Series Preview Mariners v Jays in Seattle

Series Preview. Toronto v Seattle. Tuesday June 30, 2008.

This is a big road trip for Jays. Although it is versus western division teams Jays have to show some positive movement. This last week with back to back series wins is not enough.

Jays need to step it up even more to continue that for rest of season. To get to 90 wins they need to go more than .600 ball for rest of the season. It is doable and Minnesota is providing a good example in winning 11 of last 12 games. However Jays are always delirious with just five wins in a row.

The Jays have the pitching and as of Saturday have a very good number six if needed in Parrish. Defense is above average. It is the hitting, hitting, hitting and specifically with runners in scoring position. Jays have been getting the hit numbers in many of these games thus the problem has to be a mental one. I can buy that and Yogi Berra’s comment that hitting is 50% ability and 80% mental or words to that effect.

Tonight pitching Halladay 8-6, 3.12 ERA v Dickey 2-3, 4.79 ERA.

Dickey is a knuckleballer and pitched in relief in the Toronto series and earned the win. His last start in New York he beat the Mets. He has been very inconsistent though all season and is 1-3 with an 8.35 ERA as starter. Seattle has not seen Halladay this season. Toronto has lost the last three starts made by Halladay and a win for him is long overdue.
His last start I felt he was still suffering from his hit in the head from previous start. He seemed to be going through motions automatically and was not sharp until later in the game. It did not help that he had little run support from his team, they owe him tonight.

Both teams are in last place but have been playing much better under their new Managers.
Last series three week ago in Toronto Jays lost two close one run games. Seattle won yesterday with season- high eighteen hits in San Diego 9-0 to sweep the Padres. Ichiro is hot and went 5-5 yesterday and 8-for-14 in the series. Beltre is batting .432 (16-for-37) with a homer and 11 RBIs in his last nine games.

This should be a good entertaining series and huge crowd from north of the border to give loud support and also celebrating Canada Day tomorrow.