Game #7 Washington Nationals (3-4) @ Toronto Blue Jays (3-4) - game recap

Teoscar Hernandez was 3-4, including 2 solo HR, in a losing effort as the Nationals defeated the Blue Jays 6-4

After a tough 4-0 shutout loss in extra innings yesterday, the Blue Jays wrapped up the four-game set with the Nationals, looking for their 1st series win of the season. Prior to the game, it was announced that the weekend series against Philly is cancelled after 2 Phillies staff members tested positive for COVID-19. It's possible that the Blue Jays and Nationals could continue the series, now that both teams have three games to make up. Hyun-jin Ryu got his second start of the season. Bo Bichette returned to the lineup after missing a pair of games with a hamstring injury. Vlad was back at DH. There has to be major concerns that he is physically unable to handle being in the field more than one game at a time. Derek Fisher got the start in RF with Randal Grichuk still out with an SI joint injury. Could the Blue Jays take three of four from the defending World Series champs? Here is today's game recap.

Game #6 Washington Nationals (2-4) @ Toronto Blue Jays (3-3) - game recap

Nate Pearson tossed 5 shutout innings in a losing effort as the Blue jays were defeated 4-0 in 10 innings by the Nationals 

The Toronto Blue Jays have looked like a playoff contender this week with two huge wins over the defending world series champs. Tonight, Nate Pearson made his MLB debut, after shamelessly having his service time manipulated and starting the season on the taxi squad. Pearson was roughed up in the first inning of the first exhibition game in Boston a week ago, but settled down after that. Danny Jansen was back behind the plate after a night off last night.. Bongo moved back to his natural position at 2B with Derek Fisher getting the start in right field. Glad was also back in the field playing 1B with Rowdy Tellez DH'ing. Joe Panik switched positions for the third straight day, playing the hot corner tonight. Could the Blue Jays make it there since in a row? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game 6. Big Nate and the Amazing, Awesome, Fabulous, Very Good Start. Jays (3-2) @ Expos (1-3)

Big Nate vs. Mad Max

Game #5 Toronto Blue Jays (3-2) @ Washington Nationals (1-4) - game recap

Tanner Roark pitched 5 strong innings as the Blue Jays knocked off the Nationals 5-1

After a solid victory over the Defending World series Champs on the back of 4 solo shots and a lights out performance over the game's final five innings by the bullpen, the Blue Jays were looking to make it two in a row for the first time this season. Tanner Roark made his Blue Jays debut tonight. Randal Grichuk and Bo Bichette remain out with minor injuries, so players were shuffled around. Cavan Biggio moved to Right field for the 8th start of his career at that position, Joe Panik moved to 2B after starting at SS last night, Danny Espinal got his second big league start - first as a SS and Vlad got another half day off, serving as the DH, with Rowdy Tellez at 1B. Reese McGuire got his second start of the season behind the plate. Could the Blue Jays make it a two game winning streak? Here is tonight's game recap.

Game 5: Survival. Blue Jays (2-2) @ Expos (1-3)

Game #4 Toronto Blue Jays (2-2) @ Washington Nationals (1-3) - game recap

Teoscar Hernandez smacked two solo home runs to lift the Blue Jays to a 4-1 victory over the defending World Series champs, Washington Nationals 

After a disappointing loss yesterday that saw Randal Grichuk and Ken Giles leave the game with injuries, the Blue Jays travelled north to Washington to take on the defending World series champs. There is much uncertainty about the season continuing after 14 Miami Marlins players tested positive for COVID-19. By the way, Geovany Soto has previously tested positive as well. Trent Thornton got his first start of the season. In 2019, he was 4-9 in 32 starts with a 4.84ERA and 1.41WHIP. Derek Fisher was in RF in place of the injured Grichuk tonight and Joe Panik made his Blue Jays debut at the hot corner. Could the Blue Jays snap the 2 game losing streak? Here is today's game recap.

Game 4 of the season that shouldn't be: Jays (1-2) vs Nats (1-2)

Mon, Jul 27 • 6:05 PM EDT

At Nationals Park

Trent Thornton vs Anibal Sanchez

Ten weekly random thoughts week 1 - April 20-26

Here's something I never thought I would be saying in 2020 (then again I never thought I would get living through a pandemic), Blue Jays baseball is back this week. The Blue Jays opened the 2020 regular season with a weekend series against the Tampa Bay Rays, in Florida, the worst states to be in with the COVID-19 pandemic. In the week leading up to the series, the state of Florida had been reporting daily  increases of 10,000+ cases of COVID-19. Have I mentioned yet that the MLB is nuts to even try playing baseball in the midst of a pandemic, without using the hub city approach as the NHL, NBA, and MLS are doing? All sports essentially stopped when NBA player Rudy Gobert was diagnosed with COVID-19. In the ensuing weeks and months, all leagues worked to try and come up with plans to restart is there sports. Meanwhile, in the MLB, players and owners were fighting over money and in particular, player compensation for the 2020 season with the owners trying to pay, of course, the least amount of money. Another point of difference between the players and the owners was number of games played. The owners wanted as few as 50 games and the players wanted as many as 120 games. The baseball season is supposed to be 162 games but of course, that was going to be unfeasible without  the season into December, and then you would be contending with issues and you would see more injuries next season because players would have a much shorter off-season to recover from this season. Here are 10 random thoughts from Week 1 of the MLB.

Game #3 Toronto Blue Jays (1-2) @ Tampa Bay Rays (2-1) - game recap

Randal Grichuk was 2-2 with a walk and run scored before leaving the game in the bottom of the 6th in a losing effort as the Rays came from behind to win 6-5 in 10 innings

After suffering their first loss of their season when Sam Gaviglio coughed up three runs in the 8th, the Blue Jays were back at it, trying to win their first series in Tampa Bay since August 5-7, 2019. Thomas Hatch got the start and made his big league debut. Vlad was back at first base after a half night off DH'ing last night. Brandon Drury saw his first action of 2020, playing the hot corner today. Rowdy Tellez served as DH and Danny Jansen was back behind the plate after a night off yesterday. Could the Blue Jays take the rubber match and win their first series of the season? Here is today's game recap.

Game 3. The Vladdening. Jays (1-1) @ Rays (1-1) | House of Horrors, Florida | June 26, 2020 1:10PM EST

HATCH?! vs. Snell :( 

Game #2 Toronto Blue Jays (1-1) @ Tampa Bay Rays (1-1) - game recap

Matt Shoemaker threw 6 strong innings in a losing effort as the Blue Jays fell to the Rays 4-1

After a solid opening day win at Tropicana Field, the Blue Jays were looking to make it two in a row at their own personal house of horrors. Matt Shoemaker got his first regular season start since tearing his ACL in a rundown 15 months ago. Reese McGuire got his first start of the season behind the plate. Santiago Espinal made his big league debut at the hot corner, with Travis Shaw moving across the diamond to cover 1st base and Vlad DH'ing today. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. also made his season debut after missing last night with a minor injury. Coild the Blue JJays make it 2 in a row? Here is today's game recap.

Game 2 of the season that shouldn't be (Jays 1-0 @ Rays 0-1)

Sat, Jul 25 • 3:10 PM EDT

House of Horrors

Matt Shoemaker vs Ryan Yarbrough

Game #1 Toronto Blue Jays (1-0) @ Tampa Bay Rays (0-1) - game recap

Cavan Biggio smacked a 3-run blast to lead the Blue Jays to a 6-4 victory over the Rays

Four months and 12 days after sports stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Blue Jays kicked off a truncated 2020 regular season against division rivals Tampa Bay Rays. The Blue Jays will play the bulk of their games at their AAA facility in Buffalo (except for next week's series against Washington where they will be the "home" team in DC) and maybe the following series). Some new faces in today's lineup, including new "ace" pitcher Hyun-jin Ryu. The Japanese import signed a 4 year deal in the off-season worth $20million/season. Another new Blue Jay is 3B Travis Shaw. Vlad is moving across the diamond where he will be the new first baseman, replacing the departed Justin Smoak, who is now in Milwaukee. Can the Blue Jays open this odd season with a victory in their own house of horrors? Here is today's game recap.

Game 1. Welcome to Fake Real Baseball. (Jays @ Rays | 6:40pm EST | July 24 2020)

MORTON (0-0) vs. RYU! (0-0)

(Please Don't) Take Me Out to the Ball Game!

two socks, two exhibition games. coincidence?

Obligatory Weekend Post!

this is one of the cats i'm thinking of adopting. she reminds me of me.

Half-assed Intrasquad Game Thread #1

Yeah, I worked a 10.5 hour day, came home to my weekly bridge night, then went right to bed. What's it to ya? Here's your thread. Anyone wants to post lineups RADAR can work the Featured Comment magic on it.

And screw the new Blogger interface that just made this so much harder than it needs to be.

HEAT WAVE!

the Heat Miser -- he ain't foolin' around.

This has started well

Let's just say I'm not a big fan of this whole let's start up MLB again thing. In most places, the numbers are worse than when things were first shut down but nah, fuck it, let's play ball! After all, an infectious disease specialist think the risk is low!

Canada: America's Umbrella!

not a bad shape to the ol' gal. i like that Quebec resembles a dog's head.