RealGM

Toronto Blue Jays(41-36) vs. Tampa Bay Rays(42-35)

June 29 - July 1
Rogers Centre
Toronto, Ontario (Yours To Discover)



Monday, June 29 - 7:07 TSN
Roy Halladay, RHP (10-1, 2.53) vs. Jeff Niemann, RHP (6-4, 4.23)

As everyone already knows, this will be Doc's first run since obliterating his groin. Healed or not, we all know Doc eats Jeff Niemann for midnight snacks anyway. Really not much to divulge on with this one. I think it's safe to say that when a Rays hitter puts the ball in play, they can just head straight to the dug out, because it sure as hell isn't going to be a hit. Niemann however, is a pretty lanky guy who struggles to get the ball over the plate. Should be a field day for him when he sees Wells and Rios at the dish.

Tuesday, June 30 - 7:07 TSN
Scott Richmond, RHP (6-4, 3.68) vs. Matt Garza, RHP (5-5, 3.61)

Scottie boy is looking to pick up his third straight W, after throwing a Cy Young performance in Philly and a stellar outing against the Reds on Wednesday. He looks painstakingly similar to 80's children's cartoon character and overall weirdo, Inspector Gadget (no offense, awesome show). Matt Garza on the other hand, names Tupac as his favourite idol, yet looks like a Mexican variety of Vanilla Ice. I don't know?

Wednesday, July 1st - 1:07 Sportsnet (CANADA DAY! ALRIGHT! AWESOME!)
Ricky Romero, LHP (5-3, 3.20) vs. James Shields, RHP (6-5, 3.41)

Happy Canada Day everyone. Rook Romero is looking for his 6th consecutive quality start, while James Shields is looking for his 11th of the season. Both pitchers seem to be in mid-season form, so this one could be a low-scoring affair. Shields has an OK curve which he doesn't use often, but he does and can command both his 90mph 4-seamer and his low-80s change for strikes. Romero literally silenced one of the best offenses in the NL in the Phillies in his last start, throwing 6 innings of no-hit ball, and eventually only giving up 2 hits for the W. He doesn't like touching the chalk making up the 3rd base line on his way to the dugout after completing an inning. He hops over it like a little kid, which is badass. His change-up is really disgusting right now, and will leave free-swinging batters bamboozled with a salty palate, as the ball is tossed around the horn.

Whoa, chocsensi with the quickdraw. I was thinking about making a series thread but clearly I didn't stand a chance this time.

This is a massive series. The Jays are half a game back of the surging Rays, and if Toronto drops a couple of games the season could go south very quickly.

Seriously. In fact, the next three series could decide our fate for the season. TB for 3, @NY for 4, @TB for 3.

PANACE TIME.

doood. must win series

Our best pitchers are pitching this series so we should at least get 2/3

I think this will be one of the series where we will find out of the jays are for real or not

Great job with OP Sens, good read haha... and yep, expecting 2/3 as well... Doc obviously, and one of Scotty and Ricky to get things done. Hopefully our offense shows up.

Nice writeups. And it's a good thing you were respectful of Inspector Gadget, because if you weren't I would have been obligated to start an epic flame war.

Alex Anthopolous isn't ready to acknowledge that this is a make-or-break stretch for the team, but for the first time all year I think I am. Toronto is already six back of Boston and a game back of the D-Rays. All 13 of the team's remaining games before the ASG are against AL East teams. If Toronto could win, say three of four series and maybe sweep Baltimore or another of the three game sets they'd be sitting pretty in the standings, and more importantly they'd put pressure on the front office to bring in some help.

If they go into the crapper for these 13 games however, well, I don't want to think about that. It's too much fun having the Blue Jays in a playoff race.

Here are today's line-ups, courtesy of the good folks over at Yahoo! Sports.

Looks like Roddy Roddy Barayjays is good to go.

Toronto Blue Jays

M. Scutaro ss
A. Hill 2b
V. Wells cf
S. Rolen 3b
A. Lind dh
L. Overbay 1b
J. Bautista rf
R. Adams lf
R. Barajas c

Tampa Bay Rays

B.J. Upton cf
C. Crawford lf
E. Longoria 3b
C. Pena 1b
W. Aybar 2b
P. Burrell dh
G. Gross rf
J. Bartlett ss
D. Navarro c

Cito's reluctance to move guys around strikes again. If you're giving Rios a day off, why on earth wouldn't you move Lind up to the cleanup spot to split up the lefties? This kind of thing can really make a difference in late game situations once Tampa dips into the bullpen.

That walk was intentional so he could set up the double play

Jason Bartlett is batting .364? God damn. Scutaro has been amazing, but I'd give that second ASG spot to Bartlett on his average alone.

Scott Rolen kicks major ass.

russ adams... so disappointing

God damn, that was a bomb

****

**** A Bautista with the cannon. Between his great arm and a bit of pop he's a great utility guy.

Hill with the highlight reel catch.

ton of warning track outs tonight.

**** we can't get anything going tonight. Big game!

argh burrell...