May 5, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz (34) follows through on his home run swing against the Texas Rangers during the first inning at the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Mandatory Credit: Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports

New York Yankees

- Despite the team’s continued ability to win despite the injuries, all is not good in Yankeeville. According to ESPN New York, there was a small spat between future Hall-of-Famer Mariano Rivera and fellow reliever Joba Chamberlain on Saturday. Chamberlain apparently took offense when Rivera asked Chamberlain and his family to keep their voices down when Rivera was being intereviewed. I’m sorry Joba but when the Sandman tells you to shush, you shush.

- The Yankee injury train may finally be returning to the station, as the first of the injured stars are set to return according to PinStriped Bible. Outfielder Curtis Granderson, who has been out since getting plunked on the arm in the team’s first spring training game (by J.A. Happ no less), is expected to rejoin the team on Tuesday. So much for taking advantage of the Yankees while they were down and out huh?

Baltimore Orioles

- Young third baseman Manny Machado has been one of the better stories in baseball this season, so much so that some people are trying to point out out that Machado belongs in a more elite class of players. Cole Stevenson at Opposing Views makes a good point that Machado, 20, deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as other elite youngsters Bryce Harper and Mike Trout. A .323 batting average, 28 runs, 24 RBI, and a .876 OPS from a 20-year-old that never played an inning at Triple-A should be enough evidence to get that discussion started.

- With top pitching prospect Dylan Bundy on the shelf and the Orioles pitching staff struggling, it may be another rookie that makes the jump. MASN points out that righty Kevin Gausman (MLB.com 36th ranked prospect) is making his case at Double-A Bowie. Despite a 1-4 record, Gausman is posting a strong 3.35 ERA and a 8.9 K/9 ratio. What is even more impressive is that Gausman has walked just 4 batters in 40.1 innings this season.

Tampa Bay Rays

- The Tampa Bay Rays are pushing themselves back into the division picture after a solid week, and as usual, they are doing it with surprisingly solid performances from bargain-basement pitching. As MLB Trade Rumors points out, that may bode well for Roberto Hernandez, the man formerly known as Fausto Carmona. After signing a one-year, $3.25 million deal with the Rays to boost his value, Hernandez has enjoyed some mixed results thus far, posting a 1-4 record with a 4.66 ERA. However, his 9.1 K/9 ratio and his 2.7 BB/9 ratio show that his peripherals are strong., and an xFIP of 3.25 shows that better things may be coming.

- And you can’t talk about the Rays without discussing their available trade bait, as this piece from Bleacher Report does. With a seemingly unending train of pitching prospects to pull from, this piece points to the availability of both David Price and Jeremy Hellickson, and how they could be used to facilitate the team’s need for high-upside hitting prospects.

Boston Red Sox

- At one point, the Boston Red Sox had the problem of having too many closers, with both Joel Hanrahan and Andrew Bailey on the roster. With Bailey already on the DL with a biceps strain, the Red Sox announced on Saturday that Hanrahan will now miss the remainder of the season after electing to undergo surgery to repair his damage flexor tendon in his pitching elbow. That leaves Junichi Tazawa handling the closer duties until Bailey returns.

- Speaking of returns, the return to high production levels has at least one Boston area reporter questioning whether David Ortiz is on the juice. On Tuesday, the Boston Globe’s Dan Shaughnssey published a column where he justified accusing Ortiz of steroid usage because the player is a) Dominican, B) Coming back from injuries consistent with steroid usage, and C) getting better with age. That lead to an outpouring of racial stereotyping claims against Shaughnessy, by Ortiz (via CBSSports) and Shaughnessy’s cohorts in the media.

Weekly AL East Standings (Overall Standings)
New York 4-2 (22-13)
Baltimore 4-2 (22-15)
Boston 2-5 (22-15)
Tampa Bay 5-2 (18-18)
Toronto 4-3 (14-24)

Apr 19, 2013; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays right fielder Rajai Davis (11) at third base on a triple in the first inning against the New York Yankees at the Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports

It was time of great anguish among the Blue Jays faithful. It was the 10th inning of the 22 game of the 2013 season. Having suffered two crushing defeats at the hands of division rivals Baltimore, the Jays had found a  new way to torment the fan base, blowing a 3 run lead late in the game.

Not only did they blow the game, now in the bottom of the 10th, they were trying to lose it in the most excruciating way possible. Adam Jones came to the plate with 1 out, and a man on first, he launched a lazy fly ball out to Right Field where it was to be easily shagged by Jose Bautista, but of course not.

Fans and bloggers alike reacted in disbelief.

Are. You. Kidding.

— Travis B (@travisb31) April 24, 2013

Now with a men on first and second and JJ Hardy at the plate, many Jays fans had been hit with that “Its happening again, why do you hate us baseball Gods” feeling. Of course Hardy was going to crush a single, and of course it was going to go to the noodle armed Rajai Davis in right field. Ball met bat, Blue Jays fans hung there had in disappointment.

But then this happened….

And it was glorious.

Suddenly things changed. Could it be….could the Blue Jays finally be getting a break? All they had to do was score against Jim Johnson, whom has been prettttty lights out for the last year or so.

So what do the Blue Jays do? Exactly what they seemingly haven’t been able to do all year. They had good at-bats and loaded the bases for noted Blue Jays slugger Maicer Izturis. Ugh. “Well that rally was nice I guess” was a thought that passed through more than a few fans’ minds. But what’s this? Izturis worked a 4-pitch walk to bring in the go ahead run?

THE ORIOLES MAGIC IS OURS.

Seriously, this was not a “Blue Jays” way to win a game. A dominating closer issues a bases-loaded walk to a guy with a triple slash of .169/.206/.277? This was a victory circa the 2012 Baltimore Orioles, where anything and everything bounced in their favour on the way to a 93-win season. Combine the superior talent of our roster, with that enraging good fortune, and the Blue Jays are going to be unstoppable!

Apr 23, 2013; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado (13) is out at second base as Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Munenori Kawasaki (66) throws over to first base but cannot complete the double play in the seventh inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Orioles defeated the Jays 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

I really thought that with the NEW LIVE GAME THREAD we launched yesterday here at Jays Journal, that it would really have an impact on the game.  I mean, I REALLY ACTUALLY THOUGHT that the Toronto Blue Jays were going to win last night, because I knew this LIVE GAME THREAD would be a success.  Well, that was it… that was our last chance.  The season’s over.  Last night’s 4-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles was a heartbreaker.  This game is meaningless.  R.A. Dickey pitched well enough to win for 4 innings.  Unfortunately, a 4-run 2nd inning cost him the game.

Today the ball is in the hands of flame throwing and knee-buckling pitcher, Brandon Morrow (though it’s tough to make anybody break quite like Dickey broke Nate McClouth at 1st base last night.)  Morrow’s flame throwing ability seems to be a bit of concern since he was mostly throwing his fastball around 90-91 MPH in his last start.  It made even the tortoise say “Damn!  What’s wrong with this guy?” (If you don’t know the story of the Tortoise and the Hare, read a book will you!)  So I think we’re all looking for Morrow to flip the switch and get back to throwing the 97 MPH missiles with which we’re accustomed.

Speaking of things with which we’re accustomed, wouldn’t it be great if today’s the day the Jays bats get back on track!  The opportunity is there as the Orioles send RHP Josh Stinson to the mound.  Stinson has been a mostly career minor league player since 2006, making only 20 appearances (1 start) over the last 2 seasons.  He’s been very hittable at every pro level.  So essentially the Jays are facing a batting practice pitcher.  Let’s hope they treat Stinson as such and less like making him look like an All Star (a la Chris Tillman.)

So please feel free to comment below and hopefully enjoy the game with me… or feel free to shred me apart, forcing me to trap myself in a glass case of emotion.  Either way, it will be a great time for YOU!  If you can’t follow live because you have something better to do (YOU’RE NOT A REAL FAN!  Just kidding… but really… you’re not a real fan) direct the fury at me on Twitter (@JayOnJays)

News & Notes

RHP Ramon Ortiz was designated for assignment so that the Blue Jays could activate recently claimed LHP Aaron Laffey.

Aaron Laffey is here, wearing 37, which means he’s now been assigned the numbers of the two best pitchers in #Bluejays history. #Jays

— Mike Wilner (@Wilnerness590) April 24, 2013

Breaking News!Adam Lind is not with the team — his wife has gone into labour!

— Blue Jays from Away (@JaysFromAway) April 24, 2013

RHP Josh Stinson makes his first start as a Baltimore Oriole.  This is his 2nd Major League start.

Toronto Blue Jays

LF Rajai Davis (R)
2B Emilio Bonifacio (S)
RF Jose Bautista (R)
1B Edwin Encarnacion (R)
DH Melky Cabrera (S)
C   J.P. Arencibia (R)
CF Colby Rasmus (L)
3B Brett Lawrie (R)
SS Macier Izturis (S)

Brandon Morrow RHP

Baltimore Orioles

LF Nate McLouth (L)
3B Manny Machado (R)
RF Nick Markakis (L)
CF Adam Jones (R)
1B Chris Davis (L)
SS J.J. Hardy (R)
DH Nolan Reimold (R)
2B Ryan Flaherty (L)
C  Taylor Teagarden (R)

Josh Stinson RHP

Things That Are Happening

I’ll be posting updates of what’s happening throughout the game below.  Anything of major interest or might happen to be hilarious, might find themselves embedded right here on this thread… If I can handle that  (Cut me some slack!  I’m new!)

Apr 7, 2013; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles first baseman Chris Davis (19) at bat in the seventh inning against the Minnesota Twins at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The Twins defeated the Orioles 4 – 3. Mandatory Credit: Joy R. Absalon-USA TODAY Sports

With the Blue Jays coming off of a solid win against the Yankees on Sunday, this is a team looking to make a run. To do so, they’ll have to develop some consistency, both on the mound and at the plate. This series against Baltimore is as good a time as any to get that ball rolling.

Let’s take a quick look at this week’s series with Baltimore.

Starters:
Game 1: J.A. Happ (2-1, 5.06 ERA) v/s Chris Tillman (0-1, 7.07 ERA)
Game 2: R.A. Dickey (2-2, 4.30 ERA) v/s Miguel Gonzalez (1-1, 4.00 ERA)
Game 3: Brandon Morrow (0-2, 5.57 ERA) v/s TBD

Game one features a pair of starters going in the wrong direction. J.A. Happ, coming off a strong first start of the season, struggled in both of his last two outings, failing to get through the sixth inning in each match-up and surrendering 4 and 5 runs respectively. In his last outing against the White Sox, it was the long-ball that did Happ in and handed him his first loss of the season.

He’ll be opposed by Chris Tillman, who has pitched into the 6th inning just once this season. Tillman’s trouble has been with the walk, where he’s tallied 8 in just 14 innings pitched in 2013.

Game Two will see R.A. Dickey toe the rubber against Miguel Gonzalez. Dickey is coming off of two straight solid starts, but was also pulled from his last start due to tightness in his upper back and neck. He threw a bullpen session on Sunday and everything appeared to be okay, but this will bear watching.

Miguel Gonzalez will take the mound for the O’s. Gonzalez was rocked in his last start, surrendering three home runs to the Tampa Bay Rays, but has looked solid in his other starts.

The teams will wrap up the three-game set by sending Brandon Morrow to the hill to face a yet-to-be-determined starter for the Orioles. Morrow will look to put his Jekyll and Hyde start behind him after two up and two down starts in 2013. His last start came on Friday against the Yankees, and was not pretty, with the right-hander giving up 9 hits and 7 runs (5 earned) over 5.1 innings.

Steve Johnson was intended to make the start for Baltimore in game three. However, the Orioles have opted to have Johnson make another rehab start at Triple-A, which means that another starter will need to be determined for the series finale.

Line-Ups:

The following are the probable line-ups for both squads.

Baltimore Orioles:

1. LF: Nate McClouth
2. 3B: Manny Machado
3. RF: Nick Markakis
4. CF: Adam Jones
5. 1B: Chris Davis
6. C: Matt Wieters
7. SS: J.J. Hardy
8. 2B: Ryan Flaherty
9. DH: Nolan Reimold

Toronto Blue Jays:

1. SS: Munenori Kawasaki
2. LF: Melky Cabrera
3. RF: Jose Bautista
4. 1B: Edwin Encarnacion
5. DH: Adam Lind
6. C: J.P. Arencibia
7. CF: Colby Rasmus
8. 3B: Brett Lawrie
9. 2B: Maicer Izturis/Emilio Bonifacio

The Blue Jays offense showed a little bit more life this past weekend against the New York Yankees, yet came away with only one win to show for it. Ultimately, the team continued to struggle with runners in scoring position, finishing 6 for 21 in the series. The insertion of Munenori Kawasaki into the lead-off role on Sunday seemed to spark the team a bit and the Blue Jays did a much better job of playing small ball during the win on Sunday. Still, the offense has a long way to go before it can even be deemed efficient, let alone stellar.

Meanwhile, the Orioles come in as one of the better offenses in the game, currently ranking sixth in both runs scored and team batting average, while placing fifth in OPS. Chris Davis and Adam Jones get a lot of the publicity on the offensive side of the ball, but young Manny Machado has been just as important, hitting .368 with 2 home runs and 11 RBI with runners in scoring position. Dial that up to having two out and runners in scoring position, Machado is hitting an astounding .667 with a 2.548 OPS, 2 home runs, and 8 RBI. That makes him clutch!

The Final Word:

The Blue Jays are still not playing up to potential. And while we can say that this team still has plenty of season ahead of it, Toronto is digging themselves quite a hole in the early going. A series win would be a good place to start, especially since Toronto have done so just once in 2013. With this week continuing the run through the AL East, now if the time for Toronto to step up and play like the division favorites everyone pegged them as.

After meeting with Baltimore Orioles owner Peter Angelos on Monday, Jays assistant general manager Tony LaCava announced today that he will not accept their offer to become the team’s general manager. According to LaCava, the decision was all about the Jays organization.

(more…)

I took a look at LaCava’s situation with Baltimore on Friday, speculating that even though it’s rare GM positions become available and that it could hinder his future consderation for one if he declined, who says that LaCava will accept the job if he was offered it? He’d have quite the list of things to do if he did seeing as, for starters, the O’s haven’t had a winning record in 14 years and their pitching staff had a MLB-worst 4.89 ERA in 2011.

(more…)

Is LaCava’s tenure with the Jays going to come to an end?

The Orioles have four finalists for the position — Diamondbacks senior vice president Jerry Dipoto, Dodgers assistant GM De Jon Watson, Orioles director of player development John Stockstill, and LaCava. When a  report from FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal emerged that the Angels were set on hiring Dipoto, the initial favorite for the O’s gig, as their new GM, that instantly made LaCava the new favorite in Baltimore.

But Dan Connolly over at The Baltimore Sun suggests to take Lacava’s apparent favorite status with a grain of salt.”Write that in pencil. I’ve learned over the years that nothing is official with the Orioles until it is official,” he says in the article.

(more…)

Once we’ve worked with the writers from BoSox Injection (Red Sox), Yanks Go Yard (Yankees), Birds Watcher (Orioles), and Rays Colored Glasses (Rays) to select the best team we can muster, the AL East roster will face off against the AL Central and AL West All-Division teams in a fan vote hosted by our MLB site Call to the Pen. The AL winner will then advance to face off against the NL division selected by the same method and another fan vote will be held.

(more…)

RP D.J. Carrasco – 2010 Club: Arizona Diamondbacks

Courtesy of Bleacher Report

A 26th round pick by the Baltimore Orioles in the 1997 draft, Carrasco had the best season of his career in 2010. He split time between the Pirates and Diamondbacks, where he put up a career best 3.68 ERA and 7.5 K/9 in a whopping 78.1 relief innings.

Not an overpowering pitcher by any means, the 6’4” 220-pound Carrasco had spent his entire career in the American League prior to 2010.

Carrasco, 33, features an impressive five pitch repertoire. He uses mostly his fastball and cutter, but mixes in a slider, curveball, and changeup as well.

Carrasco made only $950,000 in 2010 and was entering his 2nd year of arbitration eligibility before the Diamondbacks non-tendered him. It’s likely he could be obtained for a similar salary in 2011. (more…)