Litsch exits early Monday with injury

[LittleOzzy]

Blue Jays starter Jesse Litsch left Monday's game against the Twins in the fourth inning after experiencing tightness in his right forearm. Toronto plans on re-evaluating Litsch on Tuesday morning before deciding whether a trip to the disabled list is necessary.

Litsch, 24, was charged with four runs on seven hits over three-plus innings against Minnesota. He took the mound in the fourth inning and quickly surrendered a double to Twins right fielder Michael Cuddyer and then a run-scoring triple to third baseman Brian Buscher.

Litsch threw two strikes to the next batter, Minnesota left fielder Delmon Young, before manager Cito Gaston and head trainer George Poulis headed out to the mound to talk to the pitcher. Litsch was removed from the contest and replaced by left-handed reliever Brian Tallet.

Losing Litsch would present an early blow to a relatively young and green starting staff. Litsch -- with just two Major League seasons under his belt entering the year -- is the most experienced starter behind ace Roy Halladay. In parts of three seasons with Toronto, Litsch has gone 20-19 with a 3.75 ERA.

http://toronto.bluejays.mlb.com/news/ar ... p&c_id=tor

If needed, who should replace him in the line-up?

[chunkybwoy_53]

They say right forearm, but it looked more like an oblique injury from his reaction. But I think this may be the quickest article ever written. The game is not even over yet.

And to answer your question, I don't know, I know Tallet has picked up a few starts over his career, but this rotation/bullpen has been decimated this year. Our offense is playing decent, but our pitchers are gonna have to have the season of their lives for the Jays to have any success this season.

[Duffman100]

Hope he's ok. Maybe we could ask Clement to come back?

Wow, we'd been winning this game if Wells could hit in clutch situations. Ever..

[darth_federer]

Shawn Marcum was taken off with tightness. Hopefully its not Tommy John surgery. That would be devastating.

[chargerxthirty]

PEDRO????

<3<3<3<3<3<3

PEDRO???????



PEDRO

[darth_federer]

No chance. Last I heard he was pitching for the Angels and he wants 5 million (not the kind of money we have).

[chargerxthirty]

explain to me how we don't have 5 million dollars, when we signed not one player to a guaranteed contract in the off season and offered AJ Burnett 15 Million?

[tecumseh18]

explain to me how we don't have 5 million dollars, when we signed not one player to a guaranteed contract in the off season and offered AJ Burnett 15 Million?

Especially since this team has already proved it can hit. A ton. The guys deserve to have some < 4.50 ERA pitchers just to keep all the games winnable.

[darth_federer]

explain to me how we don't have 5 million dollars, when we signed not one player to a guaranteed contract in the off season and offered AJ Burnett 15 Million?

As Richard Griffin said, the Jays really had not intention of re signing AJ. They knew he was going to walk and they offered him a half decent contract that they knew he would not accept. If the Jays really intended to spend that money, they would have spent it already.

They come out of it looking like the good guys. AJ looks bad because he left the franchise despite a fair offer. They tried the same thing with Delgado As well.

[Mustard_Tiger]

The Jays can spend money whenever they choose to. They just won't choose to do it with Pedro in April of a season that they aren't trying to contend in.

I suspect the Jays might go with Tallet as a starter for a while, especially seeing how they stretched him out for 3 innings tonight.

[evilRyu]

explain to me how we don't have 5 million dollars, when we signed not one player to a guaranteed contract in the off season and offered AJ Burnett 15 Million?

Especially since this team has already proved it can hit. A ton. The guys deserve to have some < 4.50 ERA pitchers just to keep all the games winnable.

let's hope management sees this as well. we'd be sick if AJ didn't opt out. oh well, we just need to find ways to fill out the rotation once again.

[chargerxthirty]

dude... this team can hit...

our 9th hitter has 4 bombs
rios/wells aren't even warmed up yet.
rolen looks like hes in good form
scutaro is good for .270 with some clutch hits
rios has the most outfield assists in all of baseball in the past 3 year
we have the best pitcher in the AL

we should take a flyer on an arm.

We're paying scott downs 5 million for christ sakes, why wouldn't you spend that on an experienced starter who can perhaps help the team contend.

Just cause we didn't intend to contend, doesn't mean we can't.

[Mustard_Tiger]

dude... this team can hit...

our 9th hitter has 4 bombs
rios/wells aren't even warmed up yet.
rolen looks like hes in good form
scutaro is good for .270 with some clutch hits
rios has the most outfield assists in all of baseball in the past 3 year
we have the best pitcher in the AL

we should take a flyer on an arm.

We're paying scott downs 5 million for christ sakes, why wouldn't you spend that on an experienced starter who can perhaps help the team contend.

Just cause we didn't intend to contend, doesn't mean we can't.

They'll hit until their players get hurt (which has been known to happen to Rolen and Wells) and Snider eventually runs into a rookie wall. For now, there's no reason to consider this anything other than just a hot streak.

[zilby]

If needed, who should replace him in the line-up?

Pedro Martinez sign him

[Ong_dynasty]

If needed, who should replace him in the line-up?

Pedro Martinez sign him

+1..
One more good arm should make us competitive atleast right?!
surely an incentive based deal will be worth it..
and correct me if im wrong..but a name like pedro will attract a few more fans (not saying it will pay for his salary) but surely if we continue our form for another few weeks and sign pedro...A semi buzz should be surrounding right right?!

[dennistokyo]

Big yes to Pedro.