Another pathetic batting display by Jays to lose series .

Series finale Toronto v Seattle. Wednesday July 2, 2008.

Pitching: McGowan 6-6, 4.26 ERA v Washburn 3-7, 5.23 ERA.

Lineups: Toronto Eckstein, Scutaro, Rios, Wells, Stairs, Rolen, Barajas, Overbay, Lind and McGowan pitching. I don’t understand why Inglett is not playing and has not played in this series at all. Joe was one of the hottest Jays hitters. Apart from that he also brings some intensity and enthusiasm to his game which this team sadly lacks in the big bats.
Seattle: Suzuki, Cairo, Ibanez, Beltre, Reed, Sexson, Clement, Johjima, Betancourt and Washburn pitching.

Result: Jays lose this one 4-2.

The good: Not much. McGowan yes, Lind at bats and HR, Eckstein bunt and hustle and all round intensity. Rolen and Eckstein fielding,
The bad: Far too much up and down the lineup. 3, 4, and 5 hitters Rios, Wells and Stairs 1-10 tonight. Two more double plays, no thought at bats, and I do not buy the theory that Cito and staff are achieving with this team. They are in a deep, deep slump. And losing series to the worst team in the majors is a horrible, horrible fact here.
The real ugly: Rios and Wells. These two are so awful at bat especially in the fifth and eighth tonight. So predictable every at bat and hitting very badly. There is NO intensity at all from either player. Fortunately their fielding has not suffered yet.

The Game: Top 1st: Eckstein at bat fly ball out to Reed in CF. Scutaro at bat. First pitch swing pops up to Ichiro in shallow RF. Rios now, not having a good series, 0-8, there he goes, bloop single to RF. One on two down. Wells now at bat first pitch, what’s new with Vernon? Grounds out to Cairo at 2B. When oh when is this guy going to get it? My point being that Alex has just got on base after two quick outs, Vernon can take a couple of pitches at least to give Alex a chance to steal and put pressure on Washburn. Easy inning for Washburn. Jays get themselves out. 8! pitch inning for Washburn.
Bottom 1st: Suzuki facing McGowan, singles to CF. this guy is money in the bank as leadoff. Cairo now at bat McGowan throws over into the crowd ! Ichiro at 2B will probably take 3B here. Error to McGowan. Strikes out Cairo. Ibanez at bat. Fly ball out to Wells in CF. Ichiro cannot advance. Two down. Beltre at bat, two down, one on, lines out to Wells, nice catch Vernon. McGowan escapes leadoff single and Ichiro at 2B with no outs. 11 pitches.

Top 2nd: Stairs at bat. Roof is closing. Full count to Matt. Fly ball to Reed in CF. Rolen at bat grounds to 3B off Beltre’s glove into LF. Scott at 1B. Barajas at bat, grounds to SS throw to Cairo at 2B on to Sexson at 1B. Another double play. This is yet another area of weakness that new coaching staff has failed to solve. 25 pitches at least.
Bottom 2nd: Reed at bat, first pitch pops up to Overbay , one down. Sexson at bat, this guy waves that bat as if it were a toothpick, he is so tall. Grounds to Scutaro throw to Overbay, two down. Clement at bat grounds to Scutaro throw to Overbay. Great quick inning for McGowan. Nine pitches for the inning. 20 total for two. Dustin will definitely take that.

Top 3rd: Overbay at bat. Nice hit there Lyle, singles to right centre but with that sweet doubles swing. Lind now at bat had such a great game last night, grounds to Sexson throw to Betancourt and back to Sexson for double play, second of the game by Jays and 97 league leading double plays by the Jays this season. Eckstein at bat grounds to Betancourt. Throw to Sexson. Inning over. 35 pitches.
Bottom 3rd: Sexson is 6’ 8”. Johjima at bat high fly ball here but right to Lind in LF. Betancourt at bat, fly ball to Wells in CF. Ichiro at bat two down. 3-0 count here, careful Dustin. Walks him. Cairo at bat doubles to the wall in CF. Ichiro scores from 1B. 1-0 Mariners. Cairo at 2B. Ibanez at bat. Grounds this one just past Scutaro into right center, Cairo scores. 2-0 Mariners. Ibanez at 1B. Beltre at bat. McGowan strikes him out but damage is done. 44 pitches.

Top 4th: Simple fact. Jays will not win games without scoring runs. Starting pitchers keep them in majority of games but if they get no run support. Scutaro at bat, singles to LF. Rios at bat, what can he do? High fly ball out to Reed in CF. One down. Scutaro stays at 1B. Wells, full count now, walks on inside ball. Stairs now with two on and one down. 2-2 count, strikes out. Rolen can he do it? 3-1 count, walks him. Bases loaded for Barajas. Swings over this pitch and strikes out. Washburn 60 pitches, was on the ropes there.
Bottom 4th: Reed at bat, strikes out on three pitches. Sexson huge swing and miss. Grounds to Rolen, bare hand throw to Overbay gets him at 1B. Two down. Clement strikes out. Good inning but Jays still need runs, runs and more runs. Rays have swept Boston. Yankees hammer Texas with 18 runs. Orioles beat Kansas. 56 pitches.

Top 5th: Overbay at bat. Singles up the middle. Number two hit for Lyle tonight. Lind at bat YES ADAM there it goes, HR to CF. This game is all tied up. 2-2 and no outs. Lind is really establishing himself in this lineuop. Eckstein running bunt up the 1B line and beats out the fielder Washburn to the bag at 1B.. Great hustle David. Scutaro at bat, keep it going Marco trying bunt, gets it down Eckstein moves to 2B. Rios now at bat with runner at 2B. Grounds to Cairo at 2B gets Rios at 1B, Eckstein moves to 3B. Wells now can he continue this? Pops up to Sexson at 1B. Numbers three and four disappoint again. 84 pitches. Lind is playing so well adds to his 3-4 last night. If the AAA guy can do it, what is wrong with the multi-millionaires? Is it the intensity and hunger ?
Bottom 5th: Johjima at bat, fly ball to Lind in LF. One down. Betancourt at bat now lines one in front of Rios in RF. Ichiro at bat chops it over Overbay’s head but Scutaro saves it and extra bases. Runners on 1B and 2B. One down. Cairo at bat first pitch lines double to LF wall. 4-2 Mariners. No messing around by Cairo that was aggressive play. Ibanez lines out to Eckstein. Two down. Beltre at bat strikes out. 69 pitches.

Top 6th: Interesting to see the two approaches. Jays bats Rios and Wells last inning failed to add to the two runs and keep inning going. Mariners very different more aggressive approach with the runners in scoring position and it pays off. Stairs at bat full count for Matt. Strikes out. Rolen at bat strikes out swinging over pitch on the ground. Two down. Barajas at bat lines out to Ichiro. 98 pitches.
Bottom 6th: Reed at bat, pops up to Lind in shallow LF. One down. Sexson whoa, hammers this one right back at McGowan, self preservation knocks his glove off, spins and bare hands throw to Overbay to get Sexson, great play by Dustin there, kept his calm. Clement lines one out to Eckstein great catch. Seven pitch inning and two superb defensive plays. 76 pitches.

Top 7th: Jiminez pitching now. Jays did see him last night. Jays have to build on the momentum from that last half inning. Overbay at bat 2-2 tonight, swings over one and strikes out. Lind at bat high fly ball to Ibanez at LF wall. Two down. Eckstein at bat two down. Full count pops it up to Sexson.
Bottom 7th: Jays lack of consistent hitting has to concern coaching staff. Will Cito move Wells and Rios down the lineup? Never. McGowan out, has done his job. Brandon League pitching. Strange decision when game is still on the line. League has not pitched for Jays since April 10th. Pile on the pressure eh! Johjima at bat, grounds out to Overbay. One down. Betancourt 3-0 count. Walks him on four pitches. Ichiro grounds to 1B League cannot get it. Ichiro safe. Two on one down. League is not accurate here, cannot throw strikes, I am really surprised he is pitching here, he should be in a blowout game when he can get back into swing of things. Cairo at bat 3-1 count here now. Grounds to Rolen steps on bag gets Betancourt and throw to Overbay gets Cairo, double play ball. More important League gets out of there without damage.

Top 8th: Sean Green now pitching. Scutaro at bat, he struck Scutaro out last night. Grounds to 3B off glove of Beltre into LF. Error on play but Marco is at 1B. Rios at bat with one on but we have been here many times this season. Full count. Will he swing over it? I could win millions betting on Alex at bat. Swings over ball four and strikes out. $ 65 million. How come Lind makes Rios and Wells look like AA players ? Wells now at bat grounds first pitch to 3B. If I were Mr. Rogers I would wonder why I am spending my fortune on these two. Two down. Scutaro at 2B. New pitcher Arthur Rhodes , new hitter Zaun pinch hitting for Stairs, first pitch fly ball out to CF. Pathetic. This team just wants to get to Disneyland on their day off. Seattle is bottom of their division and worst record in the majors.
Bottom 8th: League still pitching, Ibanez at bat. Strikes out. Beltre grounds to Eckstein throw to Overbay, two down. Reed at bat ground rule double to LF over Lind’s head. Sexson at bat walks. Bloomquist pinch running for Sexson. Clement at bat strikes out.

Top 9th: Closer Morrow now pitching. Rolen trying bunt here, good thinking when Cairo now at 1B is playing deep, would be an easy base. Pops up to Ichiro. One down for Barajas, lines out to Bloomquist playing at 2B. Two down. Overbay last chance fly ball to Ibanez in LF.

Mariners win and deservedly so. Jays almost total lack of intensity.