Last season the Blue Jays had the best pitching in the league. It was the offense that let them down. From the first day of spring training, manager Cito Gaston said that the Jays will go as far as their offense carries them and that they need all bodies to be hitting on all cylinders, especially given the inexperience in their rotation. Through their opening seven games, where they've gone 5-2, the offense led the way, with three of the wins the come-from-behind variety. They'll need it for the rest of the season.
PLAYER NEWS: --LHP David Purcey had a roller coaster start for the Jays, as he needed 113 pitches in his 4 2/3 innings. Purcey walked six and struck out 10, one shy of his career high. Of the 14 batters he retired, just one came on a ground ball out.
--After LHP B.J. Ryan faltered, RHP Jason Frasor was called on to record the final out in Saturday's 5-4 victory over Cleveland. Frasor, who struck out C Victor Martinez, recorded his first save since 2007 and the Jays' first save of 2009. Frasor has not had a save opportunity since Sept. 21, 2007, when he struck out one hitter in the 14th inning of a 5-4 win at Yankee Stadium.
--After his first two appearances of the season, 1 2/3 innings, closer B.J. Ryan is 0-for-1 in save situations, has thrown just 25 strikes in 47 pitches, has allowed four earned runs on four hits, has walked three and has a 21.60 ERA.
MEDICAL WATCH:
RHP Casey Janssen (right labrum surgery in March 2008) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. He missed all of last season. Counted on to be part of the rotation, Janssen suffered a setback in mid-March 2009 when he felt muscle tightness in back of his right shoulder. He is expected to be back with the club in early May.
RHP Dustin McGowan (right shoulder surgery in July 2008) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. Initially, he was expected to be able to contribute by mid-June 2009 at the latest, but it appears that a late-July date is a best-case scenario.
RHP Shawn Marcum (Tommy John elbow surgery in September 2008) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 27. Initially, the Blue Jays didn't expect him back until 2010. Now they say he could be back by August.
ROTATION:
1. RHP Roy Halladay
2. LHP David Purcey
3. RHP Jesse Litsch
4. LHP Ricky Romero
4. RHP Scott Richmond
BULLPEN:
LHP B.J. Ryan (closer)
LHP Scott Downs
RHP Brandon League
LHP Jesse Carlson
LHP Brian Tallet
RHP Jason Frasor
RHP Shawn Camp
LINEUP:
1. SS Marco Scutaro
2. 2B Aaron Hill
3. CF Vernon Wells
4. RF Alex Rios
5. DH Adam Lind
6. 3B Scott Rolen
7. 1B Lyle Overbay
8. C Rod Barajas
9. LF Travis Snider
RESERVES:
C Michael Barrett
INF John McDonald
INF/OF Kevin Millar
INF/OF Jose Bautista
