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Game Threads Game Thread — 4/27 @ New York Yankees
Wouldn't it be great to say what's really on your mind?

Southpaw Saturday has J.A. Happ (2-1, 3.68) up against CC Sabathia (3-2, 3.34), who is scheduled to rock the rawhide at 4:05 p.m. Eastern.
Posted by #2JBrumfield on Saturday, April 27 2013 @ 12:02 PM EDT.
Game Thread — 4/27 @ New York Yankees | 28 comments | Create New Account
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Dewey - Saturday, April 27 2013 @ 12:22 PM EDT (#271082) #
I’m reminded of a Dilbert cartoon, in which Ratbert announces his decision to become ‘one of those guys who speaks exactly what’s on his mind’.  After Dilbert has finished dressing to go to work and is heading out the door, he pauses to ask Ratbert (who hasn’t moved, and is sitting stolidly on the bedside staring into space),  “Still nothing?”.

After Dilbert goes out the door, Ratbert allows, ‘Boy, this is a real eye-opener.’
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Thomas - Saturday, April 27 2013 @ 12:33 PM EDT (#271083) #
The Jays have purchased the contract of Justin Germano to replace Laffey on the roster.
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China fan - Saturday, April 27 2013 @ 12:55 PM EDT (#271084) #
Ricky Romero is the starting pitcher for Dunedin at 6:35 pm tonight. Is it too early to say that this game could be as significant for the Jays as anything that happens at Yankee Stadium today? This could be the moment where we learn whether Romero will help the Jays this season -- or whether he disappears into the vortex of McGowan-land, that mysterious parallel universe where good pitchers vanish for years at a time.

Romero is slated for 60 to 75 pitches, or 4 to 5 innings. If he doesn't implode tonight, he could actually be ahead of where we expected. From a report by Shi Davidi today: "Romero’s arm strength remains fairly built up and his recent stints in intrasquad games pushed him into the 75-pitch range, so he’s working off a decent base." And a report by John Lott suggests that Romero might only need 2 or 3 more starts to be ready for the majors: "Asked how many starts he thinks Romero will need, Gibbons replied: 'I would think he’s got to get a couple in, anyway.'" Other reports speculate that Romero might need 4 or 5 starts, rather than 2 or 3. But even this would suggest that Romero might be ready in 3 weeks, rather than the 6 weeks that some Bauxites had suggested.

Of course all of this is extremely provisional and preliminary and filled with caveats. If things don't go smoothly tonight, it could easily be 6 weeks or even much longer before Romero returns to the majors. But that's why the game in Dunedin today is so important.
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JB21 - Saturday, April 27 2013 @ 01:23 PM EDT (#271085) #
Today's lead off hitter has a BB% of 0.
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85bluejay - Saturday, April 27 2013 @ 01:43 PM EDT (#271086) #
Don't worry - the Jays will win tomorrow to avoid the sweep as usual.
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baagcur - Saturday, April 27 2013 @ 01:46 PM EDT (#271087) #
So what happens in 2 weeks if Romero has done passably well, all five starters are fit and Happ continues to be the least unimpressive of them?
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Jonny German - Saturday, April 27 2013 @ 02:33 PM EDT (#271091) #
"So what happens in 2 weeks if Romero has done passably well, all five starters are fit and Happ continues to be the least unimpressive of them?"

Say what? Happ is the one starter who hasn't under-performed thus far.
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China fan - Saturday, April 27 2013 @ 02:39 PM EDT (#271092) #
That's why he wrote that Happ has been the "least unimpressive" of the starters. Dewey might criticize his use of double negatives, but the meaning can be untangled.

As for the answer to the question: could Romero begin in the bullpen? Santos might not be back from injury by the time Romero is ready.
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Jonny German - Saturday, April 27 2013 @ 02:44 PM EDT (#271093) #
Oops. My mistake.
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hypobole - Saturday, April 27 2013 @ 05:19 PM EDT (#271096) #
Wow. Rajai, JPA and Lawrie all with productive outs the past 2 innings. Most games we haven't gotten 3.
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CeeBee - Saturday, April 27 2013 @ 05:27 PM EDT (#271097) #
Hapless in New York.... geez, get a guy a 3 run lead and sure, why not walk the first 2 batters next inning and you can bet what's next.
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sam - Saturday, April 27 2013 @ 05:44 PM EDT (#271099) #
Man, that was deflating. You can't draw that up any better for your three, four, five hitters there. My recollection this year has been they've done that quite a bit in these types of situations.
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JB21 - Saturday, April 27 2013 @ 06:07 PM EDT (#271100) #
5 for their last 31 with RISP. Not only are they not getting many guys on base they aren't hitting when they do get on.
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Richard S.S. - Saturday, April 27 2013 @ 06:24 PM EDT (#271101) #

If R.A. Dickey heals enough to be more than he's been, he'll win 20+, otherwise 15+.   Brandon Morrow is at that stage of the season when 'dead arms' occur.   Providing he's not injured, that issue resolves itself fairly rapidly, it shouldn't require a trip to the D.L. any time soon.   J.A. Happ is basically healthy and performimg well for a 5th Starter.   Josh Johnson has triceps inflammation but nothing more serious.  He'll probably miss another start, but shouldn't need a D.L. stint yet.   If he does, it will cause issues as Ricky Romero is not close to be ready to return.   Mark Buehrle may have issues: Is his stuff failing, is his control off, is J.P. not the right catcher for him.   Mark's been diappointing so far this season.

Ricky Romero's effectivenes will be determined by his "new delivery" and how consitently he follows it.   His stuff has always been good, it's his "delivery" and his control that was failing.   I wouldn't recommend his return until he has three successful starts and a pitch count of 100 pitches achieved upon that time. 

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Thomas - Saturday, April 27 2013 @ 06:33 PM EDT (#271102) #
I think Colby catches that ball without too much difficulty.
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Kasi - Saturday, April 27 2013 @ 07:05 PM EDT (#271103) #
Yay! Once again we score early and then bats go dead after the third inning.
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JB21 - Saturday, April 27 2013 @ 07:06 PM EDT (#271104) #
I don't think he makes an easy catch, but I think there's a good chance he makes the play (Colby).

Davis didn't have a prayer, not for a second did I have faith in him catching the ball.
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Gerry - Saturday, April 27 2013 @ 07:08 PM EDT (#271105) #
Three reasons for the loss:

1. No hitting with runners in scoring position

2. Bad defense by Davis

3. Happ walking two hitters after the Jays gave him a three run lead
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greenfrog - Saturday, April 27 2013 @ 07:25 PM EDT (#271106) #
4. Rogers's centre-cut fastball (as Zaun likes to say) to Wells in the 7th.
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baagcur - Saturday, April 27 2013 @ 07:34 PM EDT (#271107) #
That's why he wrote that Happ has been the "least unimpressive" of the starters. Dewey might criticize his use of double negatives, but the meaning can be untangled.

Dewey-Phooey! I could hardly use the phrase "most impressive" about any of them

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Mike Green - Saturday, April 27 2013 @ 08:03 PM EDT (#271108) #
Davis took a terrible route to the ball.  Playing Hafner deep as they were, that was a pretty straightforward play.  Rasmus for Davis would have been a normal defensive move after Davis' at-bat in the top of the seventh. 
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Dewey - Saturday, April 27 2013 @ 09:05 PM EDT (#271112) #
Dewey-Phooey!

See.  Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean they aren't picking on me.
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Richard S.S. - Saturday, April 27 2013 @ 09:44 PM EDT (#271113) #

Wasn't the Rajai Davis acquisition one of A.A.'s necessary bargain findings.   He had this reputation then, he's still got those on-field issues.  So why does A.A. keep him around, there were nice (aka: better) 4th outfielder opinions available most offseason?

I'm surprised on how many of our pitcher keep continually coughing up the lead, usually on very poor pitching/pitch selection.   Does everyone on this Team take a stupid pill daily?

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John Northey - Saturday, April 27 2013 @ 11:30 PM EDT (#271114) #
I'm wondering if AA has trouble writing off a contract.  Davis was a buyout/resign at the same price which seemed odd, but reduced his contract value if he is traded/released mid-season.  Many felt Lind should be let go in the winter, and while his OBP has been great that 317 Slg% is scary low.  Davis is who he is, a speedy poor defensive outfielder who doesn't hit much.  Both are easily replaced, especially in the offseason.  Heck, Bonifacio is pretty much Davis except can play 2B/3B/SS in emergencies.

To me though the biggest problem is the low performing hitters.  Bautista with a sub-300 OBP, Encarnacion has finally warmed up but has a way to go to be what the Jays hoped for (226/314/473), Rasmus is part of the sub 300 OBP club, Lawrie is only at 209/271/372, Cabrera at 250/303/300, Bonifacio 190/235/333, Izturis 197/228/289.  JPA has been powerful (564 Slg) but OBP again pathetic at 260.  Just Lind and Reyes are over 315 for OBP now, with Encarnacion, Kawasaki, and Cabrera over 300.

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hypobole - Sunday, April 28 2013 @ 12:11 AM EDT (#271115) #
At some point someone will have to explain to AA that the term "defensive indifference" isn't meant to describe roster construction.
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katman - Sunday, April 28 2013 @ 01:33 AM EDT (#271117) #
OK, that was a good one.
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Anders - Sunday, April 28 2013 @ 01:00 PM EDT (#271126) #
At this point I am not sure that Rajai Davis is a major league player. His cumulative numbers from 2011-present: .250/.293/.369, 85/110 on steal attempts, with around a -10 UZR/150 during that time (defensive runs saved sees him as average in the corners and bad in CF, fwiw). He has quite large splits and hits lefties well enough, but is abysmal against righties.

I guess as a platoon bat against lefties he has some scintilla of value, but beyond that, yikes.

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Mike Green - Sunday, April 28 2013 @ 01:05 PM EDT (#271128) #
Platoon LF/DH, pinch-runner.  In that limited role, he's OK (but not Casper Wells!)
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Game Thread — 4/27 @ New York Yankees | 28 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.