--Jays hitting coach Gene Tenace remembers facing the late Mark (The Bird) Fidrych at Tiger Stadium in 1976. "He's out there talking to the ball telling it what to do," Tenace said. "I stepped out and spoke to my bat, telling it: 'Don't pay attention to what he's telling the ball.' He filled Tiger Stadium, I can tell you that."
--Veteran backup SS John McDonald has yet to start a game, but so far he likes what he sees in this year's team. "This team has a day-to-day mentality," McDonald said. "No one is looking ahead to a starter two or three days down the road. I'll bet we have some guys who don't even know who's pitching. They come to the park, do video work and come out swinging. Sitting on the bench you have confidence the next guy up will get a hit." --LHP Bill Murphy was surprised to get the call to move up from Class AAA Las Vegas after RHP Jesse Litsch was placed on the disabled list with a strained right forearm. "It was a shock," Murphy said. "There are a lot of great guys down there at Triple-A pitching well. Hopefully I'll just do what these guys are doing now, find a way to win and just do my job."
--LHP B.J. Ryan's save Monday will hopefully ease some of the mental burden on the veteran closer, manager Cito Gaston said. "We talked earlier about confidence and success," Gaston said following Monday's 8-6 victory. "He had some success tonight, so hopefully he'll gain some confidence."
BY THE NUMBERS: 25-47 -- Strikes to pitches that closer B.J. Ryan has thrown this season through two appearances.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I'll run him out there again, I'll run him out there as many times as you can." -- Manager Cito Gaston, on how he'll continue to go to struggling LHP B.J. Ryan in save situations.
