May 18 2012 09:02 AM
Jays are 21-19, with better pitching and worse hitting than I would have guessed. They play is a crappy, boring indoor stadium that at one time was considered nice. I count it as a bonus we can DH Doodoo and play Nieuwy, although Hairy might start tonight.
Probable pitchers:
Friday 7:07: Niese vs. LHP Ricky Romero
Here’s Ricky Romero’s girlfriend, a former Miss USA and wannabe pro wrestler Rima Fakih. Born in Lebanon, Rima was raised in Jackson Heights and I’d be if we took her top off we’d find the beating heart of a MLBS.
Ricky’s a lefty with good stuff. Doesn’t give up many hits but is prone to walking too many, sounds like a good assignment for the Hudgenmets to show their ability.
Saturday 1:07: Batista v. RHP Brandon Morrow
Morrow is a type-1 diabetic. He once threw a 1-hitter with 17 strikeouts. His fastball has been clocked at 100 mph. He’s second in the AL with a 2.22 ERA. He is… the most interesting pitcher in Toronto. Mismatch on paper.
Sunday, 1:07: Dillon Gee v. RHP “Steve” Henderson Alvarez
I never even heard of this guy till just the other day. OK, turns out he’s a 22 year old Venezuelan who’s been defying the Gods of the Long Season by fashioning a 2.62 ERA (163 ERA+) despite whiffing just 15 batters in 55 innings. Let’s see if that .233 BABIP lasts. Gee is freshly shaven and may also have naired his balls. I’m not saying I know that, it just strikes me as something he’d do.
Their reg’lar lineup looks like this:
Kelly Johnson 2B
I felt like this guy was a Met killer but looked up his splits and he’s just about average against us as anyone so I guess I just hate him on general principals. Got 8 home runs already this year, 9th in the league with 1.9 WAR.
Yunel Escobar SS
Cuban shortstop who’s something like Rey Ordonez with 10-HR power.
Jose Bautista RF
Off to a slow start (.207) but just now binging on power: 5 HRs in his last seven games including one off Hughes of the MFYs last night. Famously a paper Met who was acquired and then dealt in the same day in the Kris Benson deal.
Edwin Encarnacion 1B/DH
On pace for 200 homers, which would top his previous high by 177. I confuse him with Juan Encarnacion (also a former Red) whose eye got destroyed by a foul ball in the on-deck circle. This guy also suffered a face injury when he took a firecracker up and in during a raucous New Year’s celebration in the Domenican.
JP Arencibia C
Low average, lousy OBP, lots of strikeouts, but hits ‘em over the fence regularly. Here he is imitating Tim Kurkjian:
[youtube]s983TpLdTdU[/youtube]
Colby Rasmus CF
Hitting just .203 at the moment, and under .200 since becoming a Blue Jay in that trade everyone criticized LaRussa for making. This video would be funnier without the “funny” commentary, but it gives you a good idea of what kinda guy he is.
[youtube]43YMLB8N8A0[/youtube]
Eric Thames, LF
Never heard of this guy. I see “Thames LF” in the lineup and expect to find Marcus. Anyway, sounds like he’s a comic-book fag just like you.
| Eric Thames ?@EThames14 I CANNOT wait to see Avengers! Sit Front row wearing tattered purple pants with green body paint, hulk smashing everyone that walks by lol |
Thames, a lefthanded hitter with decent power, might sit for phormer Philli Ben Francisco vs. Niese and other Met lefties.
Brett Lawrie is the reg’lar third baseman but will miss the entire series as a result of a suspension for throwing his helmet at Bill Miller. Which is nice because Lawrie is 5th in the AL in WAR and been the Jays’ best hitter this year. In his place will be Yan Gomes, who made his MLB debut yesterday with 2 hits against the MFYs and in doing so became the first-ever Brazil-born player in MLB history. Gomes moved to the USA when he was 12. 45-year-old Omar Vizquel also fills in in the infield. Can you believe that?
Their bench also includes well-traveled centerfielder for hire Rajai Davis and reserve catcher Jeff Mathis.
The bullpen is doing OK after shedding excess weight of Frank Francisco and Jon Rauch.
Casey Jannsen is the closer, he’s aight, good control. He recently tweeted a pic of his new glove, but I’m not sure if its legal:
Their lefties are Luis Perez (he eats them alive) and x-Met Darren Oliver. They’ve also got veteran closer Francisco Cordero (37 and having a bad start) and veteran Jay Jason Frasor. Frasor was actually traded from the Jays to the White Sox last summer and traded back this winter. He’s a solid, Major League Reliever type like a David Weathers or Turk Wendell.
If you’re interested in learning more you can tune into a live chat with a Jays beatwriter today at noon, but why would ya at this point? Let's Go Mets!
