no. 53 2017: Reds (24-27) at Blue Jays (25-27)

Wednesday 31 May2017

12:37 PM EDT / Skydome

Tim Adleman (RHP 3-2  4.95 ERA  33K) v. Mike Bolsinger (RHP 0-2  5.75 ERA  14K)

no. 52 2017: Reds (24-26) at Blue Jays (24-27)

Tuesday 30 May 2017

7:07 PM EDT / Skydome

Asher Wojciechowski (RHP 1-0  2.25 ERA  3K) v. JA Happ (LHP 0-3  4.50 ERA  20K)

no. 51 2017: Reds (24-25) at Blue Jays (23-27)

Monday 29 May 2017

7:07 PM EDT / Skydome

Lisalverto Bonilla (RHP 0-2  6.17 ERA  16K) v. Marcus Stroman (RHP 5-2  3.30 ERA  51K)

The Magic of Baseball

I had a discussion yesterday about who is the "realist" - the optimist or the pessimist? I think everyone here knows I fall on the optimist side. I outlined why I feel that is. And since I need content (writers, where are you?) and this discussion happened to fall just as we were changing threads (so not many of you would have seen it), here it is:


It's the pessimist who sits in the shadows, giving them tunnel vision. The optimist sits in the sun, which gives them more light in which to see a fuller spectrum. The optimist knows that there are no absolutes, that every moment in time is something fresh that has never come before, that the past can only be a guideline, never a predictor. The optimist knows that even situations that may seem bleak always have a blessing in it and know to leave room for them.

In this particular situation, baseball is baseball. In this young season, we've already seen something that has never happened before (Coghlin jumping over the catcher.) The reason most people love the game is that it isn't predictable, that it's full of magic. Teams that look like they should dominate sometimes don't. Teams that look like they should have given up before the season starts have miracle seasons. Teams that go through a rough stretch frequently overcome them and go on to make the playoffs. To take a bad run 30 games into the season and use it to extrapolate for an entire season takes the magic out of baseball. And we here at JITH know the magic.

Our mantra? #WhyNotUs


Here's some baseball magic.

no. 50 2017: Rangers (24-26) at Blue Jays (23-26)

Sunday 28 May 2017

1:07 PM EDT / Skydome

Andrew Cashner (RHP 1-4  3.18 ERA 21K) v. Joe Biagini (RHP 1-2  3.75 ERA 30K)

no. 49 2017: Rangers (24-25) at Blue Jays (22-26)

Saturday 27 May 2017

1:07 PM EDT / Skydome

Yu Darvish (RHP 4-0 2.83 ERA 68K) v. Marco Estrada (RHP 3-2 3.30 ERA 70K)

no.48 2017 Rangers ( 24-24 ) at Blue Jays ( 21-26 )

Friday May 26, 2017

7:07 EDT/ Skydome Rogers Centre

A.J Griffin ( 4-1 5.02 ERA) vs Mike Bolsinger ( 0-2 6.32 ERA)

According to Griff, Odor is trying to distance himself from last year's ruckas. We'll see. Of more importance, will injured Cole Hamels be sitting in the dugout? Will he have seen the error of his ways and shaved his horrible beard?

Of note: Dwight Smith Jr and Cesar Valdez (he was up?) are back down in Buffalo to make room for Dosh and Tulo.

Toronto Blue Jays
Kevin Pillar  CF
Josh Donaldson  3B
Jose Bautista  RF
Kendrys Morales  DH
Justin Smoak  1B
Russell Martin  C
Troy Tulowitzki  SS
Devon Travis  2B
Ezequiel Carrera  LF

Texas Rangers
Shin-Soo Choo  DH
Elvis Andrus  SS
Nomar Mazara  RF
Jonathan Lucroy  C
Roughed Odor  2B
Mike Napoli  1B
Joey Gallo  3B
Jared Hoying  CF
Delino DeShields  LF

This is your game thread. "Miss you, Joe" Edition

Home sweet home

The boys are back in town and look who's showed up. While no official announcement has been made, both Tulo and Josh are expected to be on the roster when the Jays play a weekend set with the current ALDS losers, Texass Rangers. After losing 4 of the last 5, including being swept by the Bosox, you would think the Jays are meeting them at the right time. But you all know, baseball.

The Rangers have injury problems also.

Expected match ups

Friday--Bolsinger vs A.J Griffin 7:07 PM
For those of you who like offence, this game should be for you. Now that I've said that, watch both of these guys be lights out through 8. Naw, whoever scores last should win.

Saturday--Estrada vs Darvish 1:07 PM
For those of you who like pitching, this game should be a dandy.

Sunday--Biagini vs Cashner 1:07 PM
This one is anybody's guess. Biagini got babiped in his last outing.

After Matt Bush hit Bautista last year and the subsequent fight with Odor, after JB slid hard into 2nd, Odor is trying to put the whole thing behind him. I would think that with the Jays being only 5 games under .500, trying to get back into it, there will be no fireworks. The Rangers have there own issues and are more concerned with ending their losing ways, than reopening old wounds.

Looking ahead, Happ is beginning his rehab journey, speculated to be 1 to 3 games, and Liriano is expected to make his first rehab start on Sunday. Good thing, because nobody knows who is going to be the starter on Tuesday vs Cinci.

One series, one game, one inning, one out, at a time.

News.

One of the things I like about the comment section is that the latest news is usually posted and discussed.
So here's some stuff that you may know or not.

While not everyone's cup of tea, it's nice to see someone who is well known in the blogging community get a gig at one of the MSM sites. Jenn Smith will be contributing to The Sporting News Baseball.

Some personal news: I will soon be contributing to @SN_Baseball. I'm very excited to have this opportunity!

— Jenn Smith (@Baseball_Jenn) May 25, 2017

Bob Uecker calling Goins grand slam.

Might be our last chance to hear Bob Uecker call a Ryan Goins grand slam, so I decided to capture it. pic.twitter.com/d3eQC02wkj

— James G (@james_in_to) May 24, 2017

As you must know by now, Anthony Alford injured his hamate bone and will require surgery. I wasn't sure why surgery was required but Stoeten wrote a piece, That included a blurb from the Marlins blog, FishStripes, that explains how they treated Stanton with the same injury. Learn something new everyday.

For those of you keeping track of the injury congo line.

#BlueJays DL stints so far this season. pic.twitter.com/WP2D8SoS1u

— Scott Mitchell (@ScottyMitchTSN) May 24, 2017

I've noticed that more than a few people have wondered about Bautista and Martin playing 3rd instead of  Coughlin. One of the best answers I've seen was Coughlin's multitude of errors at the hot corner. So I guess if  Gibby wants a heavy, right handed lineup with the best defence, it's Coughlin to the outfield.

Worth mentioning is a bizzaro world that TWO batters get injured swinging the stick. Alford breaking his hamate bone on a foul ball and Ceciliani separating his shoulder hitting a dinger.

Tulo and Donaldson are expected back this weekend. But before he leaves Tulo was seen putting on a hitting clinic for the baby Jays.

Learn from the best! Tulo put on a hitting clinic for Dunedin batters after BP this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/u54YLkytDY

— Dunedin Blue Jays (@DunedinBlueJays) May 23, 2017

Some good news via BNS at Sportsnet. Shapiro Atkins says the Jays would be adding and winning at the trade deadline, which is something he didn't have to say but he did. So you're saying there's a chance?

The local 9 are home for the next ten games, starting on Friday, facing Texas, Cinci and closing out with the Yankees.

And some food for thought as Texas pulls into town.

Some light Wednesday night reading:

Sam Dyson: 12.56 ERA in 14.1 innings pitched.
Rougned Odor: .202/.255/.350, 56 wRC+ in 196 PA.

— Isaac (@IB_BlueJays) May 25, 2017

no. 47 2017: Blue Jays (20-26) at Brewers (25-20)

Wednesday 24 May 2017

1:10PM EDT / Miller Park

Marcus Stroman (RHP 4-2 3.00 46K) v. Matt Garza (RHP 2-0 2.43 22K)

no. 46 2017: Blue Jays (19-26) at Brewers (25-19)

Tuesday 23 May 2017

7:40PM EDT / Miller Park

Joe Biagini (RHP 1-2 3.41 27K) v. Jimmy Nelson (RHP 2-2 3.86 41K)

Debate Club

Bunting!

Party holiday weekend!

Since MLB has deemed this holiday Monday not important enough for a game, let's have a party!

This week's challenge:
Blind optimism! Or not so blind. But definitely optimism. 

no. 45 2017: Blue Jays (18-26) at Orioles (25-16)

Sunday 21 May 2017

1:35PM EDT / Camden Yards

Marco Estrada (RHP 2-2 3.60 58K) v. Wade Miley (LHP 1-1 3.02 46K)

no. 44 2017: Blue Jays (18-25) at Orioles (24-16)

Saturday 20 May 2017

7:35PM EDT / Camden Yards

Mike Bolsinger (RHP 0-2 6.10 7K) v. Kevin Gausman (RHP 2-3 7.19 31K)

no. 43 2017: Blue Jays (18-24) at Orioles (23-16)

Friday 19 May 2017

7:05PM EDT / Camden Yards

Aaron Sanchez (RHP 0-1 2.95 14K) v. Chris Tillman (RHP 1-0 2.89 8K)

The Stro Home Run Derby Show

On this episode of the #StroShow: @MStrooo6 CRUSHES an opposite-field homer! pic.twitter.com/UiEWy8oeU4

— MLB (@MLB) May 19, 2017

no. 42 2017: Blue Jays (17-24) at Braves (16-21)

Thursday 18 May 2017

7:35PM EDT / SunTrust Park

Marcus Stroman (RHP 3-2 3.33 40K) v. Julio Teheran (RHP 3-3 4.08 34K)

Baseball's unwritten rules

Not sure if this is true for all the unwritten rules but baseball is an analogy for life

no. 41 2017: Blue Jays (17-23) at Braves (15-21)

Wednesday 17 May 2017
7:35PM EDT / SunTrust Park

Joe Biagini (RHP 1-1 2.28 24K) v. Mike Foltynewicz (RHP 1-4 4.04 31K)

Debate Club

Let's have some fun.

Suggested by AJ, Breakfast Army Fan:
Discussion of interleague. AL vs NL style are old but recurring debates. Something about pitchers hitting?

Be prepared to show your work!

no. 40 2017: Braves (14-21) at Blue Jays (17-22)

Tuesday 16 May 2017

4:07PM EDT / Rogers Centre

Jaime Garcia (LHP 1-2 4.33 21K) v. Marco Estrada (RHP 2-2 3.12 53K)

Chris Rose and Kevin Millar are assholes

What do an air traffic controller and a pitcher have in common? Just ask @BlueJays RHP Joe Biagini! pic.twitter.com/oO0y69F7UT

— Intentional Talk (@IntentionalTalk) May 16, 2017

(If the embed doesn't work, click here.)

no. 39 2017: Braves (13-21) at Blue Jays (17-21)

Monday 15 May 2017

7:07PM EDT / Rogers Centre

Bartolo Colon (RHP 1-4 7.22 26K) v. Mike Bolsinger (RHP 0-1 3.18 4K)

Monday Poetry

5 in a row! The B team is on fire! Express your feelings in poetic form.


*Note - your poem can be freestyle. It doesn't have to rhyme. Have fun playing with sentence shapes.

no. 38 2017: Mariners (17-20) at Blue Jays (16-21)

Sunday 14 May 2017

1:07PM EDT / Rogers Centre

Ariel Miranda (LHP 3-2 5.20 30K) v. Aaron Sanchez (RHP 0-1 4.05 10K)

no. 37 2017: Mariners at Blue Jays

Saturday 13 May 2017

1:07PM EDT / Rogers Centre

no. 36 2017: Mariners (17-18) at Blue Jays (14-21)

Friday 12 May 2017

7:07PM EDT / Rogers Centre

Christian Bergman (RHP 0-0 2.45 2K) v. Joe Biagini (RHP 0-1 2.78 21K)

All hail the scrubs!

Who would have thunk in spring training that we'd be in mid May and our major run producers would be Pillar, Goins, Smoak and Zeke? That Danny Barnes and Joe Smith would be our most reliable bullpen arms?That Loup would be decent? (To be fair, Osuna has come around.) That Biagini would be starting?

Which of these is the most surprising? And who saw this coming? (Besides Smasher's love affair with Pillar, of course.)

no. 35 2017: Mariners (17-17) at Blue Jays (13-21)

Thursday 11 May 2017

7:07PM EDT / Rogers Centre

Chase De Jong (RHP 0-2 6.75 6K) v. Marco Estrada (RHP 1-2 3.14 45K)

Talk amongst yourselves

It's really late, I'm really tired, so this is all I've got.

(How about you guys writing something?)

no. 34 2017: Indians (18-14) at Blue Jays (12-21)

Wednesday 10 May 2017

7:07PM EDT / Rogers Centre

Danny Salazar (RHP 2-3 4.28 49K) v. Francisco Liriano (LHP 2-2 4.44 30K)

Injury Report

These are interesting times for your Buffalo Bisons Toronto Blue Jays baseball club.

While not the only reason the Jays are off to an absolutely shitfuck start, injuries certainly have been a major factor in the teams dismal  record. A quick review is in order, because without a list, how else are you supposed to keep track of it all?

Aaron Sanchez- Finger Blister- Till May 14th
JA Happ- Elbow- Back Mid May ( last I read might be longer)
Glenn Sparkman- Thumb- 60 day DL -unknown return
Bo Schultz-Elbow- unknown return
Kendrys Morales- Hamstring -Day to day
Russell Martin- Shoulder nerve- 10 day DL-Return Mid May?
Troy Tulowitzki-Hamstring-10 day DL- Return Mid May
Josh Donaldson- Calf Muscle- 10 Day DL- Return unknown Mid May?
Dalton Pompey- Concussion- 60 Day DL

That's over 70 million dollars of talent that's unavailable.

This doesn't include players that were on the DL earlier in the season.

Roberto Osuna- Cervical spasm
J.P Howell- Left shoulder discomfort

It should be noted that last year there were a few injuries, to regular players, that may or may not affect some of their performances.

Jose Bautista- Shoulder issues and Turf toe- It doesn't seem to be affecting him in the field. At the plate, I have no clue what's causing the problem.
Devon Travis- Shoulder issues- Again doesn't seem to be affecting him in the field. At the plate, I have no clue what's causing the problem.
Marco Estrada- Back issues- So far ( knock on wood) he's performing well and no mention of any back problems.

So how does this compare to the rest of the Major Leagues?
You can check it out here.

There have been some that have wondered, MYSELF included, why all the injuries? When the Jays have a new High Performance Department, touted to be among MLB's best, at taking care of player's health?
After reading the linked article, I don't think the problem is with preparation or the HPD. The best answer I have is:
That's baseball.

no. 33 2017: Indians (17-14) at Blue Jays (12-20)

Tuesday 09 May 2017

7:07PM EDT / Rogers Centre

Carlos Carrasco (RHP 3-2 2.18 39K) v. Mike Bolsinger (RHP 0-0 0.00 0K)

Pillar does it again

For you to relive over and over again.

And here's the various broadcast calls (Thanks @james_in_to):

no. 32 2017: Indians (17-13) at Blue Jays (11-20)

Monday 08 May 2017

7:07PM EDT / Rogers Centre

Trevor Bauer (RHP 2-3 7.67 31K) v. Marcus Stroman (RHP 2-2 3.89 30K)

Creating a JITH Lexicon

We have our own in jokes and unwritten rules we use during games or. It's been suggested that we create a reference where newcomers can be brought up to speed. So use this post to write down items and I'll compile them into a page that will live on the sidebar. Also feel free to ask the folks who only come by during games to add on. Comments will be open for 10 days.

As an example, here's one created for the Stargate SG1 thread on TWoP (RIP).

no. 31 2017: Blue Jays (10-20) at Rays (16-16)

Sunday 07 May 2017

1:10PM EDT / Tropicana Field

Joe Biagini (RHP 0-1 3.38 17K) v. Alex Cobb (RHP 2-2 3.86 23K)

no. 30 2017: Blue Jays (10-19) at Rays (15-16)

Saturday 06 May 2017

4:10PM EDT / Tropicana Field

Marco Estrada (RHP 1-1 2.43 38K) v. Jake Odorizzi (RHP 1-1 3.50 14K)

no. 29 2017: Blue Jays (9-19) at Rays (15-15)

Friday 05 May 2017

7:10PM EDT / Tropicana Field

Francisco Liriano (LHP 2-2 3.97 25K) v. Chris Archer (RHP 2-1 3.43 37K)

Debate Club

Debate question for an off-day:
Should the neighbourhood play be reinstated?


Be prepared to show your work!

no. 28 2017: Blue Jays (9-18) at Yankees (16-9)

Wednesday 03 May 2017

7:05PM EDT / Yankee Stadium

Marcus Stroman (RHP 2-2 2.97 28K) v. CC Sabathia (LHP 2-1 4.34 20K)

Racism in our own backyard

With all the discussion about the racist taunting of Adam Jones at Fenway on Monday, a few people reminded us that we have comparable assholes in our midst. Jones got similar treatment at the wild card game last year. The question was raised about how we can do better.

no. 27 2017: Blue Jays (9-17) at Yankees (15-9)

 Tuesday 02 May 2017

7:05PM EDT / Yankee Stadium

Mat Latos (RHP 0-0 3.27 5K) v. Masahiro Tanaka (RHP 3-1 4.20 22K)

3-some

Well whadda know? We've won three in a row!

no. 26 2017: Blue Jays (8-17) at Yankees (15-8)

Monday 01 May 2017

7:05PM EDT / Yankee Stadium

Marco Estrada (RHP 0-1 2.70 33K) v. Luis Severino (RHP 2-1 3.00 33K)