Do you mean the sleeveless uniforms? They've been around for decades, but the most recent trend started with the Reds' home uniforms in 1993. Since then a number of teams have gone with them, including the Blue Jays for a couple of years as a home alternate (IIRC 1999 and 2000).

No doubt. The difference is that Ponson got him twice on 0-2 pitches and once on a 1-2 pitch.

Why would Lilly pitch around Huff, who hits left-handed, to face Perez, who mauls left-handers? I admit that when he fell behind 2-0, he had no intention of pitching to him, but I doubt that was his goal the whole time.

A broken-bat 16-hopper and a dying quail makes Hillenbrand 2-for-2. However, Shea should have steamrolled Cantu on that last play -- fielders are apparently fair game tonight.

Which brings us back to the hitting coach. And I have a very clear impression that Barnett's strength and focus tended to be on the physical and techncial aspects of hitting - stance, balance, mechanics, hand position, weight shift.

I wonder if that might be more a more appropriate skill set for a minor league hitting instructor?

As I recollect, Larry Hisle tended to focus on what to expect from this pitcher and how the hitter had dealt with him before.

And Cito Gaston, when he was a batting coach, always talked - over and over - about going up to the plate with an idea of what you were going to do. Knowing what you know about the pitcher and the game situation, knowing what you can expect to see in this particular at bat - decide what you want to do. Decide which pitch you want to hit, look for it, wait for it, and knock the crap out of it. Until you get two strikes anyway.

So, can you just make these things happen? ;) The handle Coach may not be strong enough.

Not too many guys have 9 RBI by the 4th inning, either. Wow.

He did it all against Bartolo Colon, so I thought I'd look up A.Rod's career numbers against Colon. Pretty good, as it turns out. In 37 AB, he's hit .378 with 5 2B and 3 HR (.811 slugging.)

After tonight, he's hitting .425 against Bartolo, with 6 HR in 40 AB. And he's slugging 1.050.

Bartolo needs a new plan.

On a Toonie Tuesday, too! Have they announced the crowd yet? Its usually around now.

But obviously not many in the past week! I don't think too many shared your feelings that a rally was in the offing.

            Career OPS
Jonny Gomes    .546
Wayne Gomes    .542

Just got home and started watching the game during the Jay's rally, and noticed the strike zone the home plate umpire has is just ridiculous!

Same here, I got home around the 5th and quickly noticed the gigantic strike zone. I like the high strike being called but some of the pitches on the outside corner were ridiculous.

On another note, after the bat-around inning why wasn't Chulk ready to go as soon as Lilly got into any trouble? That seemed like a long time for Lilly to wait between innings.

And Danny Kolb is this close to coughing one up at Shea. Two runs in, two men on, Floyd batting with two out, Mets now down 4-3. Cox pulls Kolb for John Foster.

In New York ARod just laced a ball to center for an out. Heck of a day at the plate.

Nice bullpen work by the Jays tonight. Good to see them pitch well in a tight situation. A much needed win.

Surprisingly, no. When I saw Jonny Gomes in the game, former pitcher Wayne Gomes was the only other one I could think of. It turns out he was the only other one in major league history. For a reason that I cannot recall at the moment, I thought it would be interesting to compare their hitting stats.

That's one of those cheap, Sports Ticker/USA Today holds. He wouldn't have gotten one using the original STATS definition. (Harumph!)

For those of you who are really, really interested, Rob Neyer runs down the History of the Hold, and some other frequently asked questions.

Of course, Danny Kolb would have picked one up either way for his wonderful work tonight - .2 IP, 5 H, 2 R.

Didn't that ball land in the former Bob File Fan Club? If that's true, its a real shame. I would be willing to bet that if they sent Godfrey an email, they'd probably get an apology.