ST: Game 3(73),Baltimore vs Toronto, June 23, 1:07 pm(pg 67)

[Dan2087]

My American friends always tell me to avoid Baltimore like the plague if I'm ever planning on visiting places in the states. Reading that board gives me more understanding why.

If your friends and Orioles fans can't convince you to stay away, I suggest you watch "The Wire" (also because it's one of the best television shows of all time).

I found oriole fans at their home games were fine. So much better than red Sox fans IMO

[There There]

People still question some of the bullpen choices gibby has made even though they worked out.

It's pretty easy actually.. if you even consider questioning Gibby's use of the bullpen, you're likely wrong... his usage of the pen is about as unimpeachable as any other manager in the game... that always has been one of his greatest strengths.

[Schad]

People still question some of the bullpen choices gibby has made even though they worked out.

It's pretty easy actually.. if you even consider questioning Gibby's use of the bullpen, you're likely wrong... his usage of the pen is about as unimpeachable as any other manager in the game... that always has been one of his greatest strengths.

For the most part, his pinch hitting has been quite logical as well, and those two things and lineup creation are really the bulk of a manager's duties. The only real question mark is the use of Bonifacio at second, and frankly we've had so few options that it's hard to know whether that's by choice or necessity.

[There There]

For the most part, his pinch hitting has been quite logical as well, and those two things and lineup creation are really the bulk of a manager's duties. The only real question mark is the use of Bonifacio at second, and frankly we've had so few options that it's hard to know whether that's by choice or necessity.

No disagreement there.

I was just amused at the suggestion that Gibby's bullpen usage is anything but as close to as good as it gets in the game today.
Especially as a response to Farrell's terrible decision making.

[Kapono]

For the most part, his pinch hitting has been quite logical as well, and those two things and lineup creation are really the bulk of a manager's duties. The only real question mark is the use of Bonifacio at second, and frankly we've had so few options that it's hard to know whether that's by choice or necessity.

No disagreement there.

I was just amused at the suggestion that Gibby's bullpen usage is anything but as close to as good as it gets in the game today.
Especially as a response to Farrell's terrible decision making.

Gibby plays the numbers when it comes to the bullpen. And at the end of the day thats all you could ask for.

Unfortunately, this was too much to ask for with Farrell.

[DreamTeam09]

Seems like we are playing a lot more small ball over this win streak as we were over previous years. It would piss me off to see us not move runners over and just have everyone hit away. We have speed in our lineup, so lets steal some bases, more bunting, and more advancing of runners. We are playing more small ball as of late aren't we???

[primecougar]

I see a lot of empty seats for it to be a sell out

I was at the game, it was very close to a packed house! It was really hot today so people would leave for a bit to cool down.

Btw Kawasaki gets the biggest chants ever

[TwistedLogic]

You'll see empty seats because a lot of people are at the concession stands, at the Windows restaurant area, walking around to cool down, etc, etc. Some will buy tickets and not come to the game, a bunch of tickets will still be in the hands of scalpers, there's lots of reasons.

[youreachiteach]

The thing is, though, that the Jays resurgence has little to do with a lot of the core pieces AA brought over in trade or free agent acquisition--or at least were not at all expected to reasonably perform the way they have.

Lind...?
Chien Ming Wang?
Esmil Rogers?
Cecil?
Kawasaki?


Most here expected Dickey, Johnson, and Morrow to lead the staff. That hasn't happened. People also expected Oliver to be a key piece to the bullpen. They also said that Romero would probably bounce back. Most thought Lawrie would bounce back with a solid season, if not an excellent one. Now I hope he comes back and turns into the star he has the talent to be...but he hasn't so far.

You have to give some credit to AA for holding on and allowing these assets to come to fruition...but I'd say it's probably dumb luck(Cecil/Rogers,wang)/little to no choice (Lind/Kawasaki) more than anything else.

Most here wondered about second base. Most here worried about Morrow and Johnson and Reye's and Santo's health. Has any of that not come to pass? Most thought JPA would continue to strike out too much and be a terribly streaky bat. That has happened, too. The only thing everyone was wrong about was Lind. But we all know why that was.

Frankly, I don't care why this has happened. It's fantastic and brilliant and courageous of the team. But let's not forget that it's not exactly just a normalization to the mean. The most consistent players on the team like JBau and Encarnacion have done what most expected, and Rasmus has been about the same. Melky has been hurt a bit but generally been okay outside of a lack of pop (which is probably related).

Gibbons has been great, and I was totally wrong about that. Maybe he could have "settled the ship" a bit better earlier, but so many things went to sh*t around him, it's hard to lay that at his feet. His bullpen usage has been close to perfect, and he's tried to make as many smart lineup choices as possible.

[chhoon]

SWEEP!!
haven't been able to watch the game these days but looking at the box scores at night after every game just gets me so excited the jays are watchable again

[Santoki]

The combination of the heat (my legs are burned to hell) and the blowout didn't lead to the best atmosphere of all-time, but it was just sweet to finally seem them win in person (had been to two blowout losses before today). Garcia was as awful as expected and JJ did a good enough job getting through their lineup (although with two lefties up I would have liked to see Loup in before he gave up the HR). After Garcia was pulled the game just settled into one of those predictable blowouts where the innings go by and you're just basically waiting for it to end.

However, a lot of people stayed right to the end and gave a great standing O to the team. I don't know when this streak will end but this has easily been the most enjoyable two-week stretch to be a Blue Jays fan in probably the last 15 years.

Is it true they're holding Reyes back until the Sox series now?

[dublo7]

(SNIP!)
when hitters hit like they're supposed to, pitchers aren't being all-world sh*tballers, the wins start piling up. so long as gibby isn't farrelling his way through the bullpen, he's done a fine job and it was always incredibly stupid to scapegoat him after 30 games

Farrelling = complete bullpen mismanagement. I love it

[Randle McMurphy]

Have any more feelings you want to share about tomorrow's game?

well, my slugfest prediction was completely off

i have a feeling that tomorrow will be a Bautista and EE show. that's all.

hey Mustard!

Toronto AB R H RBI BB SO LOB AVG

Bautista, RF 3 2 1 3 2 0 0 .254
Encarnacion, DH 5 2 3 4 0 0 1 .274

you happy?

I don't bet on baseball, but I might have to start if you keep posting your feelings here before each game.

[YogiStewart]

I don't bet on baseball, but I might have to start if you keep posting your feelings here before each game.

T O NI I G H T 'S L I N E :

the catwalk comes into play in a Blue Jays' loss