Burnett AND Captain Hook blow this one bigtime.

Saturday June 6th, 2008. Toronto v Baltimore.

Jays really need a win to get of this losing streak and also take advantage of this long home stretch. It is VERY hot out there today. Most of the crowd before the game are back in the shade. I can feel the heat coming off the field also, it will be very hot out there for players. The Jays have announced roster changes Benitez reassigned, Inglett back to Triple A, Johnny Mac, Vernon Wells, and Wolfe activated, and placed Aaron on 15 day disabled list to make room. I can see from here Vernon and Johnny Mac on bench in Jays dugout. Will be interesting to see which Burnett turns up today after his great eight innings outing last time.

Burnett 5-5 v Guthrie 2-6

Lineups: Baltimore: Roberts, Jones, Markakis, Huff, Millar, Bynum, Scott, Payton, Quiroz, Cintron and Guthrie pitching.
Toronto: Stewart, Scutaro, Rios, Rolen, Stairs, Overbay, Barajas, Wilkerson, Eckstein and Burnett pitching.

Result: Jays loes this one 9-5.

The good: Vernon’s return. Two hits and looking good with his swing. The fighting by Jays hitters in eighth and ninth coming up short.
The bad: Burnett just not in this one and was struggling from the very first inning.
Manager Gibbons. He played major role in this in later innings by pulling Rolen and Rios in the 7th and bringing in MacDonald and Thigpen for three further at bats in eight and ninth with a total of six runners on. Mr. Percentages blew this one bigtime.

The game: Top 1st: Roberts doubles CF. Jones at bat sac bunt back to Burnett. Roberts to 3B. Markakis at bat one down. Singles to CF. Roberts scores. 1-0 Orioles. And that dear friends is called execution and the way to start a game. Reminds me of the way Damon and Dye used to start games at the top of the order with Kansas. Burnett definitely not sharp here, Huff at bat, full count, now walks. Markakis to 2B. Still only one out. Millar strikes out. Some relief at least. Scott at bat strikes out. AJ escapes further damage but a lot of pitches to escape.
Bottom 1st: Stewart at bat. Big contrast here with Orioles lead off Roberts. One at his peak, the other over the best years. Jays really need a bona fide leadoff hitter (Message to JP). Stewart now grounds out to Huff but his throw wide of bag Millar tags Stewart but he is down hurt on that play. Seems to be his leg or ankle, may have been spiked by Millar on the play. Shannon now being helped off field limping, not good. Gibbons has some words with Millar. Not sure what that is about, it didn’t look deliberate from here. Scutaro now at bat doubles to LF. Alex now what can he do today? Yes indeed singles here to RF Marco scores 1-1. That’s the way to answer. Rolen now at bat, one down can he bring Rios in? Alex stealing here looks like a delayed steal and is out at 2B. Funny attempt, I don’t think Rolen is amused. Two down. Fly ball to Jones in CF but at least game is tied.

Top 2nd: I can’t see Shannon out there it is Wilkerson in LF and Alex in RF and Number 10 in CF. Crowd standing ovation as Vernon’s name is announced. All is well with Jays world again… Not good re Shannon but his bad luck has made this outfield much stronger. Payton now infield single to 3B. Burnett goes for it and his throw is wild. Payton moves up to 2B. AJ error and not helping himself there. Leadoff hitter on again at 2B. Quiroz now at bat grounds out to Scutaro moves Payton to 3B. Same effect as a sac bunt. Orioles are executing well today. One down. Cintron grounds out to Overbay. Roberts again at bat walks. Burnett struggling here and Baltimore bats very patient pushing his pitch count. Jones at bat. Roberts running and steals. Jones strikes out. AJ bearing down. Leaves Roberts at 2B.
Bottom 2nd: Stairs single to CF. Overbay lines hard to Huff at 3B. Barajas now at bat strikes out. Stairs running and steals 2B, when did Matt last steal a base ???? Wilkerson at bat with Stairs in scoring position. Fly ball to Jones in CF.

Top 3rd: Markakis fly ball to Wells in CF. That sounds and looks good after a month. Huff at bat, fouls out to Rolen at 3B. Two down. Millar now walks. Scott at bat doubles into RF. Millar to 3B. Payton at bat. Singles to RF. Millar and Scott score 3-1 Orioles. Payton at 2B for Quiroz at bat. Grounds out to Scutaro but damage is done and with two outs. AJ just could not finish it off.
Bottom 3rd: Eckstein at bat infield single beats out throw to 1B. Vernon Wells at bat, great to see. Nice ovation from crowd. It is four weeks since he broke that wrist in that diving catch. How strong will his wrist be ? Lines one to Cintron at SS. One down. Scutaro fly ball to Jones in CF. Rios now with Eckstein at 1B. Lines out to Roberts at 2B. It will be interesting to see how Alex does now with Vernon back in the lineup.

Top 4th: Cintron strikes out. Roberts at bat strikes out. Can AJ get a three up and down inning and get fielders out of this heat? Jones at bat, grounds thos one to Rolen at 3B. Good inning for AJ although Orioles hitters are taking him deep in each count.
Bottom 4th: Rolen at bat fly ball to Payton in LF. Jays hits are hard but going right at fielders today. Stairs now, strikes out. Overbay at bat, singles Guthrie to CF. One on, two down for Barajas. Strikes out, leaving Lyle out there.

Top 5th: Markakis fly ball to Wilkerson in LF. Huff now, walks. Millar at bat, singles to RF, Huff moves to 2B. Scott at bat singles to RF and loads the bases. AJ in deep trouble here with consecutive hits and only one out.
Payton next pitch doubles past Vernon in CR this is big trouble. Huff scores, Millar scores and here comes Scott, scores. 6-1 Orioles and this game is blown open. Burnett getting the boos. He is just not on his game today and has not been sharp all game. Fans around me calling for Gibbons to end his misery and get him out of there. Quiroz now, he doubles past Vernon in CF. Payton scores from 2B. 7-1 Orioles. Cintron now at bat he singles to CF, Quiroz moves to 3B. Now here comes Captain Hook to jeers and cheers. Wolfe just activated is pitching for Burnett. AJ walks off with boos all around. He raises his cap, hmmmm… not good AJ. That will not make you more popular at all. A terrible outing ad after last great outing reinforces his reputation as .500 pitcher which is too bad. Roberts now at bat with Quiroz at 3B. High fly ball down LF almost foul, nice catch by Wilkerson but Quiroz scores. 8-1 Orioles. That ends AJ’s outing which will definitely not help his ERA today. Jones now at bat, Baltimore has already batted around this inning, two down Cintron at 2B. Fly ball to Wilkerson, this is over. But lots of fans leaving the game.
Bottom 5th: Guthrie still in there and keeping his pitch count down nicely. What will be Jays response to this or are they shell-shocked with rapid events? Wilkerson at bat, strikes out. Eckstein at bat, fly ball to Markakis in RF. Wells now, what can he do? Yes, singles to LF. Keeps this inning alive at least for Scutaro at bat. Strikes out leaving Vernon at 1B. Not a great response to Orioles.

Top 6th: Wolfe still in there. Markakis lead-off double here to CF. Vernon at least has been busy on his return but someone has to shut down these Baltimore hitters. Huff not bunting, but grounds out to Scutaro. Markakis moves to 3B. I guess a form of sacrifice. Only one down again with runner at 3B and Baltimore eats these situations up. Millar at bat, there it goes singles to LF, Markakis scores 9-1 Orioles, when will this stop? Would be interesting to check Baltimore’s average with runners in scoring position. Certainly giving Jays hitters a textbook lesson today. Scott now pops one to Rios in RF. Two down and Millar still at 2B. Payton grounds this one to Scutaro and out at 1B. But Baltimore keeps adding those runs.
Bottom 6th: Rios now at bat, grounds this weakly to Cintron at SS, one down. Rolen at bat. NO, pinch hitter Johnny Mac. Now this is interesting. Gibbons has given up on his hitters with four innings to go? That’s a big vote of non-confidence. Secondly Macdonald is hardly a pinch hitter. Thirdly we are all watching the yoyo game in New York. First Royals were winning 5-1, now Yankees have scored four to tie it up. I guess Gibbons doesn’t believe Jays hitters can come back here. Too bad, I saw Jays last year hit six to win in the bottom of the ninth. And here we still have four innings to go. Macdonald fly ball to Markakis in RF. No surprise here. Stairs at bat fly ball to Payton in LF. Gibbons may be right but I still think Rolen should be in there one of the few consistent hitters on this team.

Top 7th: More changes, Thigpen is replacing Barajas. Macdonald in at 3B,and Mench in RF. Rios and Rolen out. Frasor is pitching. Quiroz strikes out. Cintron at bat, grounds out to Scutaro. Two down for Roberts. Singles this one to CF. Jones at bat grounds to Overbay. At least this was three up and down.

Bottom 7th: Guthrie is still pitching and why not? Overbay at bat fly ball to Jones in CF. Mench in Barajas’ spot grounds back to Guthrie. Wilkerson strikes out.

Top 8th: Tallet pitching but I didn’t hear any announcement. I can see why the stadium has all these inter-innings distractions, the crowd is more interested in winning something than watching Jays lose another. I don’t think they wanted any more boos. I am sure Mr. Rogers is not very pleased looking down at all the empty seats now around home plate. My section is deserted apart from the small children with parents who will be running the base after this one. They want something for their money today. Tomorrow at least they have photo day. Markakis leading off, there goes a double to CF. Tallet has had a nightmarish two days. Huff at bat, fly ball to Wells taking pity on Jays. Bynum now pinch hitting for Millar, grounds out to Scutaro but Markakis moves to 3B. Scott at bat grounds out to Tallet and helps himself get out of that mess without damage.
Bottom 8th: Guthrie has gone, Jays have a chance!!! Guthrie pitch count still only in the 90’s after seven. Trachsel now pitching. Bynum is in at SS. Cintron in at 1B. Eckstein at bat grounds out to Roberts at 2B. One down. Vernon now at bat, YES that’s more like it, doubles to CF. That IS good to see. Scutaro full count, walks. Now this is interesting with two on and only one out, NO Rios though, he was pulled last inning. Wonder what he could have done now. Thigpen here singles to CF. Bases loaded only one down. This is even more interesting because guess who is coming to bat, NOT Scott Rolen but Macdonald. This has double play written all over this situation with Macdonald. Gibbons must be hiding in the dugout. There he goes, grounds it to Bynum, on to Cintron, double play ball with bases loaded. I am sorry but those changes cost the Jays big in that inning anything from two runs to four with Rios and Rolen in there. Someone was debating with me before this game about lack of intensity of this team, he is absolutely right. This team should be battling right down to the last out, and Gibbons should have his best team out there until the bitter end. Yes even four runs would only be 9-5 but baseball is all about momentum.

Top 9th: Camp now pitching. Payton fly ball to Mench in RF. Quiroz strikes out. Cintron grounds out to Scutaro. Three up and down helped by swinging bats from Orioles. Last crack now for Jays but would that Rios and Rolen were in there.
Bottom 9th: Stairs infield single to 2B, one on. Overbay singles and safe at 1B on Bynum’s error. Stairs to 2B. Two on no outs. Mench at bat, Trachsel now wild pitch Stairs to 3B and Overbay to 2B. Chance for Mench here. Yes great hit doubles to CF, Stairs and Overbay score 9-3 Orioles. Mench at 2B still no outs. Wilkerson walks. Two on again. That’s it for Trachsel. Sarfate now pitching. Eckstein at bat, walks the bases loaded. Now tell me how important that last inning was. I hope Gibbons is in the dressing room. Locked up with Rolen. Here comes Vernon with bases loaded. Sac fly to Markakis in RF. Mench scores. 9-4. Welcome back Vernon. Wilkerson at 3B. One down. Scutaro at bat grounds to Cintron, throw to 2B gets Eckstein, Wilkerson scores 9-5. Once again should be Rios at bat but Alex is sitting, Thigpen at bat now with Scutaro at 1B. Strikes out.

Jays lose this one 9-5 BUT I believe that Gibbons pulling Rios and Rolen cost Jays at least three at bats and could have made the difference in a four run game. Minimum two in the eighthwiththat baes loade situation would have made those last at bats in the ninth very, very different.
This is NOT a Manager who can lead a play off team. Joe Maddon would not show the white flag in the sixth, Joe Torre would not, and certainly looking at New York score now 10-10, Joe Girardi is not a quitter. I will be very interested in media comments tomorrow