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: --LF Travis Snider is not your typical No. 9 hitter. Projected to be a power-hitting run producer in the not-too-distant future, Snider, who bats left-handed, is in the No. 9 spot because he's a rookie and manager Cito Gaston doesn't want him to feel the pressure that comes with batting in a more prominent slot. Snider, who is hitting .348 with three homers and seven RBIs, is making the most of it. "Maybe before in your career you've been a guy just free-swinging and now you've got to think more about the game ... learn some of these new things that I didn't bring to the table before," Snider said. "Hopefully, you can become a more complete player hitting further down in the lineup."
--SS Marco Scutaro went 2-for-5 in Thursday's victory and has reached base safely in all 11 games this season and 14 in a row dating back to last season. The Jays' leadoff hitter, Scutaro also leads the club in runs (13) and walks (nine).
--General manager J.P. Ricciardi reported that RHP Jesse Litsch, who is on the disabled list with a strained right forearm, is expected to be out from six to eight weeks. Litsch injured his forearm while making his start against the Twins on Monday.
--LHP Brian Tallet is looking forward to making his first big-league start since 2006 when he fills in for injured RHP Jesse Litsch on Saturday against Oakland. "It's a new opportunity," said Tallet, who was bumped up from the long relief role. "It's just a new way I can possibly help the team win ballgames, and that's kind of what I'm looking forward to. I haven't done it in a long time, but I still know how to do it. It's just a matter of getting everything lined up."
MEDICAL WATCH:
RHP Jesse Litsch (strained right forearm) went on the 15-day disabled list April 14. He is expected to miss six to eight weeks.
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
LHP Ricky Romero
RHP Scott Richmond
LHP Brian Tallet
BULLPEN:
LHP B.J. Ryan (closer)
LHP Scott Downs
RHP Brandon League
LHP Jesse Carlson
LHP Bill Murphy
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
