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 B.J. Ryan earned his first save of the season Monday in his third appearance after rough outings in his first two appearances. Ryan gave up two hits in the ninth but was aided by a double-play groundball. Ryan blew a save by allowing a solo home run in his first appearance last week against Detroit and then had to be lifted with two out in the ninth when facing Cleveland on Friday after allowing three runs when handed a 5-1 lead.
--2B Aaron Hill went 3-for-5 in Monday's game and has hit safely in all eight of the Jays' games this season. Hill, who is hitting .343 (12-for-35), did not play in a game after May 29 last season following a collision back of second base with SS David Eckstein. Hill suffered a concussion on the play and had post-concussion symptoms the rest of the season.
--DH Adam Lind has gotten off to a fast start this season (.400 average, three homers, 12 RBI), and no one is more impressed than teammate CF Vernon Wells. "Watching Adam Lind the first week of the season has been pretty impressive," Wells said. "Even in his outs, he's been hitting the ball hard and it's been fun to watch."
MEDICAL WATCH:
RHP Jesse Litsch (strained right forearm) had to leave the game in the fourth inning April 13. The seriousness of the injury wasn't immediately known.
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:
RHP Roy Halladay
LHP David Purcey
RHP Jesse Litsch
LHP Ricky Romero
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
CATCHERS:
Rod Barajas
Michael Barrett
INFIELDERS:
1B Lyle Overbay
2B Aaron Hill
SS Marco Scutaro
3B Scott Rolen
INF John McDonald
INF/OF Kevin Millar
INF/OF Jose Bautista
OUTFIELDERS:
LF Travis Snider
CF Vernon Wells
RF Alex Rios
DH Adam Lind
