JP said, after the Halladay injury, that the Jays were going to have to suck it up for the month. They appear to have taken care of the first part....

Tampa Bay had some luck, but they also capitalized on major opportunities. They're really not that bad. I'm going to give them credit.

What was with all of MLB's mascots at the game today. The weirdest one was Arizona's.

Time to start a 3B campaign,Bring Back Bush

So when do we resort to an "intangibles" argument to explain why this team is simply unable to win close games, even when they have plenty of chances?

The team clearly isn't "unable" to win close games - they've done it before. After looking at the data, though, it is clear that the Jays win more games by more runs than they lose them.

Blue Jays, Year To Date
Wins: 45
Losses: 46
Average Runs Scored: 4.88
Average Runs Against: 4.35
Average Run Differential: 0.527
Number of Wins by ≥ 3 Runs: 32
Number of Wins by < 3 Runs: 13
Number of Losses by ≥ 3 Runs: 25
Number of Losses by < 3 Runs: 21

Oooh, I love Gnumeric. Better than Excel and free!

According to the Chicago Tribune (BBRRS: a pinch of salt over the shoulder), the White Sox are interested in Burnett — but also in Ted Lilly. Say, I've been in a hole since before Christmas — don't the White Sox have a corner outfielder-type they're trying to move? You say they've already moved him? And he's having a pretty nice .263/.331/.523 season? Too bad.

Embarassing but true: I just now discovered that Carlos Lee and Derrek Lee are different people.

Apparently the Red Sox are in the hunt for Burnett and would be offering Arroyo among others.

http://www.prosportsdaily.com/mlb/mlbrumors.html

"Tampa Bay had some luck, but they also capitalized on major opportunities. They're really not that bad. I'm going to give them credit."

VBF, I really struggle with the comment that T-Bay is not that bad. This is a club that has won 9 road games all season (2 in this series). I suspect this is more a reflection on the Jays poor play & inability to beat a team that the rest of baseball beats consistently, opposed to T-Bay being "...not that bad". Casey Fossum & Mark Hendrickson are not quality MLB pitchers.

Based on what we have seen since the Texas series (Jays are 1W - 5L) the Jays contending chances are extremely slim. The Orioles are getting healthier & playing good baseball again. The Yankees are 8-2 in their last ten 10 games & closing in on the Red Sox. Both teams will deal at the deadline, and the O's have the $ to do so as well.

The Jays are presently 45-46 only 5.5 games back of Boston. That is the good news. The bad news is the Jays need to leap frog the Yankees, Orioles & Red Sox to win the A.L. East (the Wild Card has 6 teams ahead of the Jays right now). Daunting task indeed, compounded by the winning % required to take the East or Wild Card.

Boston is 50-40 right now. Lets assume in a worst case scenario they play .500 ball for the balance of the season, this will equate to 86 wins. The Jays would then be required to win 41 of their final 71 games (.570 winning percentage) just to tie Boston. A couple of key acquisitions i.e. a big bat & front line starter may help the Jays get to 86 wins or few more. BUT, the reality is the Yanks & Red Sox and probably the O's are going to finish at better than a .500 clip for the balance of the season. It is reasonable to expect 91-95 Wins from the A.L. East Champion this year. The Jays would need to play .640 baseball for 91 Wins or 46 wins in their final 71 games (presently only the White Sox & Cards are oveer a .600 Winning % for the season). The Wild Card poses similar issues except we have 6 teams ahead of the Jays.

In short unless the Jays can add Roger Clemens & Derrick Lee without compromising anything substantial from their curent MLB roster the playoff chase is a non-issue.

Still, I think the season holds tremendous interest in terms of the Jays actions at the trade deadline (at the very least reduce payroll in favour of youth & at the best acquire an impact player to help for next years push). Lets hope they finish above .500 as this is a positive compared to last season's fiasco & let's hope we witness some strong finishes from some key young players.

Color me "profoundly discourged"

given that we are prone to enjoying classic rock lyrics around here, allow me to offer...

Summer came and passed away,
Hardly seemed to last a day,
But it's over,
And what can I do.

Music playin' in the air,
Silence on a darkened stair,
Cos it's over,
And what can I do.

It's over, It's over, all over,
It's over all over now,
And the way you looked
Don't even mean I'm down.
(It's over)
When you kick out the sea
And the sun says goodbye
There is nothing much to speak of.
(Getting down, down)
(It's all over)
(Getting down, down, down)

Premature, emotional response, perhaps, but this series has been a really bitter pill.

I knew we were not a playoff team, but there's a big difference in failing the test vs, for instance, the White sox or angels or Boston and losing 3 of 4 at home against a historically abysmal road team.

No excuse.