GAME 68, JUNE EIGHTEENTH:
JAYS 7, WHITE SOX 3:
JAY HAPP HOLDS THE FORT UNTIL
THE CAVALRY ARRIVES IN THE NICK OF TIME
Stop me if you've heard this before. The Blue Jays were locked in a scoreless pitchers' duel this afternoon, with the recently-returned-from-the-disabled-list Jay Happ going pitch for pitch against the recently-returned-from-the-disabled-list James Shields of the Chicago White Sox. Then in the top of the fifth inning Chicago bleeped and blooped its way into, not only…
GAME 67, JUNE SEVENTEENTH:
WHITE SOX 5, JAYS 2:
REFLECTIONS ON A PERPETUAL
BATTING SLUMP
Like Lucy Ricardo, I have some 'splainin' to do. I only saw the first two innings of today's game, because of a prior commitment to a reception for a gallery showing of my wife's paintings. This time it was a cat show, which is to say an exhibition of paintings featuring cats, in support of…
GAME 66, JUNE SIXTEENTH:
WHITE SOX 11, JAYS 4:
TRIBUTE TO BATMAN? BIAGINI BIFFED
AS CHISOX JOLT JOE EARLY AND HARD
Let's not overthink this here. In my ongoing crusade to get Ryan Goins more playing time, my first inclination about the disaster that was tonight's game was to wonder if Goins would have made the plays on the two ground balls to second that started Chicago's first and second innings tonight. The thinking would have…
GAME 65, JUNE FOURTEENTH
JAYS 7, RAYS 6:
LIRIANO LYRICAL, MARTIN, MORALES MARVELOUS!
It might have been a little close for comfort, and they still won with the long ball, but Toronto played a much more complete ball game tonight to hold off the Tampa Bay Rays and earn a split in their abbreviated two-game series in Toronto. For starters, so to speak, Francisco Liriano turned in his…
GAME 64, JUNE THIRTEENTH:
RAYS 8, JAYS 1:
TAMPED BY TAMPA:
HITS RAY-N DOWN ON ESTRADA
Be careful what you wish for: you could end up carrying an awful load of guilt. I was about to ask if anyone would rid us of these infernal Rays, when I thought of Thomas á Becket and Henry II. And then I thought of the Orange Trumpkin, Jeff (Forrest Gump, but dumber) Sessions, and…
GAME 63, JUNE ELEVENTH:
JAYS 4, MARINERS 0:
RETURN OF THE HAPPY WARRIOR:
ANOTHER PIECE OF THE PUZZLE?
For the first time in 2017 the Jay Happ of 2016 took care of business for Toronto against the Seattle Mariners this afternoon. It was Happ's third start after six weeks on the disabled list. Though his two previous starts were positive for the Jays in the sense that he reported himself pain-free after each…
GAME 62, JUNE TENTH:
JAYS 4, MARINERS 2
DINGERS DO THE TRICK FOR STRO-SHOW
Marcus Stroman has quietly established himself as Toronto's number one starter, in terms of results, in the forced absence of Aaron Sanchez. While not as spectacular as some of his end-of-season outings after returning from injury in 2015, his recent starts have been consistent and solid, if a little adventurous from time to time. He…
GAME 61, JUNE NINTH:
MARINERS 4, JAYS 2:
BIAGINI’S SEVEN STRONG WASTED BY ANEMIC BATS
In the category of “be careful what you wish for” must come the secret desire in Joe Biagini's heart of hearts to become a regular member of the rotation for the Toronto Blue Jays. In the continued absence of Aaron Sanchez, Biagini's wish, if it is indeed his wish (and who can doubt it?) seems…
GAME 60, JUNE SEVENTH:
JAYS 7, ATHLETICS 5
LIRIANO’S RETURN PERKS UP SLUGGERS
Talk about your pressure situations. Francisco Liriano definitely did not need this. Coming back fom a stint on the disabled list, in the midst of an inconsistent season-long funk that nobody had anticipated, the last thing Francisco Liriano must have wanted was to be thrust into the role of rotation stopper in a game that…
GAME 59, JUNE SIXTH:
ATHLETICS 4. JAYS 1:
LEFT-FIELD WOES ARE SO 2015!
When you're not hitting (yet again) the microscope tends to be focussed rather more intently on a team's defense. The molehill of a couple runs' deficit can look like Mt. Everest to the team that just can't buy a base hit when it's needed. The most egregious of a number of sketchy fielding plays on…