two.

Did Perez already get sent back to the bullpen? I don't remember hearing anything about him no longer being a starter. Excited to see McGowan start though. I missed the game he came in from the bullpen.

Morrow was listed as the probable pitcher for Sunday on the Blue Jays site although it was Perez' turn in the rotation for that day which Mcgowan now has. I haven't heard if they will go with a 6 man rotation or just put Perez in the bullpen though. I'd prefer Perez in the bullpen myself. I'm sure we will hear something tonight from Farrell or during this series about the pitching.

Lateral Quicks wrote:On an out-of-the-blue note, I'd really like to see Cecil work hard on his conditioning this off-season. When he has a low-90's fastball, he's a pretty good middle of the rotation type guy. If he enters training camp out of shape and with an high 80's fastball, a rotation spot will not be waiting for him.

Wasn't his issues this year his mechanics not his conditioning?

I wish we were facing Jo Jo

BigLeagueChew wrote:

Lateral Quicks wrote:On an out-of-the-blue note, I'd really like to see Cecil work hard on his conditioning this off-season. When he has a low-90's fastball, he's a pretty good middle of the rotation type guy. If he enters training camp out of shape and with an high 80's fastball, a rotation spot will not be waiting for him.

Wasn't his issues this year his mechanics not his conditioning?

I remember during training camp the Jays were saying they really didn't know what was wrong with Cecil. His mechanics were good, he was healthy, but for some reason his velocity just wasn't up to snuff, and then it snowballed from there mentally.

The only logical explanation one could really think of was conditioning.

Lateral Quicks wrote: Depending on other roster moves, I'd like to see Cooper up with the team next year as a platoon guy/bench bat. I think they could find 300-400 ABs for a leftie who figures to get on base at a high rate.

I'd like to see Cooper up with the team too, but I get the feeling Teahen would have to be moved for that to happen.

Right now the bench is presumably:
1. Rajai Davis - I assume he will platoon with Thames in LF (or Snider if he can turn things around).
2. John McDonald - His departure interview made it seem like he believes he's coming back. If not, McCoy probably assumes the role as the versatile utility bench player.
3. Jose Molina (or other backup C)
4. Mark Teahen - Only because of the 5.5 million he's owed.

If they don't eat Teahen's contract or find a way to move him, I can't see any possible roster spot available for Cooper, barring injuries or trades.

Lineup is out

Esco - SS
Thames - LF
Bautista - RF
EE - DH
Lind - 1B
Lawrie - 3B
Kelly Johnson - 2B
JP - C
McCoy - CF

Nice to see EE still in the clean up spot, and even nicer to see Lawrie move up.

dumb move to try to bunt for single by lawrie. a single to the outfield would score lind.

I thought this was going to be a barnburner with Cecil vs. Guthrie.. not a freaking pitcher's duel!

McCoy has been thieving Bautista's UZR lately. It's not Gardner-Granderson bad (I swear I've even seen Gardner call off Jeter on an infield pop before), but it can't be helping his WAR total.

Did Buck say "horny bat" earlier when referring to a broken bat narrowly avoiding Cecil? Ooh, maybe "Hardy bat"? Duh. Hopefully.

What happened to the mound tonight?

Loewen was playing CF at Vegas after Snider got hurt, wasn't he? So why is McCoy starting at CF?

I just don't see the point in having both Cooper and Loewen on the bench. Let's try and get them some at bats. Instead, Farrell starts McCoy at CF, and then brings in Teahen to pinch hit.

dammit Thames!

LittleOzzy wrote:What happened to the mound tonight?

Guthrie talked to the umpire about adding more clay in front of the rubber and his landing foot.

Drabek's fastball has like no movement.

ugly game from the offense

shutout by the orioles? Wow, that needs to be a candidate for worst game of the year... It's bad enough to only win 2 outta 3 against these scrubs, but shutout? that's bad