• Neither of the two former Expos pitchers who started the game had an afternoon to write home out. They both went 5 Innings and gave up 6 runs. Lilly didn't seem to be pitching particularly badly, things just weren't happening for him. That's his third ineffective outing in a row now.

• The bullpen picked Lilly up in excellent fashion. Walker, Schoeneweis and Batista combined to blank the Yankees for the final four frames:

  IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR
  4	0	0	0	2	2	0
  

  Walker's allowed just one run so far this year.

• Gibbons decided today was the day to unleash the full frenzied torment of the aggressive running game we had been promised in spring training. This kind of thing can be very effective against poor defensive teams - Tampa Bay have been doing it to the Jays to great effect for the past couple of years. The intent was signaled in the second when Koskie stole second with none out and Hillenbrand at the plate, Koskie was almost immediately on third as a passed ball allowed him to move up when Posada and Pavano got their signals mixed up. The less effective side of the strategy was shown in the fifth when the delayed double steal failed. Wells broke for second and Cat for home as Posada fired to second, but Jeter was on top of the play and easily made the throw home in time. If this is a tactic Gibbons pulls out of the hat occasionally when the situation calls for it, I'm all for it. I hope it doesn't become too central a part of the Jays offense.

• When they weren't charging around the bases the hitters put together a fine afternoons work. They started scoring in the third and didn't let up until the eighth. Shea Hillenbrand, as usual, led the way going 4 for 5. Hillenbrand has amazed me so far this year. I haven't watched all the Jays games by any means, but every time I do he seems to be going three for five and every time he's up he hits the ball hard. It's like Nomar used to be, everything that comes off the bat seems to be a line drive. Koskie looked good as well, he was 2 for 5 and had the best at-bats I've seen from him as a Jay.

• O-Dog was just a little dizzy, no lasting damage, after running into Umpire Rick Reed in the third. He had a precautionary CT scan, which was negative. Gibbons has indicated he'll probably give him a night off tonight in Baltimore. Rick Reed is a big and solid thing to run into when you're O-Dog sized.

• If the Yankees don't win the big one this year or next year they'll be right around $1 billion of Big George's money spent on payroll since their last series win. After 2004 their payroll since their last win was at around $600 million, just about the same as the Jays have spent since their last win.

• Bernie Williams has a terrible arm, no news there, but its getting to the almost embarassing stage. First, Shea Hillenbrand tagged up and went to second on a flyball to Bernie that was five yards shy of the warning track. Then with Hinske going from third to home on a shallow fly to centre Williams throw (all of, what, 40 yards) barely reached the cutoff man behind the pitchers mound. Cat was targeted by the Yankees to run on as well yesterday. A-Rod went, very easily, from second to third on a routine fly to left-centre in the second. Is Cat's arm something Jay's fans should be worring about ?

Around the Majors

• Johan Santana lost for the first time since Duran Duran were big.

• Todays opponents the Orioles won their 8th straight against The Devil Rays. Baltimore's offense is crazy, they're on a pace to score 970 runs this year. Brian Roberts' exploits have been well recorded, but another amazing stat from Oriole-land B.J Ryan has struck out 21 in 12 Innings.

• Old friend John Olerud has signed a minor league deal with the Red Sox.

• Sean McAdam on Miguel Batista and his simplified repertoire.

• Gammons latest "Baltimore is looking for a right-handed bat to compliment Rafael Palmeiro, Jay Gibbons and Larry Bigbie. Shea Hillenbrand is one possibility."

• Hoch : Notes - Wells looking forward to May.

• Zwolinksi : Jays gathering steam

• Rutsey: Jays 'pen is the ultimate