After having not received a win from LHP David Purcey in five starts -- he was 0-2 with a 7.01 ERA -- and Brian Burres in two starts -- he was 0-2 with a 14.21 ERA -- the Jays shipped both pitchers down to Class AAA Las Vegas and called up two rookies in RHP Rob Ray and LHP Brett Cecil. General manager J.P. Ricciardi said that neither rookie was being counted on for the long term, that both were called up to "hold the fort" until two of their injured starters -- RHP Casey Janssen and LHP Ricky Romero -- were able to return by the middle of May.
PLAYER NEWS: --LF Travis Snider ended an 0-for-13 slide with a single to lead off the sixth inning Tuesday and followed that up with a single in the seventh. In both innings, Snider came around to score. It was his first multi-hit game since April 24. The hits have been few and far between for Snider of late, as he entered the game having gone 3-for-31 (.097) over his previous 10 games.
--RHP Scott Richmond was selected as the American League Rookie of the Month for April. Richmond, 29, went 3-0 with a 2.70 ERA in four starts. Over 23 1/3 innings, Richmond allowed 20 hits, walked 10 and struck out 20. Richmond, now 4-0, is the first Blue Jays rookie to win the award since LHP Gustavo Chacin won it twice in 2005 (April and July).
--RHP Jason Frasor finally gave up a run this season. Frasor came on in the seventh inning, and after allowing a one-out single, he was lifted for Jesse Carlson, who had an off day. Carlson gave up three singles, one of which scored Frasor's runner. It was Frasor's 12th appearance, and his scoreless streak ended at 11 innings.
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. He began a rehab assignment with Class A Dunedin on April 27, and he could be back with the Blue Jays in mid-May.
LHP Ricky Romero (strained right oblique muscle) went on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to April 20. He threw a bullpen session May 2 and was getting closer to beginning a rehab assignment.
LHP B.J. Ryan (left trapezius tightness) went on the 15-day disabled list April 23. He will need a rehab assignment before returning to the Blue Jays.
C Michael Barrett (torn right shoulder muscle) went on the 15-day disabled list April 18.
RHP Jesse Litsch (strained right forearm) went on the 15-day disabled list April 14. He is expected to miss six to eight weeks. Litsch experienced discomfort while throwing on April 25.
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, but more recently he was expected to return by August.
ROTATION:
RHP Roy Halladay
RHP Robert Ray
RHP Scott Richmond
LHP Brian Tallet
LHP Brett Cecil
BULLPEN:
LHP Scott Downs (closer)
RHP Brandon League
LHP Jesse Carlson
LHP Bill Murphy
RHP Jason Frasor
RHP Shawn Camp
RHP Brian Wolfe
CATCHERS:
Rod Barajas
Raul Chavez
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
