1:20 PM Eastern
I figured it’d probably be best to start a whole new post with the live blog of the actual game. It started 66 minutes late (labour dispute), and when it did, the Sox had made three changes. Out were Daisuke Matsuzaka, Manny Ramirez and Jason Varitek, in are David Aardsma, Jacoby Ellsbury and Kevin Cash.
Aardsma got through the Jays in the top of the first, walking Shannon Stewart around a groundout by Eckstein, an Alex Rios pop foul and a routine fly to centre. The scoreboard operator must be working off the Jays’ roster from the end of last season or something (though Eckstein’s name was right). When Shannon was at the plate, the scoreboard displayed “Rey Olmedo.” Shannon just can’t get no respect.
1:25 PM Eastern
To the labour dispute – it’s just been announced that there has been a resolution, which we kinda knew since, you know, there’s a game going on. We’ll find out what that resolution is later, when Sox player rep Kevin Youkilis speaks to us after the game.
Youkilis can’t talk now, because he’s on first base, having been hit by a pitch after Dustin Pedroia grounded out on a nice play up the middle by Eckstein. Tallet just struck out David Ortiz.
1:37 PM Eastern
After Tallet got Ellsbury on a little humpback liner to third, the Jays started their half of the second with promise – back-to-back singles by Rolen (hard liner over a leaping Lugo at short) and Overbay (hard grounder up the middle), but it went a-glimmering. Hill hit Aardsma’s next pitch to left, just a routine fly ball, and Zaun bounced into a 4-6-3 double play on an 0-2 pitch.
1:41 PM Eastern
Tallet came within a pitch of setting a record in the bottom of the second. Well, he would have if it wasn’t a fake game. Tallet struck out Mike Lowell looking on three pitches, then got J.D. Drew swinging on three pitches, then went 0-2 on Kevin Cash, causing massive ripples of excitement to move through the press box here at City Of Palms Park. OK, maybe that’s a bit of an exaggeration. I’m not sure anybody noticed, to tell you the truth, though in my giddiness I told Rich Griffin, who’s sitting beside me, that we might be witness to history.
Sadly, Tallet missed down and in with the 0-2, then got Cash swinging on the next pitch. Still, pretty good – three strikeouts on 10 pitches. He’s done, Shawn Camp will follow. Bryan Corey is in to pitch for Boston.
1:48 PM Eastern
The Jays were retired in order on fly balls, each a little shallower than the next. Reed Johnson started by giving his a ride to deep left-centre, Eckstein sent one to medium left, and Stewart hit his to slightly-less-medium centre. On to Shawn Camp!
2:48 PM Eastern
Sorry for disappearing with no warning, the laptop died and then I had to run downstairs to hear the Youkilis news conference. I got back up and it was the bottom of the 6th, still 3-0. I haven’t seen much of it, but I get the feeling this game is being played like the ultimate getaway day game. None of the Red Sox want to be here, and most of the starters are out now. Most of the Jays starters are out as well, which means I’m heading downstairs in another second to talk to a few of them.
Youkilis said that the whole thing was more miscommunication than anything else, and the players now know that you have to get things in writing. He wouldn’t go so far as to say the coaches and support staff will be getting the same per diem as the players, which is what they were apparently fighting for, but that they’ll get a lot more than they were going to. He also mentioned that the Players’ Association supported them, but someone from there also told him that there was a lot at stake, and seemed to me to say that you can cancel today’s game if you want, but you’d better go to Japan. Still, it’s settled, kind of. After all, they don’t have anything in writing this time, either.
Off to the clubhouse, more after the game!
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And what did Griffin say when you mentioned that to him?
“that reminds me of this one time that I worked PR for the expo’s…”
MW: Be nice! He said nothing of the sort. Say what you will about Rich, but he loves this game as much as anybody on the beat, if not more.
- TomI agree with you that spring training stats dont matter but the jays should be hitting atleast a little bit with their A lineup. Its not like the Red Sox and Yankees arent hitting in spring training becuase it does not matter. I think the Jays really underestimated the importance of Frank C when he was in their lineup. He was a lefty hitter who could hit 1 or 2. Now they dont really have a leadoff hitter. More importantly, he was a solid professional lefty bat that set the tone for the lineup. I know its old news but he was an important player for them. They replaced him with thomas who is right handed and all power with no contact. Not the best move in my opinion
MW: 1. Cat didn’t hit leadoff much when he was here; B. check Thomas’ numbers last year and Cat’s. I agree with you that they don’t have a real leadoff hitter, but how can you say they should have kept Cat over Thomas? And this from someone who loves Crank Fatalanotto!
- aviWell – good to see (read?) Tallet have a decent outing. I thought he was one of the more consistent contributors to the bullpen last year (besides, obviously, the big 3).
- Dan HAnd 3 SO’s in one inning doesn’t happen that often, especially on 10 pitches. Very impressive.
Can’t the regular season just start already!
Two quick questions: Any news on BJ’s elbow soreness?
and, do you know if there’ll be anything new this year at Rogers Centre (like a grass field)?
MW: News on B.J. is in the first post of the day, no grass at Rogers Centre, likely ever.
- EH ZwickI would never be nice to Richard Griffin. If he loves the more than anyone else on the beat it certainly doens’t come though in his writing nor does it during his radio apperances. He seems to take every opportunity he gets to slam J.P. Riccardi and the book money ball which he doesn’t understand. He seems to think Shea Hillanbrand is a good baseball player and I believe he has a crush on Bob Mccowan.
- Dan MooreRichard Griffin also believes that moneyball causes Steriods.
- Dan MooreMike please don’t tell someone ever again to be nice to Richard Griffin thats wrong. Richard Griffin is everything that is wrong with baseball writers
MW: Wow, you really seem to have some serious issues here. Might want to look deeper within yourself to find out what’s really going on that you have such venom inside you for someone you’ve probably never met.
- Dan MooreMy problem with Richard is he’s a moron Mike and you know it
MW: No, he’s not. Sure, I disagree with Richard’s opinions quite a bit, but the fact that he doesn’t agree with me doesn’t make him a moron. I really think you need to talk to someone. Honest.
- Dan Moorehaha sorry if i opened up that can of worms, I was only joking and there was no hatred behind my post like Mr. Moore’s.
- TomAre you leaning towards Stew or Reed? Only 2 weeks to make a decision.
MW: It doesn’t matter where I’m leaning. The Jays are leaning towards Stewart.
- CameronGriffin is one of the great baseball minds in the business.
The fact that he criticizes JP should be praised since most writers work for the team and spend most of their time sucking up to him.
- Brett VLets pretend it did matter where you were leaning mike who would you take Stewart or Johnson?
MW: Good question. I don’t know. I love all the things that Reed can do, except hit righties, and I love the fact that Stewart is a good hitter, and can live with the mediocre defense. I guess since I’m not sure, and since I save a million and a half, maybe two by going with Stewart, that’s where I would go. That and the fact that Stewart provides an everyday solution in case of an injury to any of 5 players (Stairs, Wells, Rios, Overbay, Thomas) gets Shannon my vote.
- Dan Moorehey mike I cant wait for the Jays to come north Hook me up with a pair of Opening Day Tickets email me then delete this tread lol
- Peter EveleighRichard Griffin says things that are often just untrue…
He claimed that Chris Carpenter told JP he would stick around for the league minimum because he loved being a blue jay…
When I listen to him on the fan, I just wonder how he has a job in baseball…
And I hate this whole media thing where some guys are JP guys and others are anti-JP guys… Be objective guys!
MW: Rich has written one thing that has really gotten my blood boiling, but that’s his job, too. He’s a columnist, and they’re supposed to provoke a reaction.
To your second point, I wish everyone could be objective, too, but I’ll wager a lot of people say that I’m not.
- SteveMW
I understand Cecil’s going tommorrow. I’m interested in what your first thoughts of the kid are after he pitches.
- gerryI’m not defending Mr. Griffin, but in order to fend off another “debacle”, see the text below…cut & pasted from “The Star”….looks like Dick Griffin has a few credentials to consider…
“Richard Griffin began working for the Star as baseball columnist on Feb.13, 1995. Griffin began his career in major-league baseball with the Montreal Expos in 1973 while attending Concordia University. He became director of publicity in 1978. Griffin is in the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown as ’93 winner of the Robert O. Fishel Award and has been at all or part of every World Series since 1978.”
I have a suggestion for all bloggers reading Mike’s bloggage…make sure you go to the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in St. Marys this year…June 28. Good times.
- DJJAY