Another poor performance by defence and bats

Jays v Detroit. Monday, April 21 2008.

Jays lose 5-1 splitting series.

Wells has day off, Marcum not too sharp, huge crowd 25,000 for a mid week day game. 90% were under 18 for school day. This was one I was looking forward to with the noise and enthusiasm of the U-18 crowd so different from normal night and weekend games. However not much for crowd to cheer and stadium announcer did not use the “extra player” until the last inning. Too bad, the players would have loved the support.
This game was lost on the two errors by Eckstein and Rios in the 2nd. Although Marcum was not as sharp as usual he was definitely victimized. Overall Jays were definitely flat this afternoon, no life at all.
I was correct yesterday re Lind recall for Thomas but as he is injured Diaz is temporary recall.
Thomas issue still in discussion around the media. Seattle, Oakland and Tampa are the front runners in rumours for Frank’s next home. Toronto media are mostly supporting move although blaming JP for original signing as a waste. Time will tell.

The good: Marcum, Zaun HR. Also good to see that Frasor is not the slowest pitcher in the league, Denny Bautista beat him today although Frasor tried to win his title back in the 9th. The two between them combined to add about an hour to the game’s length. It seemed like it anyway.
The bad: Apart from the two errors in same inning by Eckstein and Rios the total lack of energy by the Jays throughout. They will definitely have to step it up next series against Tampa youngsters or be run out of town literally.

Lineups: Detroit: Thomas, Rodriguez, Guillen, Ordonez, Cabrera, Jones, Renetria, Raburn, Inge with Gallarago pitching. Gallarago has taken over from Dontrelle Willis whilst injured and has done very well.
Toronto: Eckstein, Stewart in LF today, Hill, Rios in CF with Wells day off, Stairs at DH, Overbay, Scutaro, Zaun, Inglett in RF with Marcum pitching.

The game: Top 1st: Thomas grounds out to Marcum, Rodriguez doubles to CF, Guillen pop to Eckstein, Ordonez fly ball to Inglett in RF.
Bottom 1st: Ecsktein strikes out, Stewart fly ball to LF, Hill pops up to 1B. 11 pitches by Gallarago.

Top 2nd: Cabrera walks four pitches, Marcum not sharp today, Jones lines to Eckstein. Tries to catch it and then changes mind and ball shorthops him unable to get either runner . Error Eckstein, that could have been double play ball. Renteria singles LF, bases loaded. Eckstein’s error big now. Raburn singles to LF Cabrera and Jones score, 2-0 Detroit. Rios fumbles ball and Renteria moves to 3B, Raburn to 2B. Rios throw too late at 3B. he would have had him easily if no error. Marcum should have been out of this long ago. Inge sac fly to CF Rios, Renteria scores, Raburn to 3B, Alex’s throw from CF pulls Zaun to 1B side. Rios not having a very good afternoon. 3-0 Detroit. Runner on 3B. Marcum 37 pitches and not out of 2nd inning. Thomas walks on four pitches. This gets worse. Here comes Rodriguez already with double in first inning. Singles to CF, Raburn scores 4-0 Detroit. Here comes Arnsberg, not really Marcum’s fault he should be out of this long ago. Guillen grounds to Marcum takes out himself, Thomas to 3B and Rodriguez to 2B. Ordonez walks on full count. Detroit hitters very patient, I hope Toronto “first swing club” are watching. Frasor already up in bullpen. Cabrera grounds to 3B get Orodinez at 2B. Not a good inning but defence to blame bigtime.
Bottom 2nd: Big bats chance to get a couple back ?? Dream on…. Rios grounds to SS, Stairs fly ball to CF, Overbay strikes out. Hitting slump continues.

Top 3rd: Jones fly ball to CF, Renteria ground ball to SS, Raburn strikes out. First strike out for Marcum. Up to 54 pitches.
Bottom 3rd: Scutaro grounds to 3B. Zaun walks on full count, Inglett single to RF, Zaun to 3B, something going now for Jays, Eckstein lines out to LF, Stewart walks on full count, Inglett to 2B, bases loaded. Hill grounds to SS. Great opportunity to get at least one back lost. Jays seem unable to buy runs in these situations.

Top 4th: Inge walks on full count, Thomas grounds to Overbay, could be two here, wild throw to Eckstein gets Inge but no chance to get two. Fielding is flat this afternoon. Jays have turned more difficult chances. Rodriguez for third time already two hits. Grounds to SS gets Thomas. Gueillen grounds to 2B.
Bottom 4th: Big bats ?? Rios fly ball to CF, Stairs singles to RF, Overbay singles to RF, Stairs to 2B, Scutaro walks on four pitches, bases loaded again for second inning, this time only one out. Zaun strikes out. Inglett , NO Joe, first pitch swinging grounds to 1B. This is awful. Gallargo has walked three batters in last two innings on full counts, obviously control not as sharp and Inglett swings ! first pitch. This is the problem the bad habits of the older players are now impacting the rookies. But a thinking player would have worked that out themselves and bat accordingly. I am not sure Inglett fits that category. I recall him forgetting how many outs in one Dunedin game this spring. Toronto cannot say they didn’t get opportunities to get a couple in both of the last two innings. I have no doubt that Marcum thinks so as well.

Top 5th: Ordonez grounds to 2B, Cabrera grounds to 3B, Jones fly ball to RF. Marcum at least is trying hard to get back in this game. Now over 90 pitches though.
Bottom 5th: Eckstein walks on full count, see what I mean Joe ????? Stewart grounds oh no, into double play, this is definitely not Marcum’s day to win. Hill strikes out.

Top 6th: Renteria HR to LF. 4-0. Raburn fly ball to RF. Inge strilkes out. Here comes Catain Hook. Tallet is called. Percentage left lefty. Marcum 102 pitches. Had no support from bats today or the field. And yet he managed to keep them in game until Renteria’s HR. Thomas singles to CF, Rodriguez singles to RF his third hit of the afternoon, Thomas to 3B. Guillen grounds out to 1B.
Bottom 6th: Big bats again…. Rios grounds to SS. Stairs at bat, Rapeda now pitching. Leyland playing percentages but much better odds with a 4-0 lead. Stairs pops up to Renteria.
(Frank is that a .341 average that Stairs has ?) Overbay singles to RF, Lopez now pitching. Wild pitch Overbay to 2B, Scutaro strikes out.

Top 7th: Ordonez strikes out on three pitches. Cabrera fly ball to RF, Jones strikes out. Detroit in a hurry to get on road ??
Bottom 7th: Zaun fly ball, Inglett trying to make amends from previous mess at bat, doubles to CF, Eckstein pops to Raburn at 2B, Stewart grounds to 3B.

Top 8th: Frasor now pitching. Too bad as most of the crowd want to get out of stadium before rush hour starts. Renteria pops up to 2B, Raburn strikes out, Inge grounds to 3B. We may yet get out in time.
Bottom 8th: Santiago now playing at 2B. Raburn has moved to LF. Big bats again….
Denny Bautista walks Hill on four pitches. Come on Alex.. strikes out. He has had a terrible day. Stairs flies to CF, Hill takes 2B, defensive indifference says the scorer, I disagree, the infield are asleep with Bautista pitching, he is after Frasor’s record for slowest relief pitcher. Overbay now walks on four pitches, slower and slower….. Scutaro fly ball to RF. Leaves two more on base.

Top 9th: Thomas grounds to 2B, Rodriguez singles up the middle nice stop by Eckstein but throw not in time. Rodriguez 4-6 today. Guillen grounds to 3B. Ordonez singles to CF, Rodriguez to 3B, Cabrera walks on full count. Bases now loaded but Frasor will have to finish this one himself. No way Captain Hook is going to bring in another pitcher. The problem that both Frasor and Bautista have is that as soon as they get player on base they slow the game down so much. Great way to take out the support of 20,000 kids in ball park today. Santiago first at bat today, grounds out to Overbay at 1B. Bullet bitten Jason.
Bottom 9th: Last chance Toronto. Todd Jones closer pitching to get the workout not the save. Zaun HR to RF on full count pitch, nice hit Gregg…. 5-1. Now for the comeback kids. Inglett grounds out to 1B, Eckstein fly ball to CF, Stewart fly ball to shallow RF. Nice running catch. This one is over.

I would say Toronto lost this one as much as Detroit won it. Jays had more than enough chances to get back into game and without the two errors it would have been a much different game. One of those that could have been won like so many this season starting with the opening series in New York. .
We have to keep hoping that things will click, perhaps when Rolen rejoins the team later this week on the road. BUT good teams find a way to win games like today.
Meantime down the road, Boston sweep Texas…