Score Update: Syracuse 1 Richmond Braves 0

Jason Arnold allows a lead off single to begin the second, then proceeds to strikeout the side, inning over.

1-0 jays

delgado homer

thanks for the update shane, hopefully arnold produces another good performance tonight for the sky chiefs

No Phelps. Have the TV or radio guys said anything? Another imposed mental health day?

I guess it's a platoon thing. Clark is DH'ing, and he's a lefty.

I'm enjoying listening to Faulds and Howarth trash Loaiza at every available opportunity. Loaiza apparently learned his cut fastball from the Jays' Gil Patterson, but has never publicly credited him for it. Loaiza probably spends his spare time kicking puppies.

Nice bomb by Delgado. I was actually disappointed when it only made it to the second deck.

Now Dave, no slandering here.

My sources claim he kicks cats.

My turn. Just saw him throwing that cutter. Is he putting something on the ball? That sucker breaks so much, if I was a Jays hitter, I'd check the ball.

Loaiza also takes candy from small children.

Did I say SkyChiefs 1 Braves 0? What I meant to say...

Score Update: Richmond Braves 3 Syracuse 0

The internet feed connection is a little shaky and so is Arnold. He's falling behind in a lot of the counts, has given up five hits, but struck out four through three and half innings. The opposing pitcher once again, same as last week, is Jason Marquis.

Carlos giveth, Carlos taketh away. (The ball hit a seam, alas.)

Greg Myers is earning his salary tonight - he's blocked about a zillion pitches from Lidle.

If we aren't careful the Jays are going to have more errors than runs AND hits...Was that a throwing error to Cat? The runner advanced a base on the poor throw that eluded Lidle, which to me would qualify as an error, no?

Howie Mandel is leading off? Can one of the ZLC please indoctrinate me on how this makes sense stats-wise?

Whoops, I meant Howie Clark. But then, I'm sure you all knew that.

poor defence tonight...........whys lidle been credited with earned runs, surely the errors mean unearned!?

I forgot to comment on it last night but I found it wierd and interesting that Myers DHed while Wilson caught. With Werth in Syracuse, the backup catcher that game would have been...Phelps?

Neat.

Have you seen that goatee thing Howie Mandel is sporting in that advertisement? Pretty sad. If you'd asked, back in the day, whether Howie Mandel or Corky & The Juice Pigs would've had the better career ... well, I probably would've said neither. I never much liked him, but it's still pretty sad.

Regarding Clark in leadoff, my guess is that Stewart was originally slotted to lead off and DH tonight, but his hammies -- which didn't seem too good last night -- acted up again at the last minute, and Howie got the emergency start.

Losing to Esteban Loaiza tonight would be...well, unpleasant. Catalanotto's leadoff double was stranded with the heart of the order up. Are we seeing some white-hot bats cooling off, maybe? Not good timing with Boston coming to town.

Mystery solved, ESPN says E9.

But I'm having alot of trouble listening to this game, it seems that every other line is "fastball taken for a strike." If the Jays are gonna hit Esteban this evening the bat has gotta come off the shoulder.
It seems like they're deer caught in the headlights...But can you blame them, I'm surprised Loiza's hitting his spots too ;)

Howie Mandel is leading off? Can one of the ZLC please indoctrinate me on how this makes sense stats-wise?

Howie's always got on base at a pretty good clip (368 career OBP in AAA) so it's not the craziest move in the world.

Tom Cheek, storyteller: "So it's the rookie hazing, and Lou Thornton and the rookies come back to the locker room, and all their clothes are gone. So they end up going outside looking like something from McHale's Navy, or ... what was that island they were all stranded on?"

Mike Wilner: "Gilligan's Island."

Tom Cheek: "Gilligan's. Well, they all go outside..."

Tom, you're like a classic tune that was never quite in style and never quite out. I'll miss you when you're gone.

I just realized that Joe Brinkman's behind the plate. The White Sox can mail in this W.

Alice Fazooli's sucks. I've been in livelier mausoleums. And the beer is warm.

Sorry, that's for the benefit of anyone who's stuck listening to the Alice infomercial on the Fan broadcast.

"Escobar is in the rotation at the moment. But Ricciardi has been telling fellow GMs he thinks Escobar's best role is as a strikeout set-up force between the sixth and eighth innings, who could go as long as three innings if needed." - ESPN.com's Jason Stark, on the possibility of Escobar being traded later this year

That's what I've been saying for 2 years. So, if JP knows it, why is Kelvim in the rotation right now?

Score Update: Richmond Braves 3 SkyChiefs 0

Jason Arnold's night is in the books, as Scott Wiggins comes on to start the sixth inning.
5 innings pitched
3 earned runs allowed
7 hits (no homers)
6 K's
3 BB's

He threw plenty a pitches, never had a 1-2-3 inning until the fifth inning, had a hard time getting anyone in the top of the order out, and got himself out of jams-O-plenty.

Tanyon Sturtze warming up? What for? This isn't a blowout!

Yay! The Blue Jays now lead the AL in errors, with 44.

I kinda like Alice Fazooli's... but then I went for the food rather than the beer, so maybe that's the key. Or perhaps you were just getting sick on Tom Cheek's syrup and felt the need to balance things out.

Hey, a strike-em-out throw-em-out DP! Maybe there is some D in these guys.

So, if JP knows it, why is Kelvim in the rotation right now?

My guess ... the rotation is the only place where Kelvim is likely to get three or four high-leverage innings in a row. The Jays could pitch him in long relief and hope their starters get shelled often enough that he gets a lot of work (not exactly a stretch, true). But Escobar would probably see this as the ultimate demotion -- from closer to mop-up man -- and very likely would've sulked his way through some awful outings. So this would explain why JP is starting Kelvim and doesn't really care if he ever gets stretched out to throw 110 pitches a night -- that's not the basis upon which he's being offered around the league.

I agree that a 6th- to 8th-inning strikeout guy is exactly what Escobar would be perfect for -- a right-handed Johan Santana -- and if he keeps throwing three or four woolly but effective innings like he did last night, the Jays could turn him from major liability to decent asset. That would be a turnaround of Mondesiesque proportions.

Or perhaps you were just getting sick on Tom Cheek's syrup and felt the need to balance things out.

You are correct, sir. I actually like the place, but Tom's bringing out the Adbuster in me.

Jordan -

I am often impressed with Tom's segues into those Alice Fazooli's spots. Sometimes, it's seamless. Other times, you just know it's coming with that sudden enthusiasm when the Blue Jays are down 15-1. Without Jerry on the radio tonight, I guess we won't be subjected to any Tim-BR Mart promos during the broadcast. Mike Wilner needs to find something he can call his own when he does those out-of-town scores or something.

Arnold's now had two good and two bad starts at AAA. I still think he'll be up in September, and he's got a decent shot at heading north from Dunedin next April, but he's not quite there yet.

Cory Lidle just keeps pumping up his trade value. I'm really looking forward to the trading deadline -- Stewart, Lidle and well nigh Escobar could all bring back bright shiny things.

Mike Wilner needs to find something he can call his own when he does those out-of-town scores or something.

"...and that's your scoreboard update, brought to you by Red Wigglers -- the Cadillac of Worms."

Did I just see what I think I saw? Does Carlos have a shiner?

Cory Lidle just keeps pumping up his trade value. I'm really looking forward to the trading deadline -- Stewart, Lidle and well nigh Escobar could all bring back bright shiny things.

Agreed. One of my favorite days of the year is July 31st. I have the feeling that the Jays have a number of spare parts that playoff bound teams might be interested in as well...any of Berg, Bordick, Myers and perhaps even Catalanotto (although I think JP should sign Frank and keep him around for a bit yet). They won't fetch much but it will be interesting.

I have the feeling that the Jays have a number of spare parts that playoff bound teams might be interested in.

Absolutely -- and they have them in the minors too. Rich Thompson is exactly the kind of bauble that the Gariagola Jrs. of the baseball world be enthralled with: .313 average, 13/16 SB/CS, 33 R in 42 games this year; .280 last season with 45 steals and 109 runs. That 710 OPS in AA this year would probably sail right by more than a few GMs. Some people might still think Vinny Chulk is worth a shot, too.

There's also more substantial trade bait down on the farm, if needed. Vernon's set in centerfield and Gabe Gross seems destined for right. Who plays left from 2005 on? John-Ford Griffin, Alexis Rios, Jayson Werth? At least one of those guys is heading out of town soon, and for my money it's Jayson, unless JP thinks Rios is playing way over his head.

Okay, so nobody bought the theory that JP would give a hoot about what Joe Fan thinks of deadline deals... but what about what the players think? Are Myers & Bordick going to welcome the chance to go to a contender, or are they going to feel shafted for being pawns in JP's game? I guess it's easy enough to sell them on the idea of a trade before pulling the trigger.

I would think Rios is more likely to go than Werth... a sell high opportunity.

This lineup is pretty limp.

Maybe i'm alone on this, but just for a second forget that they're numbers have been decent thus far in '03...But you've got Loaiza motivated to pitch his arse off as he spits up a storm out there on the mound, and the Jays are packin' a punch with Berg, Bordick, Johnson and Clark in the lineup? Phelps has been watching too may tapes of Brad Fullmer's AB's for sure, but still, this nine could use some sock in it.

precisely Shane, what happened to the battersbox bandwagon mentality. Why didnt Woodward play tonite? Whats JP up to? was it tosca who put the lineup card together tonite or JP? Are fan expectations getting outta hand? Call me suspicious. the team has two regulars hurt, hinske and stewart. so the answer is to throw in a couple of extra AAAA scubs on top of the necessary fill-ins,ie berg and bordick? Yup call me paranoid but Liddle should call the cops. This team traded away two shortstops and said Woodwards the man. Wheres the confidence from management which Woodward needs to get his game together. At the rate their handling this situation they will not be able to trade bordick as is being speculated in earlier submissions to the blog cuz Woodward is going to end up shattered. Hudson has turned his game around in the last three weeks cuz he knows he plays everyday now.

Ok sorry guys just a little rant.
Cheers

Loaiza is pitching well, he is runner up for the Cy!, and we could have him for half Sturtze's salary.
Is there anybody from the playoffs bandwagon, every body seems to be in the sellers mode!
We should hope for some order, and everybody's in his best role in our pen asap, shouldn't we

Bottom of the ninth, and go figure, Carlos Tosca lets Greg Myers bat against a lefty, instead of bringing in Tom Wilson. Regardless sof the outcome, this is a dumb idea. So bringing in Wilson forces Manuel to bring in Billy Koch -- this is a bad thing? Yeesh.

Strikeout for Myers, and now Koch comes in regardless. Sorry, Carlos, I totally respect whatever you do to manage that clubhouse and teach the younger players, but I've seen Gastons that were better in-game managers than you.

Jordan, I feel your pain. How on earth do you stay with Myers against Marte? Myers has never hit lefties in his career and Marte happens to be a very good one.

Not only is Wilson vs Koch a better match-up, but how about Phelps?

Myers vs Marte is just giving away an out. Piss poor managing, or non-managing, by Tosca.

Wow. Not only losing to Loaiza, but losing a one run game always eating at my arse.

To return to the quirks of announcers for a moment: Mariners announcer Rick Rizzs confidently commented that "All three of the Twins' home runs have come via the long ball."

Intriguing.

When the team makes four errors and loses 3-2, that's annoying. Cory Lidle wasn't terrific, but he really pitched himself out of jams, both of his own and others' making. A little frustrating to drop this kind of game. I only worry, as stated earlier, that the boys are coming down off their high at the same time as the division leaders are coming to town. Still, performing poorly against the ChiSox isn't necessarily a sign that the Jays are fading -- just ask the Yankees.

On the positive side, this is looking like one of the better benches the Jays have assembled for awhile. Reed Johnson is the perfect fourth outfielder, Howie Clark continues to impress, and Dave Berg and Mike Bordick have been marvellous. It's nice not to have to rely on Alberto Castillo and DeWayne Wise in the clutch.

MY-OH-MY

Where is Phelps? Am I the only one who was waiting for him to pinch hit in the bottom of the ninth?

Aside: Who else here is planning to listen in to the draft on the MLB.com webcast? I think it will be more interesting than fun. I know it's just a conference call but would it hurt MLB to give Chris Berman a chance to make smartalecky comments in between picks?

I listened to MLB.com's draft broadcast last year and the names of the draftees come pretty quick once it's rolling. Listening to the first few rounds, I only recognized one voice, it was Tommy Lasorda who was calling in the Dodger picks. I can't remember the round or the players name or school, but Tommy turned it into comedy hour, he couldn't get the players name right, and it came close to sounding like Bob Ueker in "Major League": Oh, I can't find it. To hell with it!"

That old Lasorda, he's always been quite the gentleman.

You have to be a subscriber to the MLB radio to listen in right? That would mean I have to pay?

I taught Esteban Loaiza that cutter last year. I'm a pretty good pitching coach aren't I?

Simon, It probably is a pay-yer-way to listen, and my guess is it's the ten bucks (canadian funds) you'd pay to be able to listen to any of it's daily programming (non games package). I happened to get it a couple weeks back so I could continue to get the Baseball America hour and some interviews with the likes of Jason Arnold, who appears quite regularly for media.

Simon, scratch that $10 Canadian, it should have read $10 American.

Arg...$10 US to listen to a streaming internet feed? One that includes commercials? Last year I was able to hear the Amateur Draft for free but I assume this year it has to be paid for...well forget that.

I should note that the ten bucks is for the whole year, I believe.

I should note that the ten bucks is for the whole year, I believe.

Is it true that the MLB Radio broadcast is only from 9-5 and only on weekdays?