We all know about the "big picture" difficulties baseball's most mistreated franchise continues to face. But this weekend features a variety of intriguing "small picture" issues that will more directly impact the Expos' Pearson Cup series against the Jays. Simply put, the Expos aren't just doomed; they're also tired and injured heading into this weekend.
Will the tremendously-relieved-to-be-home club resume its excellent play at the Big O, charged with adrenaline? Or will they have nothing left in the tank after a 22-game road trip that included three games in their last two days?
Will the Expos get any offensive production whatsoever beyond Brad Wilkerson and their outstanding middle infield? Or will pitching, including their surprising bullpen, carry them through the weekend?
Javier Vazquez, the man on the mound in tonight's opener, presents the toughest match-up for the Jays this weekend -- though he's been susceptible to the longball. The pitches of Sun Woo Kim and Livan Hernandez will probably be more to the liking of the Jays' eager bats.
On a more personal note, I'm checking out for vacation. Look for Coach and/or Gitz to pinch-Scout for me for two of the next three series.
On to the Advance Scout!
* Those lucky Expos. They get a great big six-game homestand before they hit the road again ... The damage on their last road trip: 22 days, 6 cities (including, of course, San Juan) ... Frank Robinson: "Nothing has been like this...There's been nothing with this much travel" ... The Expos dropped five games in the standings to Atlanta during the trip, although Brad Wilkerson looked at the bright side: "We didn't get buried...We're still right there. It's going to be a relief to get back home" ... Pat Hickey suggested in the Montreal Gazette that MLB was delighted to see the Expos struggle on the trip: "[T]hey won't be embarrassed by an orphan franchise playing in the postseason" ...
* Plus, Montreal had to play three full games in 23 hours over the last two days ...
* The 'Spos are 13-5 at Stade Olympique, 27-27 everywhere else ... Robinson: "We play well in Montreal. We enjoy playing there. I don't know what it is, we just play well there" ...
* The oft-screwed Expos fans came up with an awfully classy idea: A welcoming celebration at St-Hubert Airport to greet their road-weary heroes ... Brad Schneider, Brad Wilkerson and T.J. Tucker were the most effusively grateful 'Spos ...
* On the trip, the Expos have been swept in all three doubleheaders (!) that they've been forced to play ...
* In addition to the misery of excessive travel, Robinson has been frustrated with losing close games ... Last Saturday, Robinson said the following after a 5-4 loss to Oakland: "I didn't like this game one bit...We've been looking for that go-ahead hit all year. We can't put people away. We need to pad those leads some. We need a hit. I live for a hit." ... On Sunday: "We're not doing the job in clutch situations offensively" ... The Expos didn't end a 57-inning streak without a "crooked-number-inning" until a two-run fourth in Game 2 on Wednesday ...
* Advance scouts -- actual advance scouts -- have been urging their staffs to throw breaking pitches after breaking pitches ... The Expos have been chasing ...
* Tonight's opponent, Javier Vazquez, has some lights-out stats, including 109 strikeouts in 94 1/3 innings ... But he has a major Achilles' heel: the long ball ... He's surrendered 15 in his fifteen starts, including two on Sunday ...
* Tomorrow's opponent, Sun Woo Kim, had to be called up for an emergency start because of the Expos' ridiculous schedule, which has included 9 games in the last 8 days and will include just one off-day between now and July 10 ... To make room, lefty long man Anthony Ferrari was optioned to Edmonton ...
* No sophomore slump for 26-year-old Brad Wilkerson, who's at 301/418/520 ... He's in a mini-slump, though, going 2 for his last 14 (.143) ... Wilkerson called the road trip "mentally and physically exhausting" ...
* 25-year-old short man Luis Ayala is holding opposing batters to a .210 average, but got rocked for three runs in Oakland on Saturday ... He's issued just 3 walks in 32 2/3 innings ...
* 26-year-old Edwards Guzman can play first, third or even catcher ... He's hit in all eight starts this season, although all his hits have been singles ...
* Jose Vidro is having another reliably excellent season at the plate, going 328/416/496 ... Vidro strained his right hamstring legging out a hit on Saturday, and Henry Mateo has spelled him occasionally over the last week ...
* For his part, double-play partner Orlando Cabrera has been no slouch at 305/370/485 ... He's on pace for an increasingly rare 20-20 season ...
* Meanwhile, there's "slumping," there's "scuffling," and then there's "Tatis-ing" ... Fernando is a robust 11 for his last 97 (.113) since April 26 ... His relatively hot start has inflated his numbers to 194/281/263 ...
* Michael Barrett has been just plain horrible: a Ray Oyler-like 157/219/284, with just two multi-hit games ...
* Joey Eischen, so stingy last year, has yielded runs in his last three appearances ... A horrible June has left him with a .325 opposing average on the season ...
* Rookie reliever Julio Manon, albeit a rookie about to turn 30, has five scoreless outings to his credit in his six career appearances ...
* Rocky Biddle bounced back from a poor outing in Wednesday's doubleheader with a save in yesterday's matinee against the Pirates ... Pesky Jeff Reboulet surprised Montreal on Wednesday with a bunt single to load the bases in the 9th, and Biddle yielded the tying and go-ahead runs ... He's now 18-for-21 in save situations ...
* Livan Hernandez has been the innings-eater that the Expos expected, but has been as hittable as always ... He's been leaving his curve too high in the zone to be effective ... He's pitched at least 6 innings in 11 of his 14 starts ... In Rob Neyer's dream game, both Livan and Doc will start on three days' rest ...
* Jose Macias is on a seven-game hitting streak, going 10-for-25 (.400) over that span ...
* Vladimir Guerrero is responding well to therapy and exercises for his herniated disc ... "So far, we have reasons to hope he can avoid injections or surgery," said assistant GM Tony Seigle ... The club has been an admirable 7-6 in Vlady's absence ... Sunday is Vladimir Guerrero CelebriDuck Day ...
* Zach Day is rehabbing in Florida from a small rotator cuff tear ... "He's way ahead of schedule," said Seigle ...
* El Duque, you ask? ... "There's still reason to hope he'll contribute before the year is out," noted the beleaguered Seigle ... Orlando has regained full range of motion on his pitching arm after surgery ...
* The Expos have started a righthanded pitcher in their last 189 games ... Good news for Crash ...
* Apparently, CTV has enough nationwide advertising commitments that they're balking at the prospect of its Montreal affiliate, CFCF-12, picking up Sunday English-language Expos games in mid-season -- at least on this short notice ... CTV doesn't like the prospects of shutting its paid-up advertisers out of the Montreal market ... But come on, man! They've got a competitive team! ... At least the Sportsnet blackout has been lifted for this weekend's series ...
* Terrmel Sledge was nearly freed! ... But to Craig B's undoubted dismay, Ron Calloway earned a weekend's reprieve with his pinch-homer in yesterday's matinee ...
Probable Batting Orders
vs. LH
8 Wilkerson
4 Vidro
6 Cabrera
3 Cordero
2 Barrett
5 Tatis/Carroll
9 Calloway
7 Macias
1 [pitcher]
vs. RH
8 Chavez
6 Cabrera
4 Vidro/Mateo
7/9 Wilkerson
3 Cordero/Guzman
5 Guzman/Carroll
9 Calloway/7 Macias
2 Schneider/Barrett
1 [pitcher]
Pitching Probables
Friday: RH Vazquez vs. Lidle
Saturday: RH Kim vs. Hendrickson
Sunday: RH L Hernandez vs. Halladay
Bullpen Usage
Long: Manon R, Tucker R
Short: Smith R, Stewart L
Setup: Eischen L, Ayala R
Closer: Biddle R
Will the tremendously-relieved-to-be-home club resume its excellent play at the Big O, charged with adrenaline? Or will they have nothing left in the tank after a 22-game road trip that included three games in their last two days?
Will the Expos get any offensive production whatsoever beyond Brad Wilkerson and their outstanding middle infield? Or will pitching, including their surprising bullpen, carry them through the weekend?
Javier Vazquez, the man on the mound in tonight's opener, presents the toughest match-up for the Jays this weekend -- though he's been susceptible to the longball. The pitches of Sun Woo Kim and Livan Hernandez will probably be more to the liking of the Jays' eager bats.
On a more personal note, I'm checking out for vacation. Look for Coach and/or Gitz to pinch-Scout for me for two of the next three series.
On to the Advance Scout!
* Those lucky Expos. They get a great big six-game homestand before they hit the road again ... The damage on their last road trip: 22 days, 6 cities (including, of course, San Juan) ... Frank Robinson: "Nothing has been like this...There's been nothing with this much travel" ... The Expos dropped five games in the standings to Atlanta during the trip, although Brad Wilkerson looked at the bright side: "We didn't get buried...We're still right there. It's going to be a relief to get back home" ... Pat Hickey suggested in the Montreal Gazette that MLB was delighted to see the Expos struggle on the trip: "[T]hey won't be embarrassed by an orphan franchise playing in the postseason" ...
* Plus, Montreal had to play three full games in 23 hours over the last two days ...
* The 'Spos are 13-5 at Stade Olympique, 27-27 everywhere else ... Robinson: "We play well in Montreal. We enjoy playing there. I don't know what it is, we just play well there" ...
* The oft-screwed Expos fans came up with an awfully classy idea: A welcoming celebration at St-Hubert Airport to greet their road-weary heroes ... Brad Schneider, Brad Wilkerson and T.J. Tucker were the most effusively grateful 'Spos ...
* On the trip, the Expos have been swept in all three doubleheaders (!) that they've been forced to play ...
* In addition to the misery of excessive travel, Robinson has been frustrated with losing close games ... Last Saturday, Robinson said the following after a 5-4 loss to Oakland: "I didn't like this game one bit...We've been looking for that go-ahead hit all year. We can't put people away. We need to pad those leads some. We need a hit. I live for a hit." ... On Sunday: "We're not doing the job in clutch situations offensively" ... The Expos didn't end a 57-inning streak without a "crooked-number-inning" until a two-run fourth in Game 2 on Wednesday ...
* Advance scouts -- actual advance scouts -- have been urging their staffs to throw breaking pitches after breaking pitches ... The Expos have been chasing ...
* Tonight's opponent, Javier Vazquez, has some lights-out stats, including 109 strikeouts in 94 1/3 innings ... But he has a major Achilles' heel: the long ball ... He's surrendered 15 in his fifteen starts, including two on Sunday ...
* Tomorrow's opponent, Sun Woo Kim, had to be called up for an emergency start because of the Expos' ridiculous schedule, which has included 9 games in the last 8 days and will include just one off-day between now and July 10 ... To make room, lefty long man Anthony Ferrari was optioned to Edmonton ...
* No sophomore slump for 26-year-old Brad Wilkerson, who's at 301/418/520 ... He's in a mini-slump, though, going 2 for his last 14 (.143) ... Wilkerson called the road trip "mentally and physically exhausting" ...
* 25-year-old short man Luis Ayala is holding opposing batters to a .210 average, but got rocked for three runs in Oakland on Saturday ... He's issued just 3 walks in 32 2/3 innings ...
* 26-year-old Edwards Guzman can play first, third or even catcher ... He's hit in all eight starts this season, although all his hits have been singles ...
* Jose Vidro is having another reliably excellent season at the plate, going 328/416/496 ... Vidro strained his right hamstring legging out a hit on Saturday, and Henry Mateo has spelled him occasionally over the last week ...
* For his part, double-play partner Orlando Cabrera has been no slouch at 305/370/485 ... He's on pace for an increasingly rare 20-20 season ...
* Meanwhile, there's "slumping," there's "scuffling," and then there's "Tatis-ing" ... Fernando is a robust 11 for his last 97 (.113) since April 26 ... His relatively hot start has inflated his numbers to 194/281/263 ...
* Michael Barrett has been just plain horrible: a Ray Oyler-like 157/219/284, with just two multi-hit games ...
* Joey Eischen, so stingy last year, has yielded runs in his last three appearances ... A horrible June has left him with a .325 opposing average on the season ...
* Rookie reliever Julio Manon, albeit a rookie about to turn 30, has five scoreless outings to his credit in his six career appearances ...
* Rocky Biddle bounced back from a poor outing in Wednesday's doubleheader with a save in yesterday's matinee against the Pirates ... Pesky Jeff Reboulet surprised Montreal on Wednesday with a bunt single to load the bases in the 9th, and Biddle yielded the tying and go-ahead runs ... He's now 18-for-21 in save situations ...
* Livan Hernandez has been the innings-eater that the Expos expected, but has been as hittable as always ... He's been leaving his curve too high in the zone to be effective ... He's pitched at least 6 innings in 11 of his 14 starts ... In Rob Neyer's dream game, both Livan and Doc will start on three days' rest ...
* Jose Macias is on a seven-game hitting streak, going 10-for-25 (.400) over that span ...
* Vladimir Guerrero is responding well to therapy and exercises for his herniated disc ... "So far, we have reasons to hope he can avoid injections or surgery," said assistant GM Tony Seigle ... The club has been an admirable 7-6 in Vlady's absence ... Sunday is Vladimir Guerrero CelebriDuck Day ...
* Zach Day is rehabbing in Florida from a small rotator cuff tear ... "He's way ahead of schedule," said Seigle ...
* El Duque, you ask? ... "There's still reason to hope he'll contribute before the year is out," noted the beleaguered Seigle ... Orlando has regained full range of motion on his pitching arm after surgery ...
* The Expos have started a righthanded pitcher in their last 189 games ... Good news for Crash ...
* Apparently, CTV has enough nationwide advertising commitments that they're balking at the prospect of its Montreal affiliate, CFCF-12, picking up Sunday English-language Expos games in mid-season -- at least on this short notice ... CTV doesn't like the prospects of shutting its paid-up advertisers out of the Montreal market ... But come on, man! They've got a competitive team! ... At least the Sportsnet blackout has been lifted for this weekend's series ...
* Terrmel Sledge was nearly freed! ... But to Craig B's undoubted dismay, Ron Calloway earned a weekend's reprieve with his pinch-homer in yesterday's matinee ...
Probable Batting Orders
vs. LH
8 Wilkerson
4 Vidro
6 Cabrera
3 Cordero
2 Barrett
5 Tatis/Carroll
9 Calloway
7 Macias
1 [pitcher]
vs. RH
8 Chavez
6 Cabrera
4 Vidro/Mateo
7/9 Wilkerson
3 Cordero/Guzman
5 Guzman/Carroll
9 Calloway/7 Macias
2 Schneider/Barrett
1 [pitcher]
Pitching Probables
Friday: RH Vazquez vs. Lidle
Saturday: RH Kim vs. Hendrickson
Sunday: RH L Hernandez vs. Halladay
Bullpen Usage
Long: Manon R, Tucker R
Short: Smith R, Stewart L
Setup: Eischen L, Ayala R
Closer: Biddle R
