Preview: Jays v Boston Wednesday April 30

Preview: Jays Boston Wednesday April 30 2008.

Game will be interesting tonight. After last night the first 1-0 game for these two team since 1992 !!! will tonight be a slugfest ? and one of the more usual multi- run games?

On paper with Daisuke not likely…. BUT I suggest several reasons why it could be a slugfest.
1. Daisuke has not pitched in twelve days, he will be rusty and maybe too strong at first. His control has been suspect anyway in last starts.
2. The Jays offence has to burst out one game and why not in Fenway ?
3. After last night’s tough loss Jays are straining to get even.
4. Similarly Boston offence cannot stay quiet for much longer two runs on the last three games is not Boston’s style.
5. McGowan is also the type of pitcher that is either dominant or wild as he was in last game with seven walks. If he does that tonight then the Green Monster will be very happy.
6. Boston bullpen has been horrible and if Jays can get past Daisuke and burst the dam anything can happen with that lineup.
7. Wells has just one hit in his last 19 at-bats and is due bigtime unless there is smething radically wrong with him. He was certainly robbed last night by Pedroia.

Halladay tied club record last night with his fourth consecutive complete game and the last three all losses, last achieved by Jim Clancy in 1980.

What they said.
Halladay after last night 1-0 loss in bottom of ninth. “It's just a tough part of the lineup. Ortiz and (Manny) Ramirez. They can beat you with one pitch. You want to be aggressive," Halladay said. "It's a tough way to lose. You never get used to it." (I think Roy was being SO diplomatic... and not blasting his defence specifically Wells and also the bats that have disappeared)

Halladay on team confidence: "It's tough to say," when asked if he thought the team was losing confidence. "We've got a lot of tough guys in here. "But it's definitely been a grind, It's been an extremely tough trip (1-6). It definitely takes its toll."

Gibbons: The toughest loss of the year? "Yeah, because it's the latest one. It was one of those games. Both guys on the mound (Jon) Lester and Doc, did their thing." (Thanks John, great insight as usual)

Daisuke "I realize that I have to go deeper into games. The very fact that we have to even talk about pitch counts, I think that's a problem right there."

Gibbons on Downs: Downs has been hampered by biceps tendinitis. "He should be OK. His shoulder was a little tender and he needed a couple of days." (of course not related to overuse by the Manager)

Toronto hasn't been much better than Boston losing six straight before beating Kansas City on Sunday, and they've now averaged just 2.6 runs in their last eight games, losing seven times.

The pitchers tonight:
Matsuzaka has won four straight starts - matching the longest streak of his rookie season last year - but he was scratched from his start last week and pushed back to Wednesday due to a severe case of the flu. He's also battled control problems and high pitch counts despite his winning streak. He hasn't made it out of the sixth inning in either of his last two starts, throwing more than 100 pitches each time.
Matsuzaka has also won three straight starts against Toronto, even though he allowed seven runs on 10 hits in just 5 1-3 innings against them last Sept. 3 at Fenway Park. He had a 5.18 ERA against them in four starts last year.

McGowan pitched a complete game in his last start against Boston Sept 17, allowing five hits and striking out nine in a 6-1 win. But his last game in Orlando only lasted four innings, not much control, walking seven and allowing five runs in a 5-3 loss.

Rolen fast becoming poster boy for JP Ricciardi..... has collected a hit in each of his opening four games for Toronto. On the season he is 5-for-15 (.333).
Lind went 0-for-3 and is 0-for-10 since being called up from Class AAA Syracuse on Saturday. Meantime Reed ?... ah well not much point is there?

Lineup last night was big change. Hill who is not a power hitter, batted fifth. "It just made sense to me with a lefty (Jon Lester) going," Gibbons said.

The one-two Rios-Eckstein order. "We'll see how that works, maybe it's something that lasts," Gibbons said. I guess Eckstein can always bunt Alex over wherever he is on base, but am not convinced it is his best position and would like to see him behind the bg bats not in front.

In 2007, Rios thrived in the leadoff spot, in 241 plate appearances, he hit .282 with 12 homers and 30 RBIs. "He made things happen there in the past," Gibbons.

Marcum was sent back to the team hotel Tuesday night, victim of flu bug that has swept through the clubhouse but shuld be ok for Friday start in Toronto.